Custom composition of washing fluid for inkjet printers. Do-it-yourself printer print head cleaning Epson inkjet printer cleaner

OCP RSL

■ flush ■ yellow ■ designed for any inkjet printers

For washing the internal surfaces of cartridges (non-foam or after removing the foam), as well as print heads and components of CISS continuous supply systems (loops, capsules, cartridges, donor jars).

Used before changing ink to another manufacturer, before changing pigment ink to water-based (for undried pigment), as well as after using cleaning or soaking liquids (to neutralize their residues) before refilling with ink.

Peculiarities. Can be used at room temperature or heated. The washing process is accelerated if the liquid is preheated in a “water bath” to a temperature of 35C.

· Mode of application

Fill the volume to be washed with this liquid and let it sit for at least one hour, but not more than one day. Then drain the liquid from the volume being washed and fill the volume with ink. For a heavily contaminated volume, it is allowed to alternate filling with clean liquid, settling and draining several times, but the total time of exposure to this liquid should not exceed one day. Do not allow the liquid in the volume to be washed to dry out.

OCP CCF (OCP CISS)

■ flush ■ light blue ■ designed for EPSON inkjet printers

For washing the internal surfaces of cartridges (without foam or after removing the foam), as well as print heads, components of CISS continuous supply systems (loops, capsules, cartridges, donor jars).

Used before changing ink to another manufacturer, before changing pigment ink to water-based (for undried pigment), as well as after using cleaning or soaking liquids (to neutralize their residues) before refilling with ink. In addition, for preserving the print heads of inkjet printers before a long break in operation.

Method of use for preserving the print head

Fill functional empty cartridges completely with this liquid (it is recommended to use refillable cartridges with refill holes), install the cartridges in the printer and run the print head cleaning program once. (If before this the printer was standing with empty cartridges, then run the cleaning program three times in a row, turn off the printer with the button, leave it alone until the morning, and then turn on the printer and run the print head cleaning program once). This will fill the print heads with liquid. Then, without removing the cartridges from the printer, turn off the printer with the button and pack it in a sealed plastic bag for the storage period. This liquid can be left in the printheads for an extended period of time, but do not allow the liquid to dry out.

OCP ECI (OCP EPS)

■ cleaning ■ blue ■ designed for EPSON inkjet printers

For cleaning print heads from dried ink.

Peculiarities. Use at room temperature.

· Methods of application:

a) clean the heads with this liquid using the “Cleaning cartridge” method (described separately). The exposure time to this liquid should not exceed one day. Immediately after using this liquid, remove the cleaning cartridges from the printer, install ink cartridges into the printer and run the print head cleaning program twice in a row to replace the liquid in the heads with ink;

b) soak the outside of the head nozzles with this liquid using the “Sandwich” method (described separately). The exposure time to this liquid should not exceed one day. Immediately after soaking the heads, run the print head cleaning program at least once.

OCP NRC (OCP NRS)

For cleaning print heads from dried water-based and pigment inks.

Peculiarities. Use only at room temperature, without heating.

Method of application for heads removed from the printer

Soak the outside of the head nozzles with this liquid using the “Drop” method or the “Bath” method (described separately). The exposure time to this liquid should not exceed one hour.

OCP LCF III

■ soak-off ■ colorless ■ designed for any inkjet printers

For soaking and cleaning print heads from pigment, soaking heavily dried pigment ink in cartridges (non-sporen or after removing the foam) and in components of CISS continuous supply systems (loops, capsules, cartridges, donor jars).

Peculiarities. Can be used at room temperature or heated. The soaking process is significantly accelerated if the liquid is preheated in a “water bath” to a temperature of 60-70C.

Application methods for non-removable printer heads:

a) clean the heads with this liquid using the “Cleaning cartridge” method (described separately). The exposure time to this liquid should not exceed one hour. Immediately after using this soaking liquid, before refilling the heads with ink, remove the cleaning cartridges from the printer, install cleaning cartridges with another washing liquid into the printer and run the print head cleaning program twice in a row. Then remove the cleaning cartridges from the printer and install ink cartridges into the printer;

b) soak the outside of the head nozzles with this liquid using the “Sandwich” method (described separately). The exposure time to this liquid should not exceed one hour. Immediately after soaking the heads, run the print head cleaning program at least once.

b) for a print head combined with an ink tank into a monoblock, with very dry pigment ink. Lay oilcloth and several layers of newsprint on the table. Using a knife blade, carefully separate the top plastic cover from the candy bar using a rocking motion around the perimeter, completely remove the foam filler from it (do not throw it away!) and drain the remaining ink from the candy bar. Place the candy bar firmly on the table on a soft, dry cloth. Heat this soaking liquid in a “water bath” to 60C-70C and fill the internal volume of the monoblock completely with it. Allow to sit until the liquid cools to room temperature (but no more than an hour). Then drain this liquid, fill the internal volume of the monoblock with flushing liquid and drain it after 10-15 minutes. Reinstall the foam filler into the monoblock and glue the top plastic cover of the monoblock into its original place. Fill the monoblock with ink, install it in the printer and run the print head cleaning program several times in a row.

OCP CFR

■ cleaning ■ red ■ designed for external plastic surfaces

For cleaning ink and dirt from the outer plastic surfaces of various products - cartridges, print heads, components of CISS continuous supply systems, printer cases, computers, etc.

Peculiarities. Do not pour inside cartridges or print heads.

· Mode of application

Soak a soft cloth with this liquid and wipe the surface that requires cleaning with a damp cloth.

Service fluids InkTec, Ink-Mate (Korea)

InkTec MCS, Ink-Mate CS

■ cleaning ■ colorless ■ designed for any inkjet printers

For cleaning print heads from dried ink, including sublimation ink.

Peculiarities. Use at room temperature. Application methods for InkTec MCS and Ink-Mate CS fluids are the same

Method of application for non-removable printer heads

Soak the outside of the head nozzles with this liquid using the “Sandwich” method (described separately). A single exposure time to this liquid is not recommended for more than 10 minutes. Immediately after soaking the heads, run the print head cleaning program once and then run the nozzle test. If the nozzle test shows an unsatisfactory result, repeat the process of soaking the nozzles using the “Sandwich” method another 2-3 times for 10 minutes.

Methods of application for monobloc heads removed from the printer (integrated with the ink tank):

a) place the print head with nozzles under a slow stream of running hot water at a temperature of 40-50C to a depth of 1 cm for about 10 minutes. Then place a suitable container (for example, a plastic plate) on the table and place a dry napkin on the bottom of the container. Pour cleaning liquid into the container (up to 1 cm deep). Place the head with the nozzles in the liquid on a napkin. Be careful - the head contacts should not get wet! After 10 minutes, remove the head from the container and blot the nozzles with a dry cloth. Check - if liquid has leaked under the electrical cable of the head, then the cable must be completely dried before installing the head in the printer! Then install the head into the printer, run the print head cleaning program once and then test the nozzles. If the nozzle test shows an unsatisfactory result, put the nozzle head back into the cleaning liquid and repeat the entire process described 2-3 more times;

b) in the presence of a professional ultrasonic bath. Place a suitable container (for example, a plastic plate) on the table and place a dry napkin on the bottom of the container. Pour cleaning liquid into the container (up to 1 cm deep). Place the head with the nozzles in the liquid on a napkin. Be careful - the head contacts should not get wet! After 3 minutes, remove the head from the container. Then for 5 (five) seconds (no more, to avoid damage to the head!) immerse the head with the nozzles in an ultrasonic bath filled with distilled water. Remove the head from the bath and blot the nozzles with a dry cloth. Check - if liquid has leaked under the electrical cable of the head, then the cable must be completely dried before installing the head in the printer! After this, install the head into the printer, run the print head cleaning program once and then test the nozzles. If the nozzle test shows an unsatisfactory result, again place the head with the nozzles in the cleaning liquid and repeat the entire described process 2-3 more times.

Service fluids InkMaster (England)

InkMaster Flushing

■ washable ■ colorless ■ designed for any inkjet printers

For final washing of the internal surfaces of cartridges (non-foam or after removing the foam), as well as print heads, components of CISS continuous supply systems (loops, capsules, refillable cartridges, donor jars).

Used before changing ink to another manufacturer, before changing pigment ink to water-based (for undried pigment), as well as after using cleaning or soaking liquids (to neutralize and wash out their residues) before refilling with ink. In addition, for preserving the print heads of any inkjet printers before a long break in operation.

Peculiarities. Use at room temperature.

Method of application for washing

Fill the volume to be washed with this liquid and let it sit for several hours. Then drain the liquid from the volume being washed and fill the volume with ink. For a heavily contaminated volume, it is possible to alternate several times between filling with clean liquid, settling and draining. This liquid can be left in the volume being washed for a long time, but do not allow the liquid to dry out.

Method of use for preserving the print head of the printer

Fill functional empty cartridges completely with this liquid (it is recommended to use refillable cartridges with refill holes), install the cartridges in the printer and run the print head cleaning program once. (If before this the printer was standing with empty cartridges, then run the cleaning program three times in a row, turn off the printer with the button, leave it alone until the morning, and then turn on the printer and run the print head cleaning program once). This will fill the print heads with liquid. Then, without removing the cartridges from the printer, turn off the printer with the button and pack it in a sealed plastic bag for the storage period. This liquid can be left in the printheads for an extended period of time, but do not allow the liquid to dry out.

InkMaster Recovery ("recovery")

■ cleaning ■ colorless ■ designed for any inkjet printers

For cleaning and restoring print heads from dried water-based and pigment inks.

Peculiarities. It is highly effective. Use only at room temperature, without heating.

Application methods for non-removable printer heads:

a) clean the heads with this liquid using the “Cleaning cartridge” method (described separately). The exposure time to this liquid should not exceed one hour. Immediately after using this cleaning liquid, before refilling the heads with ink, remove the cleaning cartridges from the printer, install cleaning cartridges with another washing liquid into the printer and run the print head cleaning program twice in a row. Then remove the cleaning cartridges from the printer and install ink cartridges into the printer;

b) soak the outside of the head nozzles with this liquid using the “Sandwich” method (described separately). The exposure time to this liquid should not exceed one hour. Immediately after soaking the heads, run the print head cleaning program at least once.

Application methods for removable printer heads:

a) soak the outside of the head nozzles with this liquid using the “Drop” method or the “Bath” method (described separately). The exposure time to this liquid should not exceed one hour;

b) for a print head combined with an ink tank into a monoblock, with very dry ink. Lay oilcloth and several layers of newsprint on the table. Using a knife blade, carefully separate the top plastic cover from the candy bar using a rocking motion around the perimeter, completely remove the foam filler from it (do not throw it away!) and drain the remaining ink from the candy bar. Place the candy bar firmly on the table on a soft, dry cloth. Fill the internal volume of the monoblock completely with this liquid. Let sit for one hour (but no more than an hour). Then drain this liquid, fill the internal volume of the monoblock with flushing liquid and drain it after 10-15 minutes. Reinstall the foam filler into the monoblock and glue the top plastic cover of the monoblock into its original place. Fill the monoblock with ink, install it in the printer and run the print head cleaning program several times in a row.

Methods of exposure to service fluids

Printhead cleaning method "Cleaning cartridge"

Fill spare functional empty cartridges completely with the required service fluid. (If possible, it is recommended to use refillable cartridges - they have ready-made refill holes with plugs). Install the resulting cleaning cartridges into the printer. Run the printhead cleaning program twice in a row. In this case, the liquid from the cartridges will fill the print heads of the printer. Then, during the required time of exposure of the liquid to the heads, print some texts, images onto plain paper and periodically run a nozzle test. (If the liquid is colorless, you can pre-tint it with one drop of colored ink and see the print quality of the heads on the paper). The time of exposure of the liquid to the heads must be controlled - it is different for different liquids.

(Be careful - when servicing the heads, do not remove the cartridges from the heads for more than a minute to avoid airing the head channels. A sign of airing the head channels - there is ink in the cartridges, but when printing, the ink does not pass through all the nozzles onto the paper, and starting up does not help cleaning programs. If you turn off the printer and leave it alone until the morning, the air will come out of the heads on its own).

After using cleaning cartridges with cleaning or soaking liquid, if the cartridges contain metal elements inside (for example, a strainer, an outlet valve spring), then you need to drain the remaining liquid from the cartridges and then rinse the volume of the cartridges with washing liquid to avoid metal corrosion. It is impossible to drain the remaining liquid from cleaning cartridges with foam filling. Therefore, if they contain metal elements, then the life of such cleaning cartridges will be limited.

"Sandwich" print head nozzle cleaning method

Prepare dry, thick paper napkins or toilet paper - such that the lint does not separate from them, and so that when wetted the paper does not fall apart into shreds. Prepare a piece of smooth plastic film (for example, cut from a thick bag or from the side of a drinks bottle) slightly larger than the “drop guard” in the print head parking area of ​​the printer. Turn on the printer. Move the print heads to the cartridge replacement position, and then unplug the printer's power cord from the outlet. (In this case, the printer heads must remain in the cartridge replacement position. Do not remove the cartridges). If you use CISS, temporarily plug all the plugs on the CISS donor jars. Carefully spread the prepared piece of film over the surface of the mouth guard. Place a piece of prepared paper of approximately the same size on top of it and evenly saturate the paper with the required service fluid using a bottle with a long spout or a syringe. Carefully push the print heads into the extreme position of the parking space by hand, making sure that the sandwich of film and paper placed on the “drip” does not slide to the side. In the extreme position, the sandwich will be pressed against the nozzles of the heads. Leave the heads alone for a while. Since the paper with the liquid gradually dries out, during the total exposure time the heads can be extended and retracted several times while changing the paper to a new one, newly soaked in liquid. The time of exposure of the liquid to the heads must be controlled - it is different for different liquids. Immediately after the end of exposure to the cleaning or soaking liquid, you need to pull out the heads, replace the sandwich paper with a new one, soaked in a new washing liquid (to neutralize the remnants of more aggressive liquids), push the heads back into the parking space and leave the heads pressed against the sandwich for another 10-15 minutes. After this, pull out the heads, remove the sandwich from the “drop guard” and push the heads back into the parking space.

Method of cleaning print head nozzles "Drop"

Cover the table with oilcloth and several sheets of newsprint on top of the oilcloth. Remove the print head from the printer and place it on the table upside down so that the nozzle plate is on top and parallel to the table surface. Carefully apply 2-3 drops of the required service fluid onto the nozzle plate. Drops will slowly seep into the nozzles. Be careful - do not allow liquid to flow onto the electrical cable and head contacts! During the required exposure time, repeatedly apply drops of liquid to the nozzle plate. The time of exposure of the liquid to the head must be controlled - it is different for different liquids. Immediately after using the cleaning or soaking liquid, blot the head nozzles with a cloth moistened with the washing liquid. Check - if any liquid has leaked under the electrical cable of the head, then the cable must be completely dried before installing the head in the printer! Install the ink head into the printer and run the nozzle test at least three times in a row, as well as the print head cleaning program once. (Because the head has been upside down for some time, the ink may have leaked from the head and it may not print right away. In this case, you need to leave it alone in the printer for one to two hours, and then run the printhead cleaning program several times.)

"Bath" method for cleaning print head nozzles

Place a suitable container (for example, a plastic plate) inside a plastic bag on the table. Place a dry cloth at the bottom of the container. Pour the required service fluid into the container (3-5 mm deep). Remove the print head from the printer and immerse the nozzles in the liquid on a napkin. Be careful - the head contacts should not get wet! Seal the top of the bag tightly to reduce liquid evaporation. After the required exposure time has elapsed, remove the head from the container with liquid. The time of exposure of the liquid to the head must be controlled - it is different for different liquids. Immediately after using the cleaning or soaking liquid, blot the head nozzles with a clean cloth moistened with the cleaning liquid. Check - if any liquid has leaked under the electrical cable of the head, then the cable must be completely dried before installing the head in the printer! Install the ink head into the printer and run the nozzle test at least three times in a row, as well as the print head cleaning program once.

PG blockage is far from the only reason why. However, there is a high probability that this is the problem if on your device:

• across the movement of the paper appear;
• one or more colors are missing;
• nothing is printed, although the printer does not issue any warnings, and the carriage moves properly.

Causes of blockages

Most often, the print head does not want to work properly:

After a long period of inactivity

When the ink has simply dried out. In this case, several sessions of cleaning the nozzles through the printer utility program can help. If cleaning twice does not help, use the “Deep cleaning” function; you can repeat it after a day. Didn't help again? This means the problem is much more serious and may require flushing.

Due to mixing of incompatible paints

Water-based and pigment inks categorically do not want to cooperate, they curl up, give sediment, and quickly clog the nozzles. It’s good if you noticed the problem in time and the nozzles did not have time to burn out. Also, paint of the same type from different manufacturers may be incompatible. Ideally, ink tanks should be refilled with the same consumables. Some experts even advise not to print with new original cartridges if you are going to refill them later, but to immediately rinse and refill with the exact ink that will always be used.

As a result of printing with an empty cartridge

Carefully monitor the condition of the ink tanks, refill them on time, as printing with leftover ink quickly damages the ink tank. First, the nozzles become clogged, and then, if you do not pay attention to the print quality in a timely manner, the nozzles burn out. Here, washing will not help; such a head cannot be restored.

Flushing fluids

Specialized ink stores also sell washing liquids. For example, OCP RSL100 or more concentrated Bursten PDK. But they are quite expensive, and washing a very dry head may require a large amount of product.

You can make your own alkaline solution using the following recipe. For 7 parts distilled water, take one part:

• ammonia,
• isopropyl alcohol,
• glycerin.

Mix the resulting mixture thoroughly and strain. It makes no sense to use distilled water separately, since it is ineffective for water-based ink and does not dissolve pigment paint at all.

Important: Do not wash clogs with alcohol and vodka. Dried or curdled paint releases remaining liquid into ethyl alcohol, making further soaking difficult or impossible.

The glass cleaner has proven itself to be the best Mister Muscle blue or green. Its effect is comparable in results to specialized flushing fluids, but the price is significantly lower. You can use other window cleaners whose composition is similar to Mister Muscle and contains ammonia.

How to remove the print head

Open the cover while the printer is turned on to allow the carriage to move out of the parking space. Turn off the printer. Remove the cartridges. The print head is clearly visible, but it is too early to remove it.

In different printer models, the latch holding the PG looks different, although the principle of operation is the same in almost all models. On the right side there is a lever, or the frame has a certain shape. You need to lift it up.

The MG5440 model has a slightly different principle. The latch here is a bar with the image of ink colors, which does not rise up: you need to pull it towards you until it clicks. Now the PG is free, tilt it forward and carefully remove it from the printer.

Flushing

Make sure that the PG of your printer has no burns near the nozzles, the nozzles are intact, and flushing

Burnouts in the nozzle area (Click to enlarge)

has the meaning. If so, prepare:

1. washing liquid;
2. gauze, napkins or bandage;
3. syringe;
4. a low plastic container where the GHG will fit;
5. tube from a medical drip.

Cover the table with newspapers and place a piece of bandage, folded several times, soaked in the washing liquid, under the PG. Using another piece of cloth, also soaked in the cleaner, gently blot the intake grates.

Remove the rubber seals, wash them, and thoroughly wipe the head body around the intake holes. Drying of ink in these places can lead to depressurization of the system. As a result, air may be sucked in and paint will flow intermittently. It is a good idea to periodically clean the O-rings for preventive purposes, even when there are no problems with the seal.

Digging

Instillation of PG (Click to enlarge)

A little liquid is instilled into each gateway with a syringe and needle. As soon as the drop is absorbed, add more. Change the bandage as it gets dirty and continue dripping until the liquid passing through the head is no longer the same color as the ink. If the liquid is not absorbed very well, heat it to 50–60 degrees. To enhance the effect, you can use a more aggressive agent, following the instructions for its use.

When each of the sluices begins to absorb well and allow flushing to pass through, let the head stand. After an hour, there should be no strong ink streaks on the fabric. This means that the washing was successful and the head can be returned to the printer. Before printing, be sure to clean the nozzles of cleaning agent using the printer utility program.

Soaking the nozzle plate

But washing is not always so simple. Perhaps one or two sluices do not allow liquid to pass through: the drop is not absorbed for a long time. For some time you need to remove it with a bandage and drip again, but if nothing has changed in an hour, it’s time to proceed to the next stage.

Pour 2-3 mm of washing liquid heated to 40° into a plastic container, lower the print head there with the nozzles down and place it in a warm place to soak, after covering the airlocks on top with a damp bandage to prevent them from drying out and covering the PG with a plastic bag. If no changes are observed the next day, heat the cleaning liquid again and leave for another day. In general, washing the print head is a long process; you can only save the part slowly.

Soaking intake holes

If the sluices still do not allow liquid to pass through, you can try to create some pressure from above. You need to put tubes about 5 cm long on each of the intake holes and fill them with cleaning liquid.

In this form, the structure can be left for a long time, periodically adding rinsing. If the liquid still leaves the tube through the problematic sluices, continue the procedure for two days.

Reaching out

When the liquid level in one of the tubes does not decrease, you can try the following technique. Pour a little product into the container, put a piece of cloth and press the PG nozzles against it. Insert a syringe without a needle into the tube and, carefully moving the piston towards you, draw the cleaning agent through the nozzles.

Do this several times, adding clean liquid to the pan. Pour out the used rinse from the syringe, then refill the tube and leave for another hour. The process can be repeated several times.

Important: The head must be pressed firmly against the wet fabric to avoid drawing air into the nozzles.

If the liquid now leaves the tubes at approximately the same speed, the steam generator has been flushed.

Pumping

If after two days of soaking the liquid still does not flow well, you can

Pumping liquid through the steam generator (Click to enlarge)

try pumping it with a syringe in both directions. Continue to press the nozzles against the wet bandage, drawing in the liquid in the same way. Squeezing in the opposite direction must be done when the tube is full.

Liquid is drawn into the syringe so that there is a layer of air between the piston and the flushing agent. This technique helps to avoid a sharp push that could damage the nozzle plate.

You need to press the piston very carefully, no more than 2-3 divisions at once, then even more slowly, depending on the fluid loss.

Extreme methods

So, in fact, we have run out of methods that still have a high chance of saving the print head. If the goal cannot be achieved, you can use several more much riskier methods:

1. Press out the liquid with a full syringe without an air cushion. The pressure on the nozzles will increase significantly, as will the risk of damaging them. Do not press the head against the fabric, but lift it slightly. Press the piston carefully, as before, the pressure is much greater due to the lack of an air cushion.

Hold the steam generator nozzles over the steam for several minutes and push through the flushing heated to 40–50 degrees.

Place the head on the surface of hot water for a few minutes, without dipping more than a millimeter, and draw the liquid through the nozzles.

The print head is washed (picture taken from www.chernila.com) (Click to enlarge)

1. Use a more aggressive product: mix 9% vinegar and distilled water in a ratio of 1:9. This composition cleans well, but has a destructive effect on internal parts, and after using it, it is necessary to rinse with an alkaline solution to neutralize the acidic environment. Do not use this method if you are not prepared for the fact that the print head will fail in two to three months.

If one of these extreme methods helped achieve the desired goal, do not rush to return the PG to the printer. After such extreme measures, be sure to dry it with a hairdryer. Do not overheat the head: take breaks for about twenty minutes. If you doubt that everything has dried well enough, leave it near the battery for two days, and before installation, drop a little flushing liquid into each gateway.

You can also order repair (washing / restoration) of the Canon print head.

Have fun typing.

What is the most common cause of inkjet printer failure? As a rule, clogging of nozzles and printing elements. This occurs due to drying and subsequent sticking of the ink to the cartridge head. You can resist this process by periodically cleaning these elements with a special cleaning fluid for inkjet printers. You can not only buy it in a specialized store, but also make it yourself.

Why do you need to use flushing fluid?

Let's decide in what cases this tool can be useful to us:

• Cleaning a cartridge that you need to refill. This is necessary to prevent a reaction between inks from different manufacturers. Its consequences can be very sad: a sediment forms that blocks the nozzles on the nozzle plate. Liquid excludes this option.
• Printhead clogging. Flushing fluid for inkjet printers is the second stage here. It is used when standard cleaning did not produce results. The solution is designed to help restore the functions of the print head by freeing it from dried ink.
• Cleaning other elements of the printer or MFP from splashed ink.

Professional cleaning fluids

Solutions that you can purchase in the store (or make yourself) can also be used as a preservative element. The composition of washing fluid for inkjet printers is close to the composition of paint. Therefore, it does not accelerate the precipitation of pigment. But such a phenomenon is inevitable by its nature. Remember that the shelf life of the paint is only a year. If you try to dilute it, this will only speed up the process of formation of pigment sediment.

The most common professional products on the market are:

• Inktec. Flushing fluid for inkjet and Canon. It is used when a certain color has become poorly printed or the device has not been used for a long time. The shelf life of the solution is 2 years.
• OCP tools. Packaged in 100 ml bottles. Also good for two years. Used for effective cleaning of print heads of printers and MFPs.

The easiest way

The simplest option for washing fluid for inkjet printers - It is important to note that ordinary chilled boiling water is not a full replacement. In order for distilled water to cope with its task most effectively, it should be heated to 50-60 degrees before washing.

This method is good if the printer has been “resting” for no more than 2-3 months. In the case where the period is longer than this, or the device has been in a room with consistently high temperatures all this time, you need to use one of the methods described below.

Three wash solution compositions

To make cleaning fluid for inkjet printers with your own hands, just go to the nearest pharmacy or just look for the necessary components at home.

We will present you with recipes for three effective compositions that help wash the printer’s printing elements:

1. Neutral solution. Suitable for all types of printers and MFPs. The composition is prepared from the following elements:

• 80% - distilled water.
• 10% - medical alcohol.
• 10% - glycerin.

2. Alkaline solution. Suitable for Canon and Epson printers. To prepare, you need to mix four components:

• 70% - distilled water.
• 10% - glycerin.
• 10% - medical alcohol.
• 10% - aqueous ammonia solution.

3. Acid solution. This is a cleaning fluid for HP inkjet printers (color). You need to mix three ingredients:

• 80% - distilled water.
• 10% - acetic acid.
• 10% - medical alcohol.

Glass cleaning solution

1. Place the print head in warm (40-50 degrees) water for 5 minutes.
2. Pour cleaning fluid into another container.
3. Immerse the cartridge head in this solution for 10 minutes, lowering it approximately 1 cm into the solution.
4. Remove the element and use a syringe and refill station to extract about 1 ml of ink.
5. Use a tissue to remove dirt and ink from the print head.
6. Install it in the printer and run routine cleaning.
7. If the procedure does not lead to a satisfactory result, it is repeated 2-3 times.

Using an ultrasound bath:

1. Pour the washing solution into the container.
2. Immerse the cartridge head in it for 2-3 minutes, lowering it 1 cm into the liquid.
3. Fill the ultrasonic bath with water and place the element in it for only 5 seconds!
4. After you have taken out the cartridge, use a syringe to extract 1 ml of paint from it.
5. Clean any dirt from the print head.
6. Return the cartridge to the printer and run normal cleaning.
7. If the result is unsatisfactory, repeat the procedure 2-3 more times.

Flushing liquid is a solution that helps to effectively clean the printer’s print head after the device has been idle for a long time, when replacing the ink in the cartridge. You can not only buy it, but also make it yourself.

The print head is cleaned when paint and dust clog the nozzles where the ink comes from. As a rule, this happens after the device has been inactive for a long time - the toners become covered with dust and slowly dry out, after which the user receives incorrect prints with various defects. The solution to the problem of dry ink is to manually wash the print head with special liquids. The procedure is not the most difficult, but it will require care and attention. With the right approach and following all the rules, the result will be cleaned elements in the printer and high-quality printing.

When should you clean the print head?

Canon service technicians say flushing is a last resort for printer maintenance.. Incorrect printing may have other reasons: the entry of air bubbles, misadjustment of the print head, excess pressure (when CISS containers are installed above the level of the head) or contamination from adhering dirt and dust. Another reason for a defect in the print is the failure of piezocrystals when the device is overloaded (Epson technology) or burnt-out heating elements (HP technology). If the equipment is used intensively, the print head is cleaned once a quarter or less.

Cleaning does not occur when system errors appear on the printer's LCD indicating that the toner is low or the cartridge icon blinks.

Software print head cleaning

Before you begin mechanical cleaning, you should test the system and run a standard cleaning program. The program start may be located in the PC menu or the printer itself, depending on the model. If you use a computer, you need to go to the control panel, find the active printer and go to the “service” section, where you can check the nozzles and program print head cleaning. Then you need to launch the software.

Upon completion of the program cleaning, you need to repeat test the nozzles. Based on the print, you can draw conclusions whether a mechanical cleaning procedure is required or not. As a rule, this operation solves the problem of slightly dirty nozzles; if the ink is dry, software commands will not help.

Mechanical cleaning of the printer

Printer maintenance begins with preparing and checking all components. Initially carried out visual inspection To evaluate upcoming work, dust, particles of dried ink, and paper particles often accumulate in the printer.

You can manually wash all types of cartridges, except for models with filler. Such elements can only be cleaned using specialized devices - a centrifuge or a vacuum apparatus.

Then check CISS for broken paint supply hoses, tightness of the connections between the airlock and the cartridge. If there are air bubbles in the gateway, first of all the CISS is debugged and balanced. Donor containers or cartridges must be filled; if necessary, refill the printer and print a nozzle check test page.

Checking paint hoses

Not long ago, there was active discussion on the Internet about such a service device as ultrasonic bath. The usefulness of the device has not been proven for certain (and it does not matter whether it is medical equipment or a device for gentle cleaning of small parts). If you consult with specialists, the opinions are not clear, but most often they are negative. Facts of successful use of an ultrasonic bath among craftsmen are difficult to detect, but observations indicate a negative impact on the printer’s print head (failure within 24 hours or upon first use).

Using an ultrasonic bath

Everything you need to know about flushing fluids

Perhaps one of the most useful recommendations is to use a cleaner of the same brand as the ink. No one knows the exact composition of the dye better than the manufacturer, therefore, only the manufacturer himself knows how to remove it effectively and safely. Special cleaning compounds are safe for printers and their components. As a rule, there are several of them: for external cleaning, for removing water-soluble ink, pigment dyes, aggressive liquids for breaking down dried toners and severe blockages.

Universal washing liquid RDM No. 1 for inkjet printers and MFPs

For removing water-soluble ink The following liquids are suitable.

1. Desalted water (specialized liquid WWM W01).
2. Distilled water.
3. A solution of a mixture of distilled water and 5 - 10% ammonia (not to be confused with ammonia) in proportions 1-10:1 (the exact proportions are calculated experimentally). The finished solution based on ammonia must be filtered through a mesh with a size of 0.01 microns.

Pigment dyes dissolve with other compounds:

• isopropyl alcohol;
• various specialized liquids.

In addition to branded cleaners, there are companies that carry various liquids for specific purposes. For example, WWM company boasts a good line of cleaners.

You can also choose an analogue, for example, workshop specialists have been using a conventional one for this operation for many years. glass liquid Mister Muscle. The main thing is to choose the right liquid for the ink: water-soluble dyes are green and pink, based on ammonia (ammonia), pigment dyes remove blue and orange, based on isopropyl alcohol.

To enhance the effectiveness of any solution, heat it to a temperature of 30-60°C.

If you don't know what kind of ink was used, don't rush to wash it. An incorrectly selected composition can quickly and permanently damage the print head. Take some ink and dissolve it in different formulations (or one, of your choice). After a couple of hours, analyze the result. When pigment dyes are exposed to distilled water, a precipitate is released. The transition of the liquid to a jelly-like consistency also indicates that the cleaning liquid was chosen incorrectly; the correct solution dilutes the ink and loosens the clots of dried dye.

Step-by-step washing instructions

After preparation and checks, you can begin the procedure of cleaning the printer’s print head. To do this, you will need technical washing liquid, two syringes (preferably 10 ml), several transparent tubes made of soft plastic or rubber, a container, and a bandage.

Cleaning the mouthguard and knife

Printer service technicians recommend cleaning the mouth guard and rubber blade first. Dust and dirt accumulated here depressurize the system, air enters it, which leads to printing with defects.

Sometimes a rubber knife may be located in the printer, inside the housing. It would be useful to print out the details of the device with a breakdown of the details.

Inkjet printer device

First option for cleaning the head

The printer's print head should only be removed before cleaning. On the lower part, remove accumulated dirt with a bandage soaked in cleaner. If the contamination is severe, use several pieces of bandage and repeat the procedure until the blockage is removed.

Remove the cartridge from the print head, underneath there are ink intake fittings. Gently wipe down all colors of grates. To flush the head, you will need a syringe filled with flushing liquid. The nozzle of the syringe should fit tightly onto the fitting; if the size does not match, increase the diameter of the syringe (for example, with a heated thin screwdriver). As a rule, the difference in diameters does not exceed 1 mm.

After releasing the air from the syringe, pump the wash into the fitting with slow and smooth movements, avoiding getting the cleaner on the head. If, through negligence, liquid does spill, quickly remove it using a second syringe or napkin; do not turn on the device until the moisture has completely evaporated.

Wash all colors in the same way, carefully watching pressure on the syringe rod and the “reaction” of the fittings to flushing. If one or more colors are heavily clogged or have large clumps of dried toner, the cleaner will fill slowly and unstably, or in some cases not flow at all. To eliminate overdried ink elements, more stringent, aggressive cleaning will be required.

Upon completion, remove all moisture by wiping the PG, housing and all accessible elements dry. Place the cartridge in the carriage and take it to a parking space.

Please note: if the cleaner is compatible with water-soluble inks, and the new dyes are pigment inks, you should rinse the system thoroughly with demineralized water (distilled water is not recommended, as sediment may form).

Option two – for “serious” cases

Another method of “reanimating” the PG is not much different from the first, but will help with moderate blockages. In this case, the syringe does not fit into the hole in the ink supply fitting, and the flushing liquid is slowly dig by hand through the grate. A clean bandage folded in several layers should be placed under the head; when it becomes dirty, replace it with a new one.

The procedure will take longer, about 1 - 2 hours, but the methodical action of the cleaner will effectively remove accumulated ink. If there is no result, you can strengthen the process.

1. Cut several transparent tubes that match the diameter of the holes and put them on the head fittings.
2. Pour cleaner into the tubes through a syringe, leave for several hours, or overnight.
3. If the technical fluid passes evenly through the steam generator, it means the operation was completed successfully.

When cleaner does not flow into one or more tubes at all or flows, but more slowly than into others, this indicates severe contamination.

This cleaning procedure can be called gentle; it is allowed to repeat it several times (a week or two).

The third option is forced traction of the cleaner

This method is only suitable for very difficult situations when no method helps. The hard washing algorithm is as follows.

If forced flushing does not help, the next step for “advanced users” is a complete disassembly of the head. As practice shows, it is better to entrust this to a specialist. The reason is that due to inexperience, it is easy to damage the nozzles or the print head board, after which it can no longer be restored.

Cleaning the print head can be a long and tedious process, but the procedure itself is quite simple. It is important to observe caution and safety rules: disconnect the printer from the network and PC, protect the printer’s print head and electronics from moisture.

When to clean the print head

The cleaning procedure is not very complicated, but still requires skill and accuracy. There is no point in doing it unnecessarily.

However, there are cases when such a process simply cannot be avoided:

• Printing defects. Very often, the printer suddenly begins to produce sheets with stripes, or does not supply color at all to the printed image, smears the image, or goes beyond the edges.

• Long downtime. When the machine is not used every day, ink can clog the printer head, drying out around the edges of the output holes. Then first you should conduct a nozzle test from the menu of your device, that is, try to clean the print head using the standard software. If nothing works, then cleanse it manually.
• Replacing paint. When changing the ink in the printer, you can take an ink with a different composition, for example, the same cartridge, only from a different manufacturer. If you are changing one dye to another, then you must first thoroughly rinse the ink supply system, for example, with washing liquid for any residue, and then install the new dye.

Note! Specialists from service centers, for example, those that service Canon printers, say that washing the printer yourself is an extreme measure that should be used as a last resort, because there is a risk of damage to the print head.

In addition, printing with defects can be obtained not only due to contamination of the nozzles, but for example, due to the presence of air bubbles in the ink container, misadjustment of the print head, and finally simply due to excess ink pressure when the CISS (continuous ink supply system is set too high , above the level of the head), and the ink presses on the nozzles with its own weight, resulting in unsightly blots during printing.

Sometimes the printer can simply be overloaded, for example, this is the case with the devices of the company Epson; the special piezoelectric crystals responsible for the correct positioning of the paper fail. Or the heating elements in the device may burn out - this is a common problem with HP printers.

Manual cleaning of the print head should be carried out at least once every three months.

Attention! It is not recommended to clean the nozzles and wash the head yourself if the printer displays a system error on its display. In this case, it is better to contact the service center specialists.

Software print head cleaning

To correct the situation with a defective print with your own hands, you first need to turn to the usual standard cleaning program. It is usually located on the installation disk that comes with the device, or is already built into the software of the printer itself. It all depends on the specific model of your device.

How to clean Epson printer head? For example, if you use a computer, you need to call up the printer utility through the control panel, then go to the “Service” section and check the nozzles. After your device cleans itself and prints a test page, you can see right away: is the problem solved?

Advice! It is better to carry out such cleanings no more than 2-3, as this wears out the printer nozzles.

This procedure solves the problem of slight contamination immediately, almost after the first cleaning, but if there is a lot of dried ink, then the program will not help.

Mechanical cleaning of the printer

Before the actual procedure of manually cleaning the nozzles, you should first carry out a general diagnostic or visual inspection of the device in order to assess the scope of future work. How to clean an HP printer, for example? In addition to the head itself, it is often necessary to thoroughly clean the device itself from dust, dirt, and paper particles, because if you do not carry out “general” cleaning in other parts of the printer, the head will clog again and again much faster, because there will still be a lot of dirt nearby.

Important! It is also necessary to wash cartridges manually, but an exception should be made for models with ink filler, for example, on an Epson printer. Such cartridges are used in the CISS system. These cartridges can be thoroughly washed only with the help of special devices - a centrifuge or a vacuum device, so it is better to entrust this task to professionals.

After assessing the scope of work, you need to check the CISS hose itself: are there any bends, creases, how tightly are the gateways and cartridges connected?

How to clean in this situation? If the gateway is not connected tightly, then air can get in, which means it should be secured more securely.

Ink containers, or donors as they are called, must be filled completely so that there are no air pockets left either. Then print a test page again, perhaps the problem of text defects will be solved immediately, and there will be no need for printer flushing fluid.

Everything you need to know about flushing fluids

You need to wash the head of an HP or any other printer with a special solution - cleaner. It is best to use a cleaner of the same brand as the ink, since the manufacturer is the same, he selects the optimal compositions of dye and solvent that will help more effectively than just any cleaner.

There are several types:

• For external cleansing.
• To remove water-soluble ink, for example when cleaning a Canon print head.
• For removing pigment dyes.
• For removing special heavily dried toners and clearing large dirt and blockages. This often happens when cleaning the Epson print head.

To remove water-soluble ink, use either demineralized water (WWM W01) or distilled water. Experienced craftsmen also prepare a special solution from a mixture of distilled water and ammonia (5-10%). The proportions are 1:10:1. Each master calculates the optimal proportions empirically, depending on how well the contaminants are removed. The finished mixture must be filtered through a fine mesh of 0.01 microns and can be used.

If you need to remove pigment dye, for example, when washing the Epson print head, then the cleaner must contain isopropyl alcohol, as well as various specialized liquids. WWM specializes in such cleaning mixtures. In addition to demineralized water, pigment remover and water-soluble paint, they even produce a special solution for washing and soaking.

Advice! When your wallet doesn’t allow you to look at special liquids, for example, to remove dirt on an HP print head, but you want to “fix” the printer, then a simple “Mr. Muscle” glass cleaning liquid will do.

The most important thing here is to choose the right color of the solution: ammonia-based “Muscle” will do an excellent job with green and pink ink, and a blue and orange alcohol-based solution is for pigment spots. Many experts advise heating such a solution to a temperature of 30-60 degrees, so the cleansing is more intense.

Step-by-step washing instructions

After all the preparation, you can begin the actual cleaning procedure.

You will need:

• Wash solution.
• Two 10 ml syringes.
• Plastic straws, for example, for cocktails.
• Small plastic container.
• Bandage.

Cleaning the mouthguard and knife

The cap and knife are the places where accumulated dust will immediately depress the system and lead to defective printing, since air bubbles will immediately rush there.

First you need to unlock the carriage - the container for cartridges. For example, to clean the Epson print head, this can be easily done through the software, and then simply turn off the printer.

Attention! All washing actions must be carried out in a device that is disconnected from the power supply!

Then use a syringe to pour the cleaner into the mouth guard and leave the liquid there for 10 minutes. Afterwards the cleaner needs to be drained.

The rubber knife can be wiped with a napkin or bandage also soaked in a special solution. How do you know that you have washed everything completely? The cleaner stops staining.

Note! In some devices, the rubber blade is located inside the housing, and not immediately behind the mouthguard. First look at the instructions for the device, where the locations of the parts are explained.

First option for cleaning the head

After this, you need to remove the cartridge from the print head and carefully use a syringe to blow through the special holes - fittings for collecting ink.

You need to rinse the fitting very carefully, not allowing the cleaner to get on the head; if this happens, you need to quickly wipe it with a napkin or remove drops with a second syringe. And then the printer will need to be left for a day until the moisture has completely evaporated.

After cleaning, wipe everything dry and install the cartridge in the carriage.

Option two – for “serious” cases

It is also possible to revive the printer head in case of more complex soiling; in this case, the disassembly process is the same, only you will have to wash the fittings not by blowing them out, but by using a cleaner to dig through the entire grid around and the holes themselves. In this case, a bandage is placed under the head, which will collect excess fluid.

You need to drip slowly, over 1.5 - 2 hours, but this method will most effectively remove dirt. If, nevertheless, the holes of the fittings do not give in, then you can use heavier artillery - cut out pieces from plastic tubes, attach them to the head and pour cleaner into them from above. Under the pressure of the solvent, dried paint will sooner or later, usually a day, disappear.

Important! It is easy to determine which of the fittings is more contaminated - the cleaner does not flow well into that particular tube, and it is more difficult to fill it to the required level.

This cleaning procedure can be repeated once a week.

The third option is forced traction of the cleaner

For very advanced cases, there is a hard flushing algorithm: the plan is exactly the same as in the previous paragraph, only after connecting the tube to the fitting, you will also need to connect a syringe filled to the top with cleaner. Place a small plastic container under the head and press the syringe firmly onto the tube, releasing liquid through the tube. And then do the opposite operation: moisten the bandage with a cleaner and draw out a special solution through the head with a syringe.

If this method does not help, then it is best to entrust your device to a specialist, since after “forced” washing the head must be completely disassembled. During this operation, a non-professional can easily damage the nozzles or the head board, after which they will have to completely replace this part.
Thus, cleaning the print head is a rather complex and painstaking process, in which it is important to be careful and, most importantly, to prevent moisture from getting on the contacts.