How to Clean an Encad Ink Cartridge
Replacing or refilling ink cartridges like the Encad wide format ink jet cartridges is a great way to reduce the costs for maintaining a printer versus buying new cartridges each time. You must properly clean cartridges as they will bleed excess ink on themselves, the runner and roller, as well as your documents. Wiping down a cartridge will generally be sufficient but, if you have refilled a cartridge many times or it has been sitting with the same ink, it may need this more intensive cleaning procedure.
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Instructions
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Wipe down the outside of the Encad ink cartridge thoroughly with your paper towel until it comes up mostly clean. Pay special attention to the refill point which is often uncovered because of previous refills.
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Dab the cotton swabs in rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol will help break ink down and will evaporate quickly, so it won't damage or react with the copper connectors on the Encad cartridge system.
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Use the moist swabs to wipe down all the metallic components of the cartridge. Pay special attention not to pour rubbing alcohol or any liquid directly onto the cartridge or inside of it.
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Wipe down the entire cartridge again with a clean paper towel. This time you are concentrating on getting any remaining ink or residue from the cotton swabs that might be left over.
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Allow the cartridge to dry for several minutes before refilling it to make sure you are not diluting the ink with alcohol. This will discolor any ink that you fill, so be extra careful.
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Tips & Warnings
While cleaning the ink cartridge, you should take the time to wipe down the inside of the printer, including the runner and roller, to make sure you have minimal bleeding of ink onto your documents. You can use hydrogen peroxide instead of rubbing alcohol for cleaning, but it should be diluted with water so that there is less then 10 percent peroxide.
Rubbing alcohol is poisonous and should not be ingested. If you get it in your eyes, rinse for several minutes with cool water directly on the contact point.
