Want to know what is in the printer head cleaning solution? OK hear this. Modern inkjet printer designs, like those produced by Epson and Canon, make use of tiny, specialized nozzles. These are known as printer heads (or printheads) used in dispensing various colors of ink from an installed cartridge onto a piece of paper. Now, this is the way it works. These printer heads are designed in a bid to minimize blockage and smear. Also, most home printers are designed to automatically clear trace amounts of ink on each power cycle.
Be it as it may, mostly when printers of this kind are left alone for long stretches of time, the ink can dry up and clog the nozzles. This can go beyond the point that the printer can clear on its own. This can lead to smears and half-printed documents. When this happens, a commercial inkjet cleaning solution can be used to clear the blockage and enable the printer to function properly again. But note, that printhead cleaner made at home is just as effective as the cleaner purchased from an office supply store. The printer head cleaning solution is made up of common ingredients, most of which may already be in your home.
What is Printer Head Cleaner?
Printhead cleaner, irrespective of the brand or strength level, is a cleaning solution. It is used in breaking up and dissolving dried ink which has been built upon the nozzles of inkjet printer nozzles. Understand that this solution can be detergent-based or involve stronger compounds like ammonia or isopropyl alcohol. This is depending on the type of ink used by the printer. Generic, water-based inks needless harsh compounds while genuine ink will often need an alcohol solution to clear. Irrespective of the ink type, the cleaning solution is pushed through the printhead nozzles. This is to enable it to break up and flush out any ink particles or residue which may be interfering with the printer’s function.
Printer Head Cleaner Components
When it comes to printer heads, the base components of any printer head cleaning solution is pure, distilled water. Other components come mostly in the form of isopropyl alcohol, aqueous ammonia, or a soap detergent. These are added to the water in order to create a solution capable of dissolving ink residue. However, ratios and precise ingredients will differ depending on the company manufacturing the printhead cleaner and the type of ink the cleaner is designed to clear. But most if not all types of cleaner will contain at least distilled water, alcohol, and a detergent.
DIY Printer Head Cleaner
The core components of printhead cleaner are so easily available. As such, it is easy to produce inkjet cleaning solutions from the convenience of your own home. To do this:
- Fill a glass jar or similarly sized container with clean, distilled, or bottled water.
- Add three drops of liquid dish soap to the water, followed by four teaspoons of isopropyl alcohol (you can get these at drugstores).
- Mix the solution with a spoon, and you will have a solution functionally identical to a commercially produced printhead cleaner.
- Then you can use the DIY printer head cleaner to clear ink blockages.
