HP printers leaves smudges, spots or repeated marks

Smears and spots on the page point to excess ink, dirt in the paper path or a paper problem. HP's article gives an automatic tool for ink on the back of printouts: Setup, Printer Maintenance or Tools, Clean Page Smears or Clean Smear; the printer feeds one page slowly and may make noise for about a minute, and you should wait until the page is fully out before removing it. Use plain, clean, wrinkle-free paper, since wrinkled or curled paper causes dark horizontal marks, and paper that does not absorb ink causes smears. Check the cartridges for leaks or debris, clear the vent with a pin and reseat them. Clean the printhead if colors streak, and let prints dry before handling, especially photos on glossy paper.

For spots on copies or scans, clean the scanner glass and the white backing, because specks of debris collect over time. For laser printers, toner smudges or spots can come from a leaking cartridge, a dirty transfer area or a fuser that is not hot enough; a cleaning page from the maintenance menu helps, and cartridges that leak should be replaced. Check the output tray and keep pages from stacking on wet ink. Use the correct paper type in the print settings so the printer uses the right amount of ink.

Keep the printer where dust and pet hair cannot settle in the feed path, and cover it when not in use. A clean paper path prevents many marks, and a quick wipe of the exterior guides keeps debris out of the rollers.