![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.inkstation.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/0610_IS_blog4.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t use your printer often, sometimes your printheads can get clogged by dried up ink. This can be a problem, as clogged printheads can stop your printer from performing as it should.<\/span><\/p>\n One way you might notice you have a clogged printhead is if you print a page and one or all colours do not print (even though you know you have ink available). You might also notice that your ink is coming through patchy, rather than smoothly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The good news is that printheads are generally pretty easy to clean! There are both manual cleaning options, and printer software-based options that you can complete to clean your printer head. Today we take a look at how to clean printer heads. Read on to find out more.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you have noticed your print heads need cleaning, one possible solution is to do so using the printer\u2019s self-cleaning software. This method can be done without ever having to touch the printheads themselves, and lets the printer handle the issue directly. It is best to first check your printer\u2019s manual to see if a self-cleaning option exists, and if so, how to access it, however, if you cannot find that information, follow the steps below.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you have a Windows machine, follow these steps to get to start the printer heads cleaning process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Step 1: Open the Control Panel and click on \u201cDevices and Printers\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Step 2: Right click the icon or name of the printer you wish to clean and select \u201cProperties\u201d from the drop-down menu<\/span><\/p>\n Step 3: Click on the \u201cHardware\u201d tab. Note: if you don\u2019t see this tab, look for a \u201cMaintenance\u201d, \u201cMore Options\u201d, or \u201cTools\u201d tab<\/span><\/p>\n Step 4: Click on the option that says \u201cClean Ink Cartridges\u201d, \u201cClean Heads\u201d, \u201cClean Nozzles\u201d, or \u201cClean Cartridges\u201d (the wording may differ, depending upon the printer)<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n For those who have a Mac machine, the following generic steps should apply.<\/span><\/p>\n Step 1: Go to System Preferences and click on \u201cPrinters & Scanners\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Step 2: Click on the printer you wish to clean, then click \u201cOptions & Supplies\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Step 3: Select the \u201cUtility\u201d tab and click \u201cOpen Printer Utility\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Step 4: Click on the \u201cCleaning\u201d, \u201cDeep Cleaning\u201d, \u201cHead Cleaning\u201d, or \u201cCartridge Cleaning\u201d option (the wording may differ, depending upon the printer).<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n If your printer doesn\u2019t support a self-cleaning option, or you have run the self-clean and are still having issues with a clogged printhead, then it might be time to try manually cleaning your printer heads.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To do this, you will need a few supplies:<\/span><\/p>\n The most important element here is the isopropyl alcohol, as it works to dissolve the dried-up ink stuck to the printer head, causing the clog.<\/span><\/p>\n Step 1: Switch the printer off and unplug it from the wall to be safe<\/span><\/p>\n Step 2: Open the unit and gently remove the cartridges (or the one cartridge with the problem). Before doing this, be sure to consult your printer\u2019s manual to see how to safely do this. If the print head is separate from the cartridges, remove the print head as well.<\/span><\/p>\n Step 3: Optional, but you may like to wrap your cartridges in plastic, to help keep them from drying out<\/span><\/p>\n Step 4: Locate the printhead. If the printhead is integrated into the cartridge, you may need to clean the cartridge itself. For other printers, the printhead is separate from the cartridges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Step 5: Before you begin with the isopropyl alcohol, try gently wiping the printhead with a lint-free cloth. This may dislodge any ink that has clogged the heads. If the clog won\u2019t seem to budge from a cloth alone, don\u2019t be tempted to wipe it harder, as this could cause damage to the printer heads. Instead, have a go at using a liquid to remove the blockage<\/span><\/p>\n Step 5: Mix one part distilled or bottled water with one part isopropyl alcohol in a shallow bowl. Place the printhead in this mixture. If the printhead is part of the cartridge, be careful to only submerged the printhead section of this part. If the printhead is a separate piece, gently place it into the mixture to soak the section with the clogs. Leave the printhead to soak for a couple of minutes<\/span><\/p>\n Step 6: Dry the printhead by gently dabbing it on a paper towel. Make sure it is completely dry before proceeding to the next step<\/span><\/p>\n Step 7: Once the printhead is dry, place it back into the printer, switch the printer on and print a test page. If the clog has been removed you should find that the ink is coming through smoothly and correctly onto the page<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n First, try not to worry. If you have attempted to unclog your printer using the printer\u2019s self-cleaning process, and tried removing the clog manually but the dried ink is still blocking the head, take a breather, and run the printer\u2019s self-cleaning function again. Sometimes it can take a few goes to remove stubborn clogs. If you have tried several times to no avail, consider taking your printer to a printer specialist as they may be able to lend their expertise to remedying the issue.<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this blog post has helped you learn a little more about how to clean your printer heads. A clogged printer head can generally be remedied using a few simple steps, and you should be back to printing pages in no time!<\/span> If you don\u2019t use your printer often, sometimes your printheads can get clogged by dried<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[36],"class_list":["post-895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hints-and-tips","tag-hints-and-tips"],"yoast_head":"\nPrinter software self-cleaning<\/b><\/h2>\n
Printhead self-cleaning for Windows<\/b><\/h3>\n
Printhead self-cleaning for Mac<\/b><\/h3>\n
Manual printer head cleaning<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n
What to do if the printer head is still clogged<\/b><\/h2>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"