A clogged printhead is a very common problem that plagues some people who print documents and photos at home. You can typically determine that the printhead is clogged by running a nozzle check pattern or similar print test at the first sign of blemished print work.
Some printers have a built-in printhead cleaning function, though the steps for activating this function (and even the function itself) will vary from one printer to another. For HP printers, you can typically access this tool from the HP Solution Center. Choose Settings, Printer Toolbox, Device Services, and select Clean Printheads. For Epson printers, access the printer’s software, choose Utility, and select Head Cleaning, then follow the instructions you see on the screen. However, it should be noted that doing this on an Epson printer will initiate the process of replacing the cartridge. If you aren’t going to replace the cartridge, simply hold down the ink button (marked with a teardrop) for approximately three seconds until the power light and the ink light both begin to flash.
If your printer doesn’t have a built-in cleaning function, or if that function did not completely solve the problem, you can clean your printhead manually. With the printer’s cover opened, lift the carrier handle and remove the printhead from your printer’s carrier. Be very careful not to touch the metal components with your bare hands, as the naturally-occurring oils on your skin could potentially damage these parts. Take a clean cloth that’s free of any lint and dampen it with a very small amount of rubbing alcohol. Use the cloth to carefully wipe flat across the copper contact area on your print head (usually located above the nozzles). If ink has dried onto the printhead, you can hold the cloth to the printhead nozzles for a few seconds, then carefully and delicately blot the nozzles and wipe them dry. Make sure your printhead has completely dried before you return it to the printer’s carrier.
Once the printhead has been cleaned, you should run a follow-up test page to determine whether that fixed the problem. You may need to run your printer’s printhead cleaning function several times before it corrects the problem. By some accounts, it may take up to five cleanings before the printhead functions normally again.
One way to prevent clogged printheads in the future is to use standard-capacity toner cartridges instead of high-yield ones. If you only use your printer from time to time, tiny droplets of ink may begin to solidify over time and plug the nozzles on your printhead. Having a smaller ink cartridge may reduce the amount of ink that jams the nozzles, which can help improve print quality and lower the chances that the printhead will become clogged again.