What to Do when Your Inkjet Print Head Clogs

If you're a person who tries to conserve ink on your inkjet printer, because you know just how expensive those little cartridges can be, you might be at greater risk for your print head getting clogged. Symptoms of a clogged print head include streaks, broken lines on the print head calibration printout, and the simple fact that though the machine appears to be operating normally, no ink is getting onto the page.

This problem is even more frustrating if you are printing out a report for school or work, or if it's late and the stores are closed. However, there are several techniques you can try, and though it may take several attempts, you can usually clear up a clogged print head on your own.

Your printer's print head will either be located in the printer itself, or on the cartridges. Your operating manual will tell you where the print head is located. If you have one of the less expensive printers, the print head is probably located on the cartridge. With some of the most inexpensive models, it is actually cheaper to replace the printer than to replace both cartridges. It defies logic, but it's true.

The first and easiest step is to run your printer's head cleaning cycle, which is a built-in function that, when run regularly, can minimize print head clogs. If you have lost your printer's operating manual, visit their manufacturer's website. You should be able to find head cleaning instructions or even an entire online user's manual for your printer.

Be patient. It could take three, five, or even 10 head cleaning cycles to unplug the clogged print head.

If you've tried the cleaning cycle numerous times but it hasn't helped, you still have options.

Though this is not recommended as a standard procedure, you can use a little isopropyl, or rubbing, alcohol to clean the print heads. What you do is, you remove the cartridge, assuming that is where the print head is located, and place it on a little pad of tissue or cotton that has rubbing alcohol on it. Place so that the print head faces down, and let the ink cartridge sit overnight.

The next day, run the cleaning cycles again.

Some experts say that using isopropyl alcohol in this manner can actually dry out the components of the print head, which could make a clog more likely later on. So weigh this option carefully before trying it.

If the print head is still clogged after soaking in alcohol overnight, your best bet may be to go to the store and buy a new cartridge. Sure, they're expensive, but it may be your surest option, particularly if you're facing a deadline of some kind.

But there is at least one more trick you can try if you have the time. You can order a substance called "Clog Buster," which is a powerful solvent that starts at around $15. Sometimes this will work when nothing else does.

Believe it or not, there is one more homemade option, if you don't have the time to wait for a product to be shipped to you, and if you plan to exhaust all possibilities before handing over another $30 for a new cartridge.

Windex glass cleaner will sometimes do the trick, because of the ammonia it contains. If you have a bottle of ammonia, a mixture of one part ammonia to one part distilled water (usually available in the bottled water section of your grocery store) is what you should try first. Remember, only use ammonia or ammonia-water mixtures in a well ventilated area, and

never mix ammonia with other cleaning supplies.

If the print head is located inside the printer, remove the inkjet cartridges, then swab a little of the 50-50 ammonia-water solution onto the top of the print head, directly atop the little nozzle holes. Then wait.

After a few hours, or overnight, try the cleaning cycle and then printing again. If it didn't work, you can try the same technique using straight ammonia, but you have to make sure and swab it all off with distilled water when you're through waiting for it to work.

Remember, while no one can fault you for trying to conserve that expensive ink, it may be worthwhile to print something every few days just to make sure the ink keeps flowing. It could prevent the frustration of dealing with a fully clogged print head later.