Maintaining your check scanner involves three levels of cleaning: regular care (weekly), detailed cleaning (monthly), and exterior sanitization (as needed). The bank teller or employee who operates the scanner should be responsible for its upkeep, while the branch manager typically oversees the supply of cleaning materials.

The Importance of Cleaning Check Scanners

An  extensive study conducted over a three-month period  found that uncleaned check scanners encountered nearly twice as many errors as cleaned scanners. When check scanners get stuck, customers’ time is taken up while data needs to be manually entered into the banking system. The same study proved that approximately 15 minutes of every hour of the day is devoted to manually fixing problems that check scanners should be able to perform. This precious time that could be spent on customer facing can cost your financial institution money unnecessarily.

We all know that cleaning check scanners has many benefits. Not only is this completely necessary, spending a few minutes at each scanner can save you money and manual labor, and ensure your repeat customers aren’t frustrated by a lack of attention. Fortunately, cleaning check scanners doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or time-consuming.

How to Properly Clean Your Scanner.

Printer and scanner cleaning sheets effectively remove dust, ink residue, and paper particles, restoring print quality, preventing paper jams, and extending device lifespan—an easy and cost-effective maintenance solution.

Regular care of your check scanner is imperative. Routine cleaning approximately weekly, detailed cleaning approximately monthly,  with exterior or sanitizing  as needed . The cashier associated with the scanner should be the one who performs the cleaning, while the branch manager is usually the one who maintains the supplies. The following is the procedure for regular cleaning of the check scanner:

Cleaning method:

1. Turn Off the Scanner
   • Before cleaning, power down the device and unplug it to prevent damage.
   • Open the scanner cover to access internal components.
2. Clean the Exterior
   • Use a dry, soft cloth to wipe down the scanner’s outer casing.
   • Dampen a lint-free cloth with an approved electronic-safe cleaning solution and gently wipe the scanner’s surface.
   • Avoid using excessive moisture, as liquids can damage electronic components.
3. Clean the Internal Components
   • Use a check scanner cleaning card:
     • Insert the cleaning card into the document feeder.
     • Slide the leading edge forward while keeping the bottom edge flat.
     • Run the cleaning card through the scanner 3-6 times, flipping it each time to ensure thorough cleaning.
     • Discard the used cleaning card after use.
   • For stubborn residue or dust buildup:
     • Use a dry air blower or a soft-bristled brush to remove debris.
     • Avoid using compressed air cans containing moisture, as this can introduce condensation inside the scanner.
4. Clean the Scanner Glass
   • Gently wipe the flat glass surface with a clean, slightly damp cloth.
   • Ensure that no streaks or residue are left behind, as these can affect scan quality.
5. Let the Scanner Dry Completely
   • Wait a few minutes to allow all cleaned surfaces to dry before turning the scanner back on.
   • Make sure the paper feed roller is completely dry before inserting checks.
6. Perform a Test Scan
   • Insert a sample check to verify that the scanner is functioning correctly.
   • If issues persist, repeat the cleaning process or consult the user manual for additional troubleshooting steps.

Precautions:

　　1. Do not press hard on the glass surface inside the scanner.

　　2. Be careful not to scratch or damage the glass surface inside the scanner, and do not clean it with a hard or abrasive swab . Damage to the glass surface can reduce scan quality.

　　3. Please do not clean the scanner with thinner or corrosive solvents. These chemicals can damage scanner parts and the housing.

　　4. Be careful not to spill liquids on the scanner’s mechanical parts or electronic components. Doing so will permanently damage mechanical parts and circuitry.

　　5. Do not spray lubricant into the scanner.

　　6. Before using the scanner, make sure the paper feed roller is completely dry.

scanner common

　　Increased scanner noise.

　　Symptom: There is a lot of noise when scanning.

　　By the movement of the mechanical part when the scanner is working. There are two reasons, one of which is closely related to the scanning speed. According to the specific software of each brand of machine, setting the scanning speed to medium or low speed can solve the problem.

　　Only a small portion of the entire image is captured

　　Symptom: The scan result is only a small part of the original

　　This situation is mainly due to our operational problems. When scanning, the focus rectangle still stays on the preview image without zoom-in selection, so only the ‘area inside the rectangle is captured. Therefore, after the preview scan, be sure to correctly select the part to be officially scanned.

　　This phenomenon usually occurs when the office environment is poor. In the process of using the scanner, there will inevitably be some dust. If you do not pay attention to cleaning, the dust will adhere to the glass, and this problem will occur. At this time, we need to wipe the glass plate with a clean cloth or paper. Be careful not to wipe it with liquids such as water, which will make the scanned image appear iridescent.

　　If the problem persists after wiping the glass, it is a problem with our usage settings. For example, if we set a scanner with a scanning resolution of 300dpi to a resolution above 1200dpi to scan, the result will be blurred.

　　This kind of failure usually occurs when the scanner or the original moves while the scanner is working. Therefore, we need to provide a stable working platform for the scanner. And during scanning, do not move the original document.