Canon MG3600 Smudges Paper: Ink on the Back and Edges

Last Updated on 22.07.2026 by DriverNew

Canon PIXMA MG3600 series may leave black or colored marks on the back of a sheet, stain the lower edge of the paper, or smear the image on the printed side.

The problem occurs especially often after printing a large number of pages, using borderless printing, or automatic duplex printing. Ink gradually accumulates on the internal parts through which the paper passes and is then transferred to subsequent sheets.

The main way to remove this contamination is Bottom Plate Cleaning. On MG3600 series, this procedure can be started directly from the multifunction printer’s operation panel or through the Windows driver. A specially folded sheet of plain paper is used for cleaning.

This guide applies to the following models:

Canon PIXMA MG3610, MG3620, MG3640, MG3640S, MG3650, MG3650S, MG3660, MG3670, and MG3680.

All the devices listed above belong to Canon PIXMA MG3600 series.

Identify the type of contamination

Symptom	Most useful action
The back of the sheet becomes stained	Perform Bottom Plate Cleaning.
Marks appeared after borderless printing	Perform Bottom Plate Cleaning once or twice.
The second side becomes stained during duplex printing	Clean the bottom plate and increase the ink drying wait time.
Scuff marks appear on the printed side	Flatten the paper and enable paper abrasion prevention.
The next sheet smears the previous one	Increase the ink drying wait time.
Only one document causes staining	Check the paper size, media type, and print intensity.
Streaks appear only on copies	Check and clean the platen glass.

Method 1. Perform Bottom Plate Cleaning from the multifunction printer’s operation panel

This is the main method for cleaning the inside of Canon MG3600 series. A computer is not required for the procedure.

Prepare:

• one new sheet of A4 or Letter plain paper;
• a flat surface for folding the sheet.

Step 1. Empty the front tray

1. Make sure that the multifunction printer is turned on.
2. Remove all paper from the front tray.
3. Make sure that no individual sheets remain in the tray.

Step 2. Make the first fold

1. Take one new A4 or Letter sheet.
2. Fold the sheet in half widthwise.
3. Run your finger along the fold.
4. Unfold the sheet completely.

One horizontal fold line should remain in the center of the sheet.

Step 3. Make the second fold

1. Take one edge of the unfolded sheet.
2. Fold this edge to the center fold line.
3. Run your finger along the new fold.
4. Unfold the sheet completely again.

After this, one half of the sheet will have two fold lines, while the other half will have only the center fold.

Step 4. Load the folded sheet correctly

1. Position the sheet with the raised sides of the fold lines facing up.
2. Turn the half without the additional fold toward the multifunction printer.
3. Load only this sheet into the front tray.
4. The half without the additional fold must enter the multifunction printer first.
5. Push the sheet all the way to the back of the front tray.
6. Adjust the paper guides to the width of the sheet.
7. Open the paper output tray extension.
8. Open the paper output tray.
9. Extend the paper output support.

Step 5. Start cleaning

1. Press and hold the Stop button.
2. Watch the Alarm lamp.
3. Release the Stop button when the Alarm lamp flashes eight times.
4. Wait for the sheet to be picked up and pass through the device.
5. Do not turn off the multifunction printer during the procedure.

The sheet will pass through the device and collect contamination from the internal parts.

Step 6. Check the used sheet

1. Hold the ejected sheet by its clean edges.
2. Inspect the fold lines.
3. Check whether black or colored marks remain on them.

If the fold lines are stained

Ink remained inside the multifunction printer. Prepare a new sheet and repeat the cleaning procedure one more time.

If the second sheet is also heavily stained

Ink may remain on protruding internal parts. Proceed to the method for manually cleaning the protrusions.

Method 2. Perform Bottom Plate Cleaning through the Windows driver

The same procedure can be started through the driver. The program displays instructions for folding and loading the sheet.

The official Canon MG3600 series MP Drivers package must be installed.

Step 1. Open the driver settings

1. Make sure that the multifunction printer is turned on and accessible from the computer.
2. Remove the paper from the front tray.
3. Press Windows + R.
4. Enter:

control printers

5. Click OK.
6. Find the device whose name contains Canon MG3600 series.
7. Right-click it.
8. Select Printing preferences.
9. Open the Maintenance tab.
10. Click Bottom Plate Cleaning.

Step 2. Prepare the paper

1. Take a new sheet of A4 or Letter plain paper.
2. Fold it in half widthwise.
3. Unfold the sheet.
4. Fold one edge to the center fold line.
5. Unfold the sheet again.

Step 3. Load the sheet

1. Position the raised sides of the fold lines facing up.
2. Direct the half without the additional fold into the multifunction printer.
3. Load only one prepared sheet.
4. Adjust the paper guides.
5. Open the paper output tray.

Step 4. Perform cleaning

1. In the driver window, click the button to run the procedure.
2. Confirm that you want to start.
3. Wait for the sheet to pass through.
4. Inspect the fold lines.

If the sheet comes out stained, repeat the procedure using new paper.

If the “Maintenance” tab is missing

Windows may have added the multifunction printer using a generic driver that does not include Canon-specific functions.

In this case:

• perform cleaning from the operation panel after the Alarm lamp flashes eight times;
• check whether the correct MG3600 series queue is selected;
• install the official MP Drivers package if necessary.

Method 3. Clean stained protrusions inside the multifunction printer

Use this method only if two Bottom Plate Cleaning cycles with new sheets did not remove the contamination.

Ink may remain on small protrusions in the lower internal part of the device.

What you will need

• a clean cotton swab;
• good lighting.

Cleaning procedure

1. Turn off the multifunction printer using the power button.
2. Wait until all lamps turn off completely.
3. Disconnect the power cable from the electrical outlet.
4. Remove the paper from the front tray.
5. Open the paper output cover.
6. Inspect the lower internal area through which the sheet passes.
7. Find small protruding parts with ink marks.
8. Carefully remove the ink with a dry cotton swab.
9. Do not apply excessive force.
10. Do not leave pieces of cotton inside.
11. Close the paper output cover.
12. Connect the power.
13. Turn on the multifunction printer.
14. Perform a test print.

Method 4. Enable paper abrasion prevention

Use this setting if the printed surface itself becomes stained or scratched.

After the function is enabled, the multifunction printer slightly increases the distance between the print head and paper. This helps when the sheet is curled, has a thick coating, or absorbs a large amount of ink.

The function may reduce printing speed.

Enable it from the multifunction printer’s operation panel

1. Make sure that the multifunction printer is turned on.
2. Press and hold the Stop button.
3. Watch the Alarm lamp.
4. Release the button after the lamp flashes 11 times.
5. Press the Color button.

The paper abrasion prevention function will be enabled.

Disable the function

1. Press and hold the Stop button.
2. Release it after the Alarm lamp flashes 11 times.
3. Press the Black button.

Enable it through the Windows driver

1. Open Printing preferences for Canon MG3600 series.
2. Go to the Maintenance tab.
3. Click Custom Settings.
4. Select the Prevent paper abrasion checkbox.
5. Click OK.
6. Confirm the settings change.

Method 5. Increase the ink drying wait time

When several sheets are printed in succession, the next sheet may come out before the ink on the previous sheet has dried completely. This is especially noticeable during:

• duplex printing;
• photo printing;
• printing large dark images;
• printing with high ink intensity;
• using damp or poorly absorbent paper.

Change the wait time in Windows

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter control printers.
3. Click OK.
4. Right-click Canon MG3600 series.
5. Select Printing preferences.
6. Open the Maintenance tab.
7. Click Custom Settings.
8. Find the Ink Drying Wait Time slider.
9. Move the slider to the right.
10. Click OK.
11. Confirm the change.

The multifunction printer will pause longer before feeding the next sheet. Printing speed will decrease, but the likelihood of smearing will be reduced.

Quickly check the paper and printing settings

If cleaning did not resolve the problem completely, check several basic points.

Paper type

The media type selected in the driver must match the media actually loaded in the front tray. This setting affects the amount of ink applied and the distance between the paper and print head.

Printable side

Paper with only one printable side must be loaded with that side facing down.

Paper curl

Curled paper may touch the print head and become stained.

1. Remove the paper from the tray.
2. Place the sheet on a flat surface.
3. Carefully flatten a slight curl in the opposite direction.
4. Do not create a sharp fold.
5. Load the flattened paper one sheet at a time.

It is better to replace heavily deformed sheets.

Print intensity

If the intensity is too high, plain paper absorbs a large amount of ink, becomes wavy, and touches the print head.

For testing, reduce the intensity or print quality in the job settings.

Paper size

The size selected in the program and driver must match the paper actually loaded. If the loaded sheet is larger than the specified size, ink may be applied to an internal surface and then transferred to the edge of the paper.

Borderless printing

Use paper that is suitable for borderless printing. On unsuitable media, the top and bottom edges may become stained.

If paper becomes stained during duplex printing

During automatic duplex printing, the sheet passes through the internal paper path again. For this reason, contamination of the bottom plate becomes especially noticeable.

Perform the following steps:

1. Clean the bottom plate using a folded sheet.
2. If necessary, repeat the cleaning with new paper.
3. Increase the ink drying wait time.
4. Use A4 or Letter plain paper.
5. Do not use curled or damp sheets.
6. Reduce the print intensity if a large amount of ink is being applied to the paper.

If streaks appear only when copying

If documents from the computer print cleanly but copies contain streaks or stains, the internal printing path may be working correctly.

Check the platen glass:

1. Turn off the multifunction printer.
2. Disconnect the power cable.
3. Open the scanner cover.
4. Wipe the platen glass with a soft, clean, dry, lint-free cloth.
5. Carefully wipe the white inner surface of the cover.
6. Do not use paper tissues or rough cloth.
7. Do not leave lint or streaks.
8. Close the cover and connect the power.
9. Try copying again.

What you should not use for cleaning

Do not use:

• solvent;
• gasoline;
• acetone;
• glass cleaner;
• alcohol on internal parts;
• oil or lubricant;
• wet wipes;
• paper towels;
• rough cloth;
• compressed air.

Chemicals may damage plastic, rubber, and clear internal parts.

When a service center is required

Request diagnostics if:

• two Bottom Plate Cleaning cycles did not reduce the contamination;
• a new sheet immediately comes out heavily covered with ink;
• a large accumulation of ink is visible inside;
• the paper constantly touches internal parts;
• thick drops of ink appear on printouts;
• grinding or cracking sounds are heard;
• the paper becomes stained and jammed at the same time;
• a damaged internal part is visible;
• ink is leaking from the body;
• the problem returns immediately after cleaning.

Conclusion

If Canon PIXMA MG3600 series stains the back or edges of the paper, perform Bottom Plate Cleaning.

Fold a new A4 or Letter sheet in half widthwise and unfold it. Then fold one edge to the center line and unfold it again. Load the sheet with the raised sides of the folds facing up and direct the half without the additional fold into the multifunction printer.

Hold down the Stop button until the Alarm lamp flashes eight times. After the paper comes out, check the folds. If they are stained, repeat the procedure with a new sheet.

For scuff marks on the printed side, enable paper abrasion prevention after the lamp flashes 11 times. If ink smears between sheets, increase the ink drying wait time in the Windows driver’s Custom Settings.

If two Bottom Plate Cleaning cycles and careful cleaning of accessible protrusions did not help, the internal parts require service diagnostics.