How to Clean Ink Jet Wells

Printer ink can clog your ink wells and slow down your printer.

Ink jet printers hold ink cartridges in ink wells--slots that hold and extract the ink. If a cartridge malfunctions or breaks, it can leave ink residue that can block the printer from working properly. Taking a few minutes to clean up the ink will keep your printer running smoothly.

Things You'll Need

• Ink-jet printer
• Lint-free cloth
• Water
• Rubbing alcohol
• Q-tips

Instructions

1. Remove the ink cartridges, if any, from the printer, based on your individual printer's instructions. Work in a well-lit area so you can see any ink smudges, and wear clothing that you don't mind getting ink on.

2. Dampen a cloth with water and squeeze it well so that no water drips from it. Wipe the inside of the ink well with the cloth.

3. Dip a Q-tip in rubbing alcohol and swab the inside of the ink well for any remaining ink. Keep using new Q-tips until they come away clean. There's no need to rinse out the ink well because the rubbing alcohol will evaporate cleanly and will not hurt the printer.

References

• Northlight Images: Clean Inkjet Printer