This method of cleaning the printhead is useful to clear very stubborn clogs, or where you do not have cleaning cartridges available. It is, however, dangerous, as if you break the posts inside the cartridge holders (amongst other possible problems), you effectively write-off your whole printhead and possibly printer. Of course, you undertake this approach to cleaning at your own risk.

Start by getting some cleaning fluid, potentially watered down by about half (with de-ionised water). Load a few ml into a syringe with a rubber tube attached - we use some spare tubing from a disused CIS.

Move the print head over to the left of the printer, and over some tissue, as in How do I clean the underside of the printhead?. Remove the cartridges or CIS that you have in the printer. Now, carefully, push the rubber tube over the nozzle in the black cartridge position (as shown in the picture) and slowly push a small amount of cleaner into the printhead. Be sure that cleaner does not leak from the junction of rubber tube to ink-input-nozzle. Pull some cleaner back (you may see some coloured ink come through), then push again. Do the push-pull cycle again a few times, being careful not to be too aggressive . End your cycle on a ‘push’, leaving cleaner in the head not air, and carefully remove the rubber tubing. We suspect that an aggressive push-pull action could in itself damage the piezo print nozzles, so again, caution and use as a last resort is advised!

Do this for each colour position in turn, typically leaving a colour position you know to be problematic until last. During the last few cleaning cycles, you will see the cleaner (and ink) welling on the tissue paper under the printhead. This is quite normal, and indeed, what you were hoping to achieve! Carefully, move the print head back and remove the tissue, using a new tissue to wipe up any excess cleaner / ink that is left on and around the printer carriage.

Optional: If you are confident of your abilities, the printhead can sometimes be removed from the printer and the procedure above can be carried out over a sink, with the additional advantage that you can see the cleaner coming out of the printhead nozzles! Alternatively, a printhead that has been removed from the printer can be soaked in a shallow bath of cleaner, and cleaner can be pulled through the printhead. This could be useful for stubborn clogs of dried ink, which will not be able to be pushed through the narrow printhead nozzles. Discussion of how to remove the printhead from the printer is beyond the scope of this document.

Finally, reinstall your ink cartridge or CIS as appropriate. You should not expect printing to return to normal immediately, but as ever run a couple of cleaning-cycles, and allow the printer to settle overnight to help shift air as you introduce the cartridges / CIS.

Warnings: Some people reckon that some cleaners may damage the printhead if left in for too long. Therefore, make your dilution of cleaner more dilute rather than less, and run compatible inks through the printer as soon as you have finished with the noted cleaning cycle. We are informed, however, that Epson technicians apply this direct injection approach on returned printers with nozzle problems, using a solution of 10% ammonia, 90% de-ionised water.

Please note that MWORDS has closed. We aim to retain these support pages in the hope that they may benefit our past customers, but regret that we can no longer offer further comment or support in relation to the information above.