The cleaning printer head is one of the common issues with an inkjet printer. But, there are many simple ways by which one can remove the clogs very easily. It happens many times when it gets clogged due to dropouts of ink. It is because the excess ink gets converted into little bits of dust and debits. Thus the nozzle gets blocked, and it becomes unable to spray the required quantity of ink onto the paper. If you have also been facing this issue and thinking about consulting your model’s manufacturer or any repair center, then wait here for a few minutes before taking action in this term.
It is because we assure you that you will find the solution to your printer’s issue. To remove the clog, you do not have to send your printer to any service center. You can do it by yourself. But it needs to follow proper instruction because if you have made any mistake while cleaning your printer heads, then it could lead to damage to any expensive part of it. Therefore read further to get a proper solution to your issue that is how to clean printer head?
Table of Content
Where is your printer head?
Before knowing the cleaning process, you should locate your printer’s head. In most models, it is mounted on the bottom of the print head assembly that is plastic carriage inside the printer. The print head assembly holds the cartridge and moves it with the help of a belt for spraying ink onto the paper.
Once you locate the printer heads after that, you will have to identify the clog form to pick the specific method to clean it. There are three types of clogs which one will generally form on the printer heads. Let’s have a look at different kinds of clogs and their specific cleaning method.
Simple:
The simple clogs appear when you haven’t run your printer for a long time. The print heads use microscope holes to drop out ink, and when you stop using a printer that often ink dries out and clog it. Apart from this, the air bubbles are also a significant reason for simple clogs.
How to clean simple clogs?
Anyone can clean the simple clog by quickly running a head cleaning cycle and nozzle. You will find the option for the head cleaning cycle in the printer properties menu. Read further for the full process.
- Even one has to turn on the printer and turn off the printer light without any fault. For this, you will have to remove the ink cartridge.
- Then press the window button and click on the control panel menu.
- Now you have to select the device and printers from the control panel window.
- Now locate the default printer which you want to clean.
- Right-click on the default printer and select Printer properties from the drop-down list.
- A dialogue box will be on the screen of printer properties.
- Now you have to click on the hardware tab for further process.
- Here you can find the option for head cleaning.
- Click on the option to run the head cleaning cycle.
Note:
When your printer starts performing a head cleaning cycle, then the power light and the ink light will start flashing. Do not turn your printer off until the process gets completed. It is because if you do so, it can lead to any damage. When the lights stop flashing, it means the head cleaning cycle is completed. Now the time is to check the results. For this, you will have to choose the nozzle check option from the same dialogue box. If the issue gets sorted, then well and good, but if not, then you have to run the print head cleaning cycle again.
Stubborn:
Sometimes the warm ink also can cause a clog. The loose, warm ink dries on the nozzles, and it gets clogged. These clogs cannot be removed through a print head cleaning cycle. It is because the stubborn clogs appear in very hard form
How to clean stubborn clogs?
You will have to clean the stubborn clogs physically, and for this, you will need a new piece towel and Windex or another cleaning solvent for deeper cleaning. Now step forward to see the full process. Therefore read further to get a proper solution to your issue that is how to clean printer head?
Lose the print heads:
On the very first step, you will have to loosen up the printer heads so that it can move quickly. For this, you will have to turn on the printer and wait for the initialization setup. While initialization is set up, the print heads will start moving. Now turn it off, it will keep print heads loose.
Remove Cartridges:
Now you can easily remove the ink cartridges from the printer. Do not forget to wrap ink cartridges by using plastic paper for keeping it safe from drying out.
Clean The Print Head:
Now the time is to clean the clogged printer heads. For this, you have to dampen the piece of the towel into warm water or cleaning solvent. For this, you can use any third party cleaning solvent like Windex and rubbing alcohol.
Move Print Heads
For deep cleaning, you will have to move the print heads back and forth and position the piece of the towel on its moving track. While doing this task, you will see clogs residue onto the towel.
Clean IT Deeply
For better cleaning, you will have to use 2-3 pieces of the new towel and continue the cleaning process until no residue appears on it.
Run Your Printer
Once you have seen that there is no residue appearing on the towel, it means the clogs are removed. Now time to replace the ink cartridges and turn the printer on print a test page to see the results.
How To Prevent Clog?
The best way to avoid these clogging issues is to stop them from happening; for this, one can follow the below-given process.
- Don’t leave printers unused for a long time. Use it at least twice a week.
- One can also prevent clog by running a print head cycle once in a month.
- Use different thickness sized paper; occasionally, it will clear excess ink of the nozzles.
- Avoid using third party ink cartridges. Always use genuine OEM cartridges.
- If your printer software has cartridge cleaning or maintenance cartridges, feature then use it at least once in a month.
Conclusion:
The manufacturer will suggest you purchase a new set of ink cartridges when you are facing clogged issues. It is because they do not care about your money. It is your responsibility to try various tricks to sort out some common problems by yourself before sending your printer to any repair center. The normal print head cleaning process will not take too much time. But the little efforts can save you by wasting money and unnecessary ink also.
Hence take care of your product. Try to find different ways to know how to clean printer head. It will be a very interesting journey while exploring different facts about printers and how to clean printer head?
