{"id":8483,"date":"2022-05-02T09:47:47","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T09:47:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/notsealed.com\/?p=8483"},"modified":"2023-07-31T12:34:59","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T12:34:59","slug":"how-to-clean-printer-heads-using-household-products-canon-hp-epson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/notsealed.com\/how-to-clean-printer-heads-using-household-products-canon-hp-epson.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Clean Printer Heads Using Household Products Canon, HP, Epson"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Working as an Electrician in Information Technology I am often asked to fix printers that are blurry, blotchy, and have substandard printer results. Often it is the result of running out of ink and letting the print head dry out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a printer is left without ink the print heads will block. Sometimes a deep cleaning with new ink will fix the problem but if it doesn’t then a manual print head clean will be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, I will show you how to make your own printer head cleaning solution. As well as how to manually clean and flush the printer head on all types of ink printers. This procedure will work for all brands of inkjet printers such as Canon, HP, and Epson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now you can buy the ready-made prink head cleaning kit<\/a> or you can make your own using some household products such as Windex and Rubbing Alcohol. Also known as Isopropyl Alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DIY printhead cleaning solution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"DIY
DIY printhead cleaning solution<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I like to make my own homemade print head cleaning solution out of 8-parts Windex to 2-parts rubbing alcohol. Windex is used for cleaning windows and rubbing alcohol is also known as Isopropyl Alcohol. These are items I have on hand to quickly and easily make up the solution when required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Methylated spirits can also be substituted as it contains ethyl alcohol mixed with methanol<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will store forever in a sealed bottle ready for the next time you need the household printhead cleaning solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to clean printer heads on a Canon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Items Needed to clean printer heads.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Print head cleaning solution. Either store-bought or DIY print head ingredients. (8-parts Windex to 2-parts rubbing alcohol)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Empty Syringe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Small flexible tubing 1\/4 inch or to suit syringe nozzle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Paper towel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Glad wrap.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Extra paper and ink for deep cleaning and printer testing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Start by turning on your Canon printer and removing all the ink cartridges. I like to wrap them in plastic Glad wrap to keep them from drying out or leaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Canon
    Remove the ink tanks before doing a print head clean.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Turn off the printer and remove the power plug for safety. You will now see the silver print head filters. These are what we will be cleaning as they can block up with dried ink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Put some printer cleaning solution in a syringe and attach the small tubing to the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"DIY
    DIY print head solution<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Fold up the paper towel a few times and place it under the Canon printer head. You may need to slide the printer head from side to side to get the paper towel under the printer head. I had to experiment a little to get the correct width and height of the paper towel so that it fits under the printer head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The paper towel is to catch the free-flowing dried ink from out of the print head filter once we start flushing. You can also use printer paper folded over a few times. But paper towel works the best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Canon
    A Paper towel was folded and placed under the print head to catch the cleaning solution and old ink.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    I like to clean each Canon print head filter one at a time rather than only the one that has the blockage. Squeeze some cleaning solution onto the ink silver filter. The fluid may get sucked in straight away or it may bubble on the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"What
    Canon Print head filters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    If it does bubble on the top then you will have to wait 10 minutes to see if it will filter down and clear the build-up blockage. A tube that perfectly fits over the ink holes is preferred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If it is flowing correctly you will start to see some colored ink collecting onto the paper towel underneath the print head. Change the paper towel under the print head once it begins to get full of old ink and cleaning solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After a few print head cleaning flushes, I like to leave the print head to dry out any remaining cleaning solution. One hour should be enough to completely drain any remaining solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"clean
    What a mess this is why you need to use paper towel under the Canon print head.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Remove the paper towels and replace the printer ink back into the correct placeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Do a deep head clean using the Canon software to flush out any remaining solution and fill the filters with new ink. This should now give you perfect printing results. My latest Canon TS8360 was not printing black properly as the kids had let the ink run out and dry. Using my DIY Rubbing Alcohol\/Windex solution cleaning solution worked well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Deep<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    This is the only way to clean a stubborn printhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Check out this short video that shows how to clean a clogged print head on an Epson printer.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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