Cleaning Canon's print head tips

1

Printer in question: Canon Pixma iP3300 ... a relatively low grade model printer (otherwise, I wouldn't be doing something like this), has a removable print head, and 4 cartridges that fit inside (C, M, Y, Black)

And one of the colours (cyan) is printing badly ... I tried most combinations of software features related to cleaning (regular clean, deep clean and the like) but to no avail. And since the local service is not working for a month or so (organizational restructuring, two companies merging ... temporarily, but that doesn't help me) I'm forced to try to clean it myself.

So, I'm here looking for tips. What would be the best way to do it ?
(wash it up, leave it in soaking water, some special fluids (alcohol ?) ... I'd like to do the job done somewhat economically reasonable so ...). I know most of you don't have this model at disposal, but doesn't matter ... the principles are the same ... I'll take any ideas you can give.

The cyan in question is not completely blocked, but it prints significantly worse then it used to ... the lines are intermitted, the colour is fatigue ...

Rook

Posted 2010-01-11T20:20:10.027

Reputation: 21 622

This is an ancient question, but I would not want new readers trying the accepted answer. Another question has a detailed answer (happens to be my own), with proper instructions for how to do this: http://superuser.com/questions/1088315/how-do-i-clean-just-one-color-of-my-inkjet-printhead

– fixer1234 – 2016-09-13T05:14:21.050

p.s. I'll accept the answer which solves the problem. If no one does, (and I ruin the printer <-- no big shame anyway), I'll just accept the most voted one. But I want the one which (if) solves it, to get rep for helping; that's why I'm leaving the CW unckecked. – Rook – 2010-01-11T20:21:11.367

Answers

0

Just spray some bathroom cleaner on a kitchen towel and touch the print head on to the kitchen towel.

If you want to run a cleaning solution through the print head use something less aggressive like isopropyl alcohol or distilled water.

You can also spray some bathroom cleaner onto a sheet of thick paper and run it through the feeder to get rid of any muck on the print rollers.

Molly7244

Posted 2010-01-11T20:20:10.027

Reputation:

Bathroom cleaner would be low on my list of products I would get near a printhead. Aside from distilled water and isopropyl alcohol, there is actual printhead cleaner you can pick up at places like office supply stores. – fixer1234 – 2016-09-13T05:07:52.537

bathroom cleaner - is that the stuff you clean the sink and the bathtub with, or ... ? – Rook – 2010-01-11T21:01:27.370

that's the stuff :) – None – 2010-01-11T21:22:45.377

Well, I didn't have any soft towels, so I drained the cleaner into a hankerchief and left the head on that for a bit. After which I flushed with a liter of destilled water (heated) ... it works a little better now ... will probably try it again once but it definitely works. – Rook – 2010-01-13T19:21:21.867

Asked: 2010-01-11T20:20:10.027

Viewed: 1 867 times

Active: 2016-09-13T04:59:15.733