7 Helpful Ways To Unclog Inkjet Cartridges
Isn’t it frustrating when you desperately need to print a photo or document, and what you get is white streaky lines or banding? But do you know what’s worst? That is if there is no print at all!
Inkjet cartridges such as HP, Lexmark, Samsung and some Canon branded inks have a printhead. This here is the most sensitive part of a cartridge. The printhead has nozzles that are responsible for delivering the droplets of inks onto the paper which happens very quickly at a rate of up to 6,000 drops in every second. There are around 48 to 320 nozzles or so called “jets” on the printhead that are half the width of a human hair. Therefore, clogging the printhead due to its dried ink can cause poor printing quality.
It’s undeniable this type of printing issue is frustrating. Before tossing your clogged and blocked ink cartridge, you might want to try these 7 helpful ways to unclog the printhead.
1. Cleaning the electrical contacts. In this step, the clogged cartridge must be removed from the printer. Then, the next thing to do is to unplug the printer’s power cord. To clean the electrical contacts inside the printer’s carriage, use a clean, soft cloth dampened with Isopropyl rubbing alcohol. On the cartridge itself, find the copper-colored electric circuit strip. Then, wipe it with rubbing alcohol using a non-abrasive cloth. Once done, turn on the printer and run the printhead cleaning utility.
2. Cleaning the printhead with water. Another way to unclog the printhead is by using a soft cloth dampened with water. Gently wipe off the dried ink on the printhead. It is recommended to use a distilled water in this process, especially if you are concerned with mineral deposits from your tap water.
3. Using hot water. Steam from hot water can help loosen crusty or dried ink. Expose the printhead by holding the cartridge down under a light stream of hot water. After, dry the cartridge using a soft cloth and reinstall it in the printer.
4. Using a saucer filled with hot water. In this method, hold down the cartridge so only the printhead will be soaked. If the printhead is heavily clogged, you can add a small amount of bleach, soap or ammonia. Place the cartridge in the solution for at least two hours. Dry the cartridge using a clean, soft cloth and reinstall the cartridge into the printer.
5. Using compressed air. Into the ventilation hole of the ink cartridge, use compressed air very carefully as the air will force the ink to flow down the printhead. In this process, you can also use a syringe or a squeeze bottle. Make sure when using this method, be prepared for a bit of a mess. I’d recommend placing the cartridge on some paper towels.
6. Using a damped cloth and vacuum hose. Cover the ink cartridge with a soft cloth slightly wet with water. Press the vacuum hose onto the cartridge nozzle. Turn on the vacuum on and off. This must be done intermittently every few seconds. Repeat the process until the ink flows again through the printhead. Wipe the printhead gently to remove the excess ink.
7. Running warm water. Cover the sink with some newspaper and place the cartridge’s printhead under the running warm water for ten minutes. Using a soft cloth, dry the cartridge and reinsert it into the printer.
These tips should help you unclog your cartridge’s printhead. Make sure to try them first before throwing your cartridges to spare you some bucks from your pocket.
Thanks for reading! Leave a comment if you have any questions. Looking to save money on your printing projects? Check out www.compandsave.com for some great deals on printer ink and accessories! Remember to follow our blog for more interesting printing related tips and guides.
About the Author
Sheena Jacutin is the Customer Service Manager at Compandsave.com Inc. CompAndSave is a large eCommerce retailer of print and office supply products in the United States and Canada. With over 8 years of experience working in the printer ink industry, her articles can be quite helpful to those wanting to learn more about getting the best outcome from your printing projects. A proud wife and mother of two, Sheena understands the value of DIY and is here to shine light on the best tips and tricks when it comes to printing the best photos, creating stickers for scrap booking and much more!
