Cleaning your scanner
Sometimes when scanning images on a regular basis, you may experience smudging, smearing or unclear images. These things are signs that you probably need to clean your scanner so that images become clear once again. To clean your scanner, follow the instructions below. For specific instructions how to clean an HP scanner, check out Ehow.
In order to clean your scanner, make sure you have a lint-free cloth (preferably a very soft one, a can of compressed air and a spray bottle of eyeglass cleaner or non-streaking window cleaner. You will also need a second soft cloth that will remain dry.
Unplug your scanner, and let it set for a few minutes so that it cools down.
Spray a small amount of glass cleaner or eye glass cleaner onto your soft cloth.
Remove the lid of your scanner, and wipe down any visible dust specks or grease with the cloth.
After that, immediately use the dry cloth to dry the glass.
If it still looks dirty, do the process again until you get the results to want.
To clean the chassis, use the same liquid cleaner. You can also use any product specifically made for cleaning plastic. Many manufacturers prefer that you uses detergent that has been dissolved in water.
Now, clean the inside and outside of the glass. Sometimes the best way to clean the mirror is a can of compressed air.
Before you do any cleaning, though, it is important that you consult your manufacturer. In some cases they will want the interior of the scanner to be cleaned by a professional. Also, instructions can be different for every scanner out there, so these instructions may not be the most efficient way to clean your specific machine. After the unit is clean, you should have no problems with quality of scans.