What is the most common cause of inkjet printer failure? Typically, clogging nozzles, printing elements. This occurs from drying and subsequent adhesion of ink to the cartridge head. You can resist this process by periodically cleaning these elements with a special flushing fluid for inkjet printers. It can not only be bought in a specialized store, but also made independently.
Why use flushing fluid?
Let's decide in which cases this tool may be useful to us:
- Clean the cartridge you need to refill. This is necessary so that there is no reaction between the ink of different manufacturers. Its consequences can be very sad: a precipitate forms, which blocks the nozzles on the nozzle plate. Liquid eliminates this option.
- Blocking of printheads. Flushing fluid for inkjet printers is the second stage. It is used when regular cleaning had no results. The solution is designed to help restore the function of the print head, freeing it from dried ink.
- Clean other ink or printer elements from ink splatter.
Professional flushing fluids
Solutions that you can purchase at the store (or make them yourself) can also be used as a preservative. The composition of the flushing fluid for inkjet printers is close to the composition of the ink. Therefore, it does not contribute to accelerating the precipitation of pigment. But such a phenomenon is inherently inevitable. Remember that the shelf life of the paint is only a year. If you try to dilute it, it will only accelerate the formation of pigment sediment.
The following professional products are most common on the market:
- Inktec . Flushing fluid for Epson and Canon inkjet printers . It is used when a certain color has become poorly printed or the device has not been used for a long time. The shelf life of the solution is 2 years.
- OCP Tools. Packed in 100 ml vials. Also suitable for two years. They are used to effectively clean the printheads of printers and MFPs.
Easiest way
The simplest ink jet printer wash solution is distilled water. It is important to note that ordinary chilled boiling water is not its full replacement. In order for distilled water to cope with its task most effectively, it should be heated to 50-60 degrees before washing.
The method is good if the printer "rested" no more than 2-3 months. In the event that the period is longer than this, or the device has been in a room with stable high temperatures all this time, one of the methods described below should be applied.
Three wash solution formulations
To make a washing liquid for inkjet printers with your own hands, it is enough to go to the nearest pharmacy or simply search for the necessary components at home.
We will present you recipes for three effective formulations that help clean the printer’s print elements:
1. Neutral solution. Suitable for all types of printers and MFPs. The composition is prepared from the following elements:
- 80% is distilled water.
- 10% - medical alcohol.
- 10% - glycerin.
2. Alkaline solution. Suitable for Canon and Epson printers. To prepare, you need to mix four components:
- 70% is distilled water.
- 10% - glycerin.
- 10% - medical alcohol.
- 10% aqueous ammonia.
3. The acid solution. This is a flushing fluid for HP inkjet printers (color). You need to mix three components:
- 80% is distilled water.
- 10% - acetic acid.
- 10% - medical alcohol.
Glass Cleaner Solution
Canon or Epson inkjet printers can be manufactured using common glass and mirror cleaner products:
- It will be necessary to find two components - distilled water and a cleaning agent. The latter may be the popular “Mr. Muscle,” “Mr. Proper,” and so on.
- It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the composition of the product: it must contain isopropylene alcohol and sodium sulfoethoxylate. It is these components that soften the dried ink on the print head.
- Do-it-yourself flushing liquid for inkjet printers is prepared in a separate container in the following proportion: 9 parts of distilled water per one part of detergent. To scrupulously comply with the dosage, you can use a syringe with a marking.
- Try cleaning the printer components with this solution. If the result is unsatisfactory, then you can add another tool for cleaning glasses. But in any case, its share should not exceed 50%!
In order to increase efficiency, we do not recommend using a clean glass cleaner. In this concentration, it can dissolve the “mastic” that is contained in the print head. And this will lead to the fact that the paint will flow from one part to another, which is fraught with a mixture of colors on paper. For 100%, the nozzle will also be damaged, which can then work with some deviation.
Fluid application
There are two ways to use purchased or self-prepared solution.
Without ultrasonic bath :
- Place the print head for 5 minutes in warm (40-50 degrees) water.
- Pour flushing liquid into another container.
- For 10 minutes, immerse the cartridge head in this solution, dropping it about 1 cm into the solution.
- Remove the item and draw out about 1 ml of ink using a syringe and a gas station.
- Use a tissue to remove dirt and ink from the print head.
- Install in the printer and start regular cleaning.
- If the procedure does not lead to a satisfactory result, it is repeated 2-3 times.
Using an ultrasonic bath:
- Pour the rinse solution into the container.
- For 2-3 minutes, immerse the cartridge head in it, dropping it 1 cm into the liquid.
- Fill the ultrasonic bath with water and place the element in it for only 5 seconds!
- After you take out the cartridge, draw out 1 ml of ink from it with a syringe.
- Clean the print head from dirt.
- Return the cartridge to the printer, start regular cleaning.
- If the result is unsatisfactory, repeat the procedure 2-3 more times.
Wash liquid - a solution that helps to effectively clean the print head of the printer after prolonged shutdown of the device, when replacing ink in the cartridge. You can not only buy it, but also make it yourself.