If you’ve made the investment in an inkjet printing solution, it can be pretty frustrating to have that printer put out less than stellar results. Here, we’re talking about the frustrating experience of having your printed documents come out streaked, patchy, or otherwise showing signs of a fault somewhere in the printer.
If you’ve got the document in your hands, you know that the message got there. But if the quality of your printing jobs is lacking, it might be time to check the printing heads. Blocked or clogged up printing heads are a common problem with inkjet printers, particularly with those that see infrequent or intermittent use.
The good news is that they aren’t all that hard to check out and troubleshoot. Read on here for the three methods we recommend for cleaning up and maintaining your inkjet printing heads.
Check That the Cartridges Haven’t Simply Run Out
First things first, if the low ink light is flashing, the issue likely isn’t a result of any blockage. You may just need to replace a depleted cartridge with a new one. For an inexpensive brand-name replacement cartridge, look to us here at TonerCity. If your inkjet printer isn’t telling you anything about low ink levels, then it may be time to get in there and implement one of these three solutions.
Internal Cleaning Mechanism
There is a good chance that your printer actually has an internal cleaning mechanism. If you’ve caught it early, and the blockage is only partial, utilizing your printers internal cleaning mechanism might be more than enough to set your printer on the straight and narrow.
Internal cleaning mechanisms are present in most modern printers, and they typically work by flushing out the printing heads with air. Printing heads tend to be quite delicate, and these internal cleaning mechanisms are designed so that they do not overload and damage these printing heads.
It’s for this reason that these internal cleaning mechanisms are best used more frequently and work best when clearing out light obstructions and partial blockages. If you’ve run an internal cleaning mechanism, and the results still aren’t up to scratch, it might be time to ramp things up.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Ink is designed to dry out. When it dries out in the wrong spot, it can be tricky to clear it away. If you’ve tried the internal cleaning mechanism, and you’re still getting sub-optimal results, you might want to try manually clearing away the dried ink that is causing problems with isopropyl alcohol.
Most printing heads feature a sponge that is the most common site of blockage. These sponges are quite delicate and can be damaged or even dissolved if they come into contact with fluids other than water or isopropyl alcohol.
Isopropyl alcohol hits the sweet spot between being strong enough to loosen and clear away any dried ink, while not being strong enough to cause damage to the printing head sponge when used in moderation. Give it a go with the isopropyl alcohol, and if you’re running into trouble, there is a step further that you can take.
The Soak Method
If you’ve tried the internal cleaning mechanism and had a crack with the isopropyl alcohol, and yet you’re still having trouble getting a clean and clear print, it might be time to take the printing heads out and give them a soak. A one to one mix of water and ammonia (careful that you don’t breathe this in) will give your printing heads what they need to clear up and get back to full working order.
Shop for Ink and Toner Cartridges with TonerCity
Cleaning the printing heads can help you get the most out of your ink and toner cartridges, but it will eventually come time to replace a depleted cartridge. If you’re looking for replacement ink or toner cartridges for your printer, TonerCity is the place to look. We stock brand name ink and toner cartridges at prices that won’t break the budget. Look here to TonerCity for all your ink and toner needs today!