How to Manually Clean a Canon Inkjet Cartridge

One way to fully maintain your printer is to ensure that the ink cartridges are cleaned regularly and properly. Some have programs on the computer to clean the ink cartridges with, but some require that the ink cartridges be cleaned manually. Follow these instructions to learn how to manually clean a Canon inkjet cartridge.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Canon inkjet printer

1. Remove the ink cartridge. For most printers, you simply pop the top of the printer off, wait for the ink cartridges to move into place, and then remove them from the printer. Consult the user manual of your printer if you are having problems performing this step.

2. Locate the contacts on the ink cartridge. They are generally on the back of the ink cartridge and tend to be copper or gold colored. Use a dry cleansing cloth and remove any residue from the contacts.

3. Wipe the rest of the ink cartridge off. Use a dry cleansing cloth to remove any dirt or spots on the ink cartridge.

4. Clean your cartridge’s print head. Use a cleansing cloth with a little bit of rubbing alcohol. Wipe the print head from top to bottom and allow drying. Do this prior to the reinstallation of your cleaned ink cartridge.

5. Reinstall your ink cartridge. Once you have finished cleaning both the cartridge and the print head, reinstall your cartridge. Consult your printer manual if you have any troubles reinstalling your ink cartridge.

Tips & Warnings

• Unplug the power cord from your printer prior to removing ink cartridges. If your printer is connected to a computer you do not have to manually clean the ink cartridges because there is a cleaning system for the ink cartridges installed through the computer.
• Be sure to keep any liquids away from the interior of the printer, especially the print head.
• Do not press too hard when cleaning; just gently brush or rub the parts.
• Do not replace or remove more than one ink cartridge at a time.