Tips to Clean and Handle Ink Cartridges for Best Results

First of all you need to establish whether or not your printer ink cartridge needs to be cleaned. Run a test print and look for streaks or other indications such as dots that suggest that the ink cartridge needs to be cleaned. If you feel that the ink cartridge needs to be cleaned then select this option from the printer utility on your printer – anyone that is not sure how to perform this function on their specific printer should refer to their user manual. Once the cleaning is complete, print another test page and check the quality. Repeat the procedure until you are satisfied with the result.

How to clean the inkjet printer head

Almost all printers have a built in cleaning function that you can use to clean the printer head. If you are having difficulty with good quality print outs form your inkjet printer the heads may require cleaning. You should check your user manual to find out the exact procedure that you are supposed to use for your inkjet printer. Should that not work, or your inkjet printer does not have this function, then you should buy a substance that is over 90% alcohol and apply it to the printer head.

Inkjet printer frequently drying out

It is good practice to run a print head cleaning every week. When the print head on the printer is dry, replacing the ink cartridges will not do solve the problem. The print head is located in the printer, not the inkjet cartridge. Running a print through the printer on a regular basis will help prevent drying out.

Best way to handle an ink cartridge

Try to avoid touching the ink nozzle with your fingers when handling an ink cartridge. The ink in an opened inkjet cartridge will usually dry out within a couple of days if it is not in the printer. If an opened ink cartridge will not be used for a period of time, it should be wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a plastic bag and sealed. If the ink nozzle was to become clogged, you can dissolve the dried ink by soaking the ink cartridge in water for a few minutes. To soak the ink cartridge, place it in a foam container and fill the cup with water until the ink cartridge is halfway immersed in water. To dry the ink cartridge, blot it with a soft lint-free cloth. An ink cartridge should be replaced as soon as you notice the ink is getting low, to avoid damaging the print head.
Usual signs that the ink is low include light prints or white streaks. It is best practice to check the ink level before a large print run to ensure that you do not run out of ink. If the ink cartridge is leaking after a refill, do not put it back into your printer. Sometimes an ink cartridge may leak a small amount of ink after a refill, but once the air pressure inside the ink cartridge equalizes it will stop leaking. In the event that the ink cartridge leaks a lot, put the ink cartridge on a folded piece of paper or in a paper cup until the leak stops, then wipe the ink cartridge clean and put it in the printer. The print head should be cleaned before printing if the printer has not been used for a long time.

Compatible Inkjet and Toner Cartridges

A compatible inkjet or toner cartridge is manufactured by a different company than the original. Compatible inkjet cartridges are as reliable as the original and give as good a print quality too. Claim to the inkjet cartridges are remanufactured so that you can replace your inkjet or toner cartridge without needing to buy a branded version. So if your printer is made by Canon, Dell, Lexmark, HP, Epson or Brother, it is possible to use a compatible inkjet or toner cartridge. Possibly the most important thing is that you save a lot of money. This can be up to 50% savings on inkjet or toner cartridges in some cases.

Originally published at printerinkcartridges.ie