How to Clean an EPSON Print Head

Most Epson inkjet printers use a similar print head carriage.  This is one way to clean the print head:  Run the cartridge change cycle, unplug the printer and while the cartridges are moved over, fill the rubber shoe that goes under the print head with cleaner, (use the syringe--at least 7 drops, or 'til full) then manually slide the cartridge carriage back (don't remove cartridges yet.)  Let print head soak overnight.  Plug printer back in the next morning and run a few cleaning cycles.  This will usually be enough if you only have a few jets missing.

If you need a more thorough cleaning, run the cartridge change cycle and unplug the printer (turning the power switch off is not enough.)  Remove the cartridges and set aside.  A real Epson individual color cartridge will seal on the bottom and you can stack anywhere.  If you are using a different print cartridge, you probably need to keep them standing up.  I use a cereal bowl.

Suck 1/2 to 1 ml of solution into cleaning syringe and place adapter over first ink receiver in carriage.  SLOWLY inject solution.  Repeat for rest of ink receivers.  Replace ink cartridges, plug printer back in and resume cartridge change cycle.  Run the cleaning cycle SEVERAL times.  Remember, you need to get the cleaning solution out first.  Yes, this uses up boatloads of ink!  I use refill cartridges in all of my Epsons for this reason.

Are we seeing any improvement?  I have been known to repeat the above instructions once.  A jet that has been plugged for some time is difficult to clean out.  Running the printer with lots of clogged jets can lead to some burned out jets (they will never come back.)

This cleaner may also be injected right into your ink cartridge to keep the ink flowing!  Only use 1/4 ml or so.  I use it in my Lexmarks and HP's also.  You can soak a stubborn Lexmark or HP cartridge in a small amount of this cleaner, too.

Note:  Does your printer output nothing when you try to print?  Cleaning the print heads may not be the answer!  Epson uses a suction system under the print head to prime the ink, and a hose sometimes clogs or falls off!  You can determine this by filling the shoe with cleaner and running a cleaning cycle.  The cleaner may not disappear if the hose is clogged.  If it fell off, it will never prime the cartridges.  The fix is difficult, but not impossible.  Instructions can be eMailed to you, if you can't Google them elsewhere.  Worst case scenario is that you burned out the print heads and you now own an expensive boat anchor.

Lexmark & HP Print Head Cleaning Tips

The print heads on Lexmark & HP printers are usually on the removable cartridge.  Soak a tissue folded in quarters with a little cleaner and blot the print head on it a couple of times.  A stubborn head can be soaked in a small shallow bowl of cleaner.  Put a 1/4 ml or so in the cartridge to keep the ink flowing.