Card Reader Maintenance - Prolong Device Life

A leading cause of card reader malfunction is dirty reader tracks, pins and contacts. Cleaning cards facilitate a quick and easy rub for your card reader's contact points. Simply swipe the cleaning card through the reader and the compressed fibers will scrub wipe any dirt or blemishes while a mild cleaning solution eliminates oily build up that can be a cause of malfunction. An economical solution to getting your card readers operating at peak efficiency without purchasing a replacement.

Card reader cleaning cards are available in various types for magnetic stripe, smart chip, and general-purpose readers, often using a special textures or enhancements to clean more effectively. Magnetic stripe versions are for devices like ATMs and credit card machines with a swipe slot, while smart card versions are designed for chip readers to clean the pins inside. Many cards are dual-purpose, cleaning both magnetic and chip readers, while others are specialized, like waffle-patterned cards (Waffletechnology) for deeper cleaning or cards for other equipment like bill acceptors and check scanners. Waffle-patterned cards feature a raised, waffle-like design to clean all surfaces more thoroughly, including recessed pins in smart card readers. Other specific cleaning cards are available for other equipment, such as bill and currency readers, check scanners, and thermal printers. We use them regularly in our car wash terminals and bays to keep payments smooth!

A card reader cleaning card is typically made of a durable, tear-resistant card material like PVC with a core of spunlace fabric or other compressible fibers. This material is pre-saturated with a cleaning solution, most commonly 99.7% or 99.9% electronic isopropyl alcohol (IPA), which dissolves and lifts contaminants like dirt, oil, and grime. As the card passes over the internal contact points, the fibers wipe away particles and dissolve accumulated oils and build up. They can be purchased online today from a variety of retailers including Kleen-Rite! K2-H80B50 features Envanish adhesive remover for breaking down pesky, unwanted adhesives and leaves no residue behind.

Credit card reader cleaning cards are used in commercial operations like retail stores, restaurants, banks, and hospitals and hospitality venues for a wide range of payment and access systems, including POS terminals, fuel pump pay, gaming and vending machines, car washes, door locks and area access, and self-service kiosks just to name a few. Regular cleaning prevents read errors, transaction failures, and costly repairs caused by dirt and debris build-up.

Specifications:

• Quantity: 50 per box
• Card Dimensions (in. / mm.): 2.10 x 3.345 / 53.34 x 84.96
• Thickness (in. / mm.): .030 / .762

Benefits:

• Prolong equipment life and reduce capital expenditures
• Reduce maintenance fees
• Reduce equipment downtime
• Reduce fees from erroneous transactions
• Increase customer loyalty with fast efficient service

Usage:

• Recommended for use after every 500 print jobs or when printer ribbons are replaced.
• For POS devices, EMV/ Chip and pin, manual ATM, player tracking, hotel door lock, pay at the pump, other swipe and dip
• Common symptoms of a dirty device:
• Misreads & payment failure
• Spots, streaks, dust, debris in the reader

Step-by-step instructions: How to Clean your Credit Card Reader

1. Unpack the cleaning card: Take the card out of its sealed pouch or packaging.
2. Insert and swipe: Slide the card into the reader, just as you would a credit card, and swipe it through several times.
3. Flip and repeat: Turn the card over to the other side and repeat the swiping process.
4. Clean the reader: For chip readers, insert the card and move it in and out a few times with short, quick strokes. Then, flip the card and repeat.
5. Dispose: Properly discard the used cleaning card.
6. Repeat if needed: If the reader is still not working correctly, repeat the cleaning process.