1. Perform Built-In Maintenance Cleanings
Dark, smudged ink lines down the edge of the page usually mean ink has accumulated on the internal transport rollers or bottom plate.
-
Bottom Plate Cleaning: Access the printer's setup menu, go to Maintenance, and select Bottom Plate Cleaning. Follow the on-screen instructions to feed a piece of folded plain paper through to wipe away excess internal ink.
-
Roller Cleaning: In the same Maintenance menu, execute a Roller Cleaning cycle to clear paper dust or ink buildup from the feed rollers.
2. Check for Debris or Hair Under the Print Head
A vertical line that tracks precisely along the direction of the paper feed is often caused by a stray hair, fiber, or lint caught underneath the print head carriage.
-
Turn the printer on so the print head carriage moves out of its home dock, then unplug the power cord while it is moving so the carriage remains unlocked and free to move.
-
Lift the main cover and use a bright flashlight to inspect underneath the carriage.
-
Gently clear away any trapped hair or dust bunnies using a dry cotton swab or tweezers. Do not touch the metal nozzle face directly.
3. Clean the Timing/Encoder Strip
If the line persists or causes slight text misalignment, the clear plastic encoder strip inside the printer is likely smudged with ink.
-
Look inside the printer chassis for a thin, transparent plastic strip running horizontally across the width of the printer, just behind the print head track.
-
Lightly moisten a cotton swab with a drop of water or isopropyl alcohol (squeeze out any excess so it is barely damp).
-
Carefully wipe the smudged section of the clear strip. Be extremely gentle, as applying too much force can unhook the strip from its internal tension springs. Dry it with a clean swab afterward.
