Tip #2602 - Clean Those Print Heads
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Q:
The print heads in my inkjet printer are clogged. I'm not sure how to
go about cleaning them. Can you give me some tips?
A:
Sure, that's no problem at all! Clogged print heads is a common problem
with inkjet printers and I'm sure it's happened to all of us at one point
or another. Before we get started, I just want to say that it's a good
idea if you frequently check your print heads for problems like this.
If there is a clog issue, it's obviously best to get it taken care of
quickly. If you let it go, it will just get worse and worse.
A printer head can
sometimes get clogged if there is a long period of time between printing
sessions. If you don't use your printer all that often, yours may be clogged
even more. What happens is that the tiny holes that make up an inkjet's
printer head become backed up with dried out ink. Yuck! Well, there are
a few things you can do.
Several newer printers
come with a built in cleaning system. You can just run some test prints
through your printer and the job is done. Your printer may have come with
a cleaning program that you can use to go through the steps of cleaning
the print heads. Something like this will usually solve the clog problem,
but not always. It just depends on how bad the clog is.
Another solution could
be to just change the ink cartridge. This only works if your ink cartridge
actually includes the print head. If it does, you can switch that clogged
cartridge with a fresh one and the problem will be solved. But, if you
do this every time you have a clog, it could turn into a lot of money
spent on ink cartridges, especially if you don't use your printer that
often. Also, if the print head isn't contained in the cartridge, they
can only be replaced by a technician and they often cost as much as a
new printer. Crazy, huh?
You can also try the
"printing a test print over and over again" method. If you print
so many tests, it may eventually unclog the dried ink and improve your
print heads. But, keep in mind, this trial and error process can take
up to 15 or 20 prints and it will also waste a lot of your ink.
So, if I haven't yet
fixed your problem yet, let's try something else. Often times, just soaking
the print heads in distilled water with a little bit of rubbing alcohol
or ammonia can do the trick. (You could also use a special cartridge flush
solution, but that's going to cost you more money). Go ahead and remove
the print heads from your printer and just soak them in any of the above
liquids. Depending on the blockage, soak them for 10 minutes up to an
overnight time period. This method works well by breaking up the bits
of dried ink and it should eventually create a clear ink passage again.
Hopefully one of these
methods will help clear up your inkjet print head clog troubles and you
will be able to print beautifully once again!
~ Erin
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