Cleaning Inkjet Cartridges

Directions for Cleaning Inkjet Cartridges

Cleaning inkjet cartridges is an important part of keeping your printer working properly. There are many reasons why a cartridge would need to be cleaned. Many of today's cartridges come with the print head already on them, which means you get a brand new print head every time you change the cartridge. However, the longer you use a cartridge, the higher the risk of the print head getting dirty or clogged. Sometimes, people who don't print very often also experience clogs due to dried ink. If this happens, there are some ways to remedy the problem.

The first way is by using the cleaning cycle on your printer. Most inkjet printers have an automatic cleaning mechanism that can be activated with the press of a button or two. To find out if your printer comes with this function, check your owner's manual. Sometimes, however, a printer is unable to do this or the process just doesn't work like it should. Short of replacing the cartridge or print head if it is part of your inkjet printer, there are some other things you can try.

Using a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol is a great way to remove dried ink from a print head and get the ink flowing again. Or, simply place a few drops of alcohol on the print nozzle and allow it to soak through before wiping clean. This will loosen up the dried ink and encourage fresh ink to flow freely. Many people find problems with printing happen following the refilling process. Refilling inkjet cartridges is a way to save a substantial amount of money on the cost of replacements, however it is not without its own problems. Some cartridges contain sponges that hold the ink. If the sponge is refilled too quickly, air pockets can form and block the flow of ink to the print head. To pop the air pockets, tap the sides of the cartridge gently or insert ink with the refilling syringe from the bottom to push the air out. Other cartridges feature a vacuum tank that must be reactivated, and resealed carefully before the refilled cartridge will work properly.

Cleaning inkjet cartridges is often a necessary part of keeping print quality high. Refer to your inkjet printer manual for full instructions on keeping your printer, and your printer cartridges, functioning optimally. You'll find that most of the time, cartridge cleaning is simple and can be done in only a few minutes!

Inkjet Cartridge News:

Review: Canon Pixma MX410 printer has budget tradeoffs
Canon's Pixma MX410 color inkjet multifunction printer offers a classic set of budget tradeoffs...

Get an Epson wireless multifunction printer for $59.99 shipped - CNET

Industry Today (press release)

Get an Epson wireless multifunction printer for $59.99 shipped
CNET
It also sports a 2.5-inch color LCD, memory-card slots for PC-free photo printing, a 150-sheet paper tray, and a four-cartridge ink system. And you'll be glad to know that remanufactured cartridges are available for this model, which uses Epson 125 ink .
Re-inks.com Announced their Incomparable Price and Offers for HP Ink CartridgesSBWire (press release)
Re-inks Announced their Incomparable Price and Offers for HP Ink CartridgesIndustry Today (press release)

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Ink-O-Dem(R) Printer Ink Refills Taking 85000 Ohio College Students by Storm - MarketWatch (press release)

Ink-O-Dem(R) Printer Ink Refills Taking 85000 Ohio College Students by Storm
MarketWatch (press release)
CHICAGO, IL, Jan 04, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Ink-O-Dem, the explosive growth leader of integrated inkjet cartridge refilling and testing solutions for university and retail environments, today announced it has installed its highly popular .

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MONTOGOMERY: Company has growing printer cartridge refill business
Residents can have their ink and print it too, thanks to Chris Beyer, the owner of Technician X, a computer service and repair company located in Skillman...

Cartridge World - Saratoga.com

Saratoga.com

Cartridge World
Saratoga.com
Save Money on Inkjet & Laser Printer Cartridges. Cartridge World was established in 1991 providing people who print at home or office the freedom to choose a more affordable alternative to buying overpriced and wasteful new cartridges.

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Orientation meeting for juniors, parents set for Feb. 6 - Lancaster Eagle Gazette

Orientation meeting for juniors, parents set for Feb. 6
Lancaster Eagle Gazette
The Wagnalls Memorial in Lithopolis is participating in an inkjet cartridge recycling program. The library receives up to $4 for every cartridge recycled through them. Inkjet cartridges can be dropped off at the recycling box at the circulation desk.

and more »

Get an Epson wireless multifunction printer for $59.99 shipped
More than just an entry-level MFP, the Stylus NX530 offers double-sided printing and a 150-sheet input tray...

Printmakers join hands with recycling project
Cartridge recycling scheme set for launch in Thailand this year..

Do I Really Need to Replace My Inkjet Cartridges?
Hajime's printer warns that ink cartridges need replacing, but other indicators deny this. Hajime asked the Printers forum for help...

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