Cleaning Your Scanner Mirror: Are You Doing It Right?

Improper cleaning can cause irreversible damage to the scanner. In this article, we take stock of common misconceptions about cleaning, share the right techniques, and cover common mistakes, scanner maintenance, and practical methods for cleaning.

Why does your method of cleaning the mirror destroy the mirror?

Many people just grab a tissue or the corner of their shirt and give the lens a quick swipe, but you may not realize that these habits are slowly damaging the coating on the mirror surface, even leading to scratches.In particular, high-precision equipment (such as laser mirrors) is directly affected by damage to the mirrors.Have you fallen for any of the following misconceptions?

These are the three most common misconceptions about cleaning lenses.

Misconception 1: Using regular paper towels or cloth to dry.

Do you think tissue paper is soft and harmless? In fact, ordinary tissue paper is coarse and can scratch the surface of the lenses when you rub them dry.This is especially true of precision instruments such as galvanometers. If the coating is damaged, the light transmission and reflection efficiency are greatly reduced.

Mistake 2: Spraying the cleaning agent directly onto the lenses.

To save time, many people like to spray their glasses with a cleaning solution.However, if the liquid seeps into the edges, it will corrode the internal components of the galvanometer, which could cause a short circuit or oxidation over the long term.The right way to use a spray is to spray it onto a cleaning tool, then wipe the surface.

Mistake # 3: Pressing hard to clean tough stains.

If you encounter oil stains or fingerprints, do not rub too hard. Excessive force can wear down the coating and even affect the optical precision of the lens.For tough stains, patience is more important than brute force.

The four steps of proper lens cleaning.

Step 1: Choose the right tools.

Forget about tissues and eyeglass cloths; professional microfiber cloths or lens cleaning paper are the best options.If there is a lot of dirt, you can use a special lens cleaning solution.

Step 2: Blow and then wipe, to avoid friction.

First, use a blower to blow the dust off the eyeglasses, to prevent particles from scratching the lenses when you wipe them.Remember--never touch anything with your hands that you can blow off!

3. Clean in a spiral motion from the inside out.

When cleaning, wrap your fingertips with a piece of cloth and begin cleaning from the center of the lens, pushing outward in a spiral motion.Don't go back and forth in circles, or you'll just bring the dust back to the center.

The fourth step, deep cleaning and maintenance.

If the mirror is used frequently, it is recommended that it receive a deep cleaning with a professional cleaning kit every three months.Check to see if dust has collected on the edges of the lenses, and if necessary use a cotton swab dipped in cleaning solution to clean the crevices.

Tips for daily use and maintenance.

Cover the bottle with a dust cap when not in use to reduce the amount of time it is exposed to air.

Don't touch the lens with your fingers: The grease from fingerprints is harder to clean than dust.

- Keep the environment dry, as high humidity can cause the gold plating to peel off.

By following these methods, you can easily add two or three years to the life of your galvanometer mirror.After all, the money you would spend on a new, high-quality lens could buy quite a few boxes of professional cleaning tools.