Cleaning a printer’s printhead is an essential maintenance job that should be done whenever the quality of the printouts produced by the printer begins to suffer. In this article, we will explain how to clean a printhead on your printer, so you can get back to printing crystal clear documents and photos in no time.
What You’ll Need:
• Isopropyl Alcohol (90% or higher)
• Cotton Swabs/Q-Tips
• Clean Water
• Soft Cloth
Step 1: Preparing the Printer
Disconnect the power cable from the printer and unplug it. This is an important step because the cleaning solution used for printhead cleaning can cause major electrical damage if it comes into contact with the power supply of the printer.
Make sure the printer is cool to the touch before proceeding with the cleaning process. If the printer has been used recently, allow it to cool down completely before continuing with the printhead cleaning.
Step 2: Preparing the Cleaning Solution
Take a bowl or container and add one part isopropyl alcohol to one part water. Mix the two together using a spoon or stir stick until the mixture is well blended.
Step 3: Applying the Cleaning Solution
Dip a cotton swab or Q-tip in the cleaning solution and gently dab it onto the printhead. Make sure not to apply too much pressure as this can cause damage to the delicate components of the printhead. Move the swab across the surface of the printhead in a gentle circular motion.
Step 4: Cleaning the Printhead
After the cleaning solution has had a few minutes to soak into the printhead, take a soft cloth and gently wipe away any excess liquid. Make sure not to use too much pressure while wiping the cloth over the printhead as this can cause damage to the sensitive components.
Step 5: Finishing Up
Place the printhead back into its original position and reconnect the power cable. Turn on the printer and allow it to run through a test print cycle. If the quality of the printouts has improved, then the printhead cleaning process was successful. If not, repeat the entire process again until the print quality has improved.
Cleaning the printhead on your printer doesn’t have to be a chore. Just remember to follow these simple steps and you should be able to restore your printer’s printhead to its original pristine condition in no time.