How to Clean an Inkjet Printer'S Print Head to Reduce Streaking

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By Daniella Nicole
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (2 Ratings)

With time and use, many inkjet printer print heads will begin to cause streaking on the documents that are printed. This problem is usually a very quick and easy one to correct.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

lint free cleaning rag or paper towels
distilled water

Step 1

Open the lid to your inkjet printer. This will be the same lid you open when you change inkjet cartridges.
Step 2

Remove your inkjet printer' s print head. On many printers this will be located on the inkjet cartridge(s). On other models, it will be a separate assembly piece.
Step 3

Dip the rag or a paper towel into a cap full of distilled water. Carefully pat the print head with it in order to remove built up ink, dust, and other gunk. Do not rub or scrub at the print head. Rubbing or scrubbing at the print head may damage it and may leave fibers from the rag or paper towel behind.
Step 4

Blot the inkjet head dry. While blotting dry, you should be able to see if the ink left with each blot is uniform or not. If there is still streaking caused by the print head, try cleaning it again, or try soaking it.
Step 5

Once the inkjet printer print head is dry and blotting a uniform pattern, re-install it in the inkjet printer. Close the lid, and print a test page. If the test page shows streaking, repeat the cleaning process.

Tips & Warnings

To soak a print head, simply heat up a small amount of distilled water, and soak the print head in it for a few minutes.
If you are still having problems, you may need to get a new cartridge, as the dried up ink may be too much to get with this simple cleaning method. If you get refills, a good cleaning and refill from your local inkjet refill store may solve the problem.
Do not leave an inkjet print head exposed to the air for longer than necessary. If you must leave it outside of your printer, store it in a sealed zip lock bag with a small, damp, folded up paper towel.
For very fine, delicate cleaning, you may need to use a wet cotton swab. If you use a cotton swab, do so with great care so as to not leave behind any cotton fibers.

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