How To Fix My Ccell Cartridge

Can You Fix a Dry Ink Cartridge?

By Fred Decker

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Although inkjet printers are widely used and appreciated for their high print quality and low cost, their fast-drying ink can pose a problem if the printer isn't used regularly. A cartridge will seldom dry up completely, but it's not uncommon for the print nozzles to become blocked by plugs of dried ink. Sometimes you'll need to buy a new ink cartridge as a result, but first it's worth trying to restore your existing cartridge to usability.

The Self-Cleaning Routine

Your printer's own print-head cleaning routine should be your starting point. It's usually included as part of your printer driver or control program, although some printers have a button for it on their control panel. This prints a test pattern with heavy ink use, and running the self-clean a few times will often dissolve and dislodge the dried ink.

Manual Cleaning

Most inks are water-soluble, so if the self-clean routine doesn't unclog your nozzles, you can try hot water instead. Set the cartridge in a shallow cup or bowl of hot water for five to 10 minutes, then let it rest on damp paper towels for at least two hours or, preferably, overnight. When fully dry, put it back into the printer and try the self-cleaning process again. If this doesn't work, remove the cartridge again and swab the nozzles gently with a cotton swab or soft cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol. If another round of self-cleaning doesn't restore the cartridge, replace it.

References

Writer Bio

Fred Decker is a trained chef and certified food-safety trainer. Decker wrote for the Saint John, New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, and has been published in Canada's Hospitality and Foodservice magazine. He's held positions selling computers, insurance and mutual funds, and was educated at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.