{"id":2631,"date":"2017-05-19T00:26:30","date_gmt":"2017-05-19T00:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/?p=2631"},"modified":"2026-09-30T17:28:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T17:28:19","slug":"how-to-clean-an-epson-printhead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/how-to-clean-an-epson-printhead\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Clean an Epson Printhead: Step by Step Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Quick answer:<\/strong> To clean an Epson printhead, open the Maintenance menu on your printer, run a Nozzle Check, then run Printhead Cleaning if the pattern shows gaps. Run no more than two or three cycles in a row. If gaps remain, let the printer rest a few hours before trying again, then try a manual clean with distilled water.<\/p>\n

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If your Epson printer is printing out faint images, skipping lines, or is streaking your image with lines, chances are you have a clogged nozzle–a common problem many users have with Epson printers.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unavoidable that print heads clog over time as small amounts of ink residue dry up and collect in the nozzles. Being judicious about replacing cartridges promptly when the low ink alert goes off can do a lot to prevent ink from drying inside the nozzles, but you still may end up with one or several may still get clogged for a different reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blocked printheads can happen regardless if you use original Epson or aftermarket cartridges<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Why do Epson printheads clog?<\/h2>\n

Printheads clog because nozzles get blocked by either air or ink. Clogs usually happen when:<\/span><\/p>\n

You keep printing with depleted ink cartridges.<\/strong> Using empty ink cartridges can result in air bubbles that can clog your cartridge and\/or printhead. Air in the ink lines also makes clogs harder to clear.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t turn off your printer.<\/b> Ink dries up in the nozzles when you don\u2019t use it regularly. Turning your printer on triggers the printer to run a mini-cleaning cycle and gets the ink flowing again.<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t use your printer regularly. <\/b>As mentioned previously, ink dries up when unused so if you only use your printer about twice a month, we suggest you choose a laser printer. Laser printers use toner powder and don\u2019t dry up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing the common causes of clogged printheads can help you take the necessary steps to prevent them from happening. As the old adage goes, prevention is always better than cure.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How do I clean an Epson printhead?<\/h2>\n

Check your nozzles and run cleaning cycles using the menu on your printer before you open up your unit and clean it manually.<\/span><\/p>\n

Printhead Cleaning Cycles.<\/h4>\n

Epson printer models feature a pretty efficient cleaning cycle that will usually clear out the nozzles in one or two cycles. Keep in mind, however, that the newer models have longer cleaning cycles that unfortunately use more ink every time. Here’s how to get started:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Before you do anything else, make sure the printer isn’t showing any errors on the LCD screen.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Press the <\/span>Home<\/b> button and select “<\/span>Setup<\/b>” then select “<\/span>Maintenance<\/b>.”<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Select “<\/span>Printhead Nozzle Check<\/b>“<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Your printer will produce a page with four colored grids designed to illustrate which nozzles are blocked (and which are not).<\/span><\/li>\n
  • If no gaps are present, select done.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • If there are gaps or some lines are faint, select “<\/span>Clean the printhead<\/b>” and continue.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Caution: Never turn off your printer during a cleaning cycle. Doing so can cause permanent damage to the unit!<\/span><\/p>\n

    PLEASE NOTE: This process is specific to select Epson Workforce, Artisan, and SureColor model printers, but can be broadly applied across several different models, including most Expression models. Please consult with your printer manual if you have any questions about your particular printer. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Check out our video below to learn how to run a printhead nozzle check and clean the printhead directly from your printer display:<\/p>\n