Best European alternative to Windex Glass Cleaner?

[aruiz]

I dont really understand why there is a big fuzz about comercial windows cleaners... since I discovered pharmacist topic about a DIY version of his nozzle cleaning fluid I did make over 50 Liters of this solution my self. main ingredient is distiled water and alcohol a small portion of Propylene glycol and ammonia as to my needs. For heavy cleanings more and for non aggresion cleaning "none"
I even mix a small portion of dye inks into it for coloring purposes giving it a personal touch. Red = Strong Ammonia Blue = medium ammonia = Green = low amonia yellow = no ammonia

You have reason but in my case I don't know where to buy Propylene glycol and ammonia (not a lor diluted). I have, yet, distiled water amd Isopropyl alcohol.

If I can buy Propylene glycol and ammonia I do the product myself. Is a sure way that you are using a correct product because the Windows CLeaners haven't their formula in their label.

Thak you for your reply.

 

[aruiz]

Hello.

I have bought the W5 Glass cleaner. It is not labeled their formulation.

On the Lidl store was 2 different W5 Window Cleaners. One with blue colorant and the other transparent. The blue costs 0,99 and the other 0,75.

The blue one seems to be the traditional and the transparent an Anti-mist or anti-steam (I dont know the correct translation) improvement.

On Lidl have ammonia but diluted to less of 5%. I imagine that beeing so diluted will dilute also the W5. I haven't buyed.

The blue one is the correct choice?

I can soak overnight the printhead, directly, or I must to dilute it?

To be more strong, it is possible to dilute, on the W5, some Isopropyl alcohol?

And how I must to finish prior to reinstall the printhead, rinsing with tap water, with distilled water, with isopropyl alcohol or with a dilution of isopropyl alcohol on distilled water?

Thank you very much for your replies and for your help !

 

[palombian]

Sorry to drop in.

I found a glass cleaner indicating with ammonia (and smelling like that) in Belgium (will post a photo).
Used it to clean Canon PGI-9 cartridges and printer interior (purge pads).

Since ammonia is corrosive on metals I dare not use it on printheads, but used "pharmacist solution" instead.

But isopropanol can attack rubber seals and reacts with aluminium at high temperatures.
Is this is a good idea on Canon printheads ?

 

[palombian]

This one
Added some in my cleaning cartridges, brilliant nozzle check !

 

[pharmacist]

Do not use acrylic acid containing solutions. Denatonium benzoate/chloride is used as a denaturating substance to make the solution impalatable to children (incredibly bitter taste, almost causing vomiting), but is rather harmless.

Sodium laureth sulphate is a soap-like substance that doesn't precipitate in the presence of calcium or magnesium containing water (tap water), as ordinary soap does. It functions as a detergent to give the solution its cleaning power (combined with the ammonia).

Therefore the safest solution will be:

***Product Name: AJAX GLASS SQUEEZE AMMONIA***
Aqua
Butoxypropanol
Alcohol
Propylene Glycol
Ammonium Hydroxide
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Denatonium Benzoate

But why should you? My solution is much cheaper and safer to print heads due to its simple but effective formula:

(ammonia 1 part: only as a cleaning/print head soaking solution, omit this when you only want to recondition your cartridges)
propylene glycol 3 parts
isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) 20 parts
destilled water up to 100 parts.

 

[pharmacist]

Sorry to drop in.

I found a glass cleaner indicating with ammonia (and smelling like that) in Belgium (will post a photo).
Used it to clean Canon PGI-9 cartridges and printer interior (purge pads).

Since ammonia is corrosive on metals I dare not use it on printheads, but used "pharmacist solution" instead.

But isopropanol can attack rubber seals and reacts with aluminium at high temperatures.
Is this is a good idea on Canon printheads ?

Isopropyl alcohol is not harmful to rubber, see this abstract of the MSDS sheet of Canon CLI-8 ink:

SAFETY DATA SHEET
1. Canon CLI 8 Colours and Photo Black
Revision 2 30/11/2008
2. Composition / Information on ingredients Preparation contains mostly water with various other ingredients
producing slight risk of irritation in their pure state.
Ingredient Name
Triethylene Glycol
Isopropyl Alcohol
Glycerine
CAS No.
112-27-6
67-63-0
56-81-5
Contents
<4%
<4%
<20%
Symbol
Xi
N/A
R and S Phrase(s)
R11,R36,S24,S25,
S26
N/A
EINECS No.
203-953-2
200-289-5

If it would be harmful, Canon print heads would be ruined by using the ink alone. As you can see: my formula is formulated taking in mind the very properties of printer ink, but wihout the dyes/pigments used.

 

[stratman]

So this is what it looks like when 2 Belgians disagree? Facts and helpful suggestions?!

No wonder I enjoyed visiting your country many years ago... besides the chocolates, beer and waffles.

 

[PeterBJ]

I have successfully used both pharmacist's cleaning solution and an "Ajax" window cleaner with ammonia from Colgate-Palmolive for print head cleaning. Here is the Ajax window cleaner I use:

Image Specialists make a print head cleaning solution, that I think is something like a "Colourless ink" or the base liquid for inks. Link here. Has anybody tried this cleaning fluid?

 

[palombian]

Do not use acrylic acid containing solutions. Denatonium benzoate/chloride is used as a denaturating substance to make the solution impalatable to children (incredibly bitter taste, almost causing vomiting), but is rather harmless.

Sodium laureth sulphate is a soap-like substance that doesn't precipitate in the presence of calcium or magnesium containing water (tap water), as ordinary soap does. It functions as a detergent to give the solution its cleaning power (combined with the ammonia).

Therefore the safest solution will be:

***Product Name: AJAX GLASS SQUEEZE AMMONIA***
Aqua
Butoxypropanol
Alcohol
Propylene Glycol
Ammonium Hydroxide
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Denatonium Benzoate

But why should you? My solution is much cheaper and safer to print heads due to its simple but effective formula:

(ammonia 1 part: only as a cleaning/print head soaking solution, omit this when you only want to recondition your cartridges)
propylene glycol 3 parts
isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) 20 parts
destilled water up to 100 parts.

Agree to avoid unknown solutions.

I have a bottle of your solution (with 2% glycerin since I did not found propylene glycol) for a while to rinse cartridges.

I did not found the MSDS data for the PGI-9 cartridge, but the BCI-1431 seems to contain the same Lucia ink and does not mention isopropanol, only glycerin.
The printheads of the PRO-9500, IX7000 and MX7600 have a rubber ring to seat the cartridge.

 

[pharmacist]

All canon printheads contain rubber grommets for sealing on the print head.