The Hat's favorite subject

[Emulator]

This thread has some interesting guidance.

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/inkjet-printer-cleaning/

 

[The Hat]

The Hat's favorite subject

?

 

[palombian]

Mentions isopropanol as the most active component.

That's what's in "pharmacist solution".
Adding a few drops of ammonia makes your own cleaning solution.

 

[Emulator]

?

Finding readily available domestic or commercial products, usually at low cost, that perform exceptionally well as clogged head cleaners etc. etc.

 

[The Hat]

This thread has some interesting guidance.
http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/inkjet-printer-cleaning/

I reckon over at Northlight they produce some really brilliant stuff, but this article, while intending to be helpful it’s not going to work for everyone.

Most of the information contained is mainly suited for Epson printers and may well work but I wouldn’t recommend Cillit Bang Multi Power Cleaner Degreaser for cleaning a Canon print head.

I reckon we should stick with the current products and formula that we know and trust and leave the harsh cleaning stuff alone until proven safe and reliable...
It got my full attention, @Emulator..

 

[Emulator]

It got my full attention, @Emulator..

Well if you don't like it, you have my full permission to delete or change it!

 

[The Hat]

you have my full permission to delete or change it!

Thank you @Emulator, I appreciate that...

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

There's one thing I think I do not recommend: tap water. I have seen recommendations to just put a print head under running tap water, but here's the rub:

tap water can cause pigment ink to flocculate.

I was experimenting with cleaning fluids, and mixed a drop of black pigment ink with a drop of tap water. The ink started to clump up. Vinegar also caused clumping. I did not detect a problem with distilled water or Windex.

 

[The Hat]

@ThrillaMozilla, I completely agree with you about ordinary tap water, but you should remember there are wide variations and many types of tape water, from excellent to not very drinkable.

But if you know your local water is not of good quality then you won’t use it, fortunately I don’t have a problem with my tap water, but I will still always recommend finishing off any cleaning or maintenance cycle using distilled water or @pharmacist solution.
Thanks for highlighting the problems of tap water....

 

[PeterBJ]

I liked the link by Emulator. I have also linked to that Northlight site. Notice that they think that glycol ethers as an ingredient in a household/window cleaner make the cleaner a good print head cleaner. I think the popular Original Windex with Ammonia-D also contains a glycol ether. I think the Alcohol Ethoxylates mentioned on page 4 of 5 are glycol ethers, and my favourite the "Ajax" window cleaner from Colgate-Palmolive contains butoxypropanol which is also a glycol ether.