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Clogged Print Head Fix

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Dagny's Real Estate

Clogged Print Head Fix

I am no expert, but came across this fix accidentally for a clogged print head.  

I have had incredible bad luck with printers and computers this past two weeks, but am determined to come out of this experience at least with some tips and new knowledge gained. 

What could I possibly have learned while returning brand new HP printers that never worked properly from Day ONE?  

Inside my old printer

It made me drag my old Epson printer out of the atticand try to get it going again.  I found out that a printer cannot sit idle for a year.  The print heads dry out.   They are difficult to clean out -

The ink in an Inkjet printer is water based.    I learned years ago that water based paint, once dry, dissolves very easily with denatured alcohol.  So, out came the cotton ball, and the ink cartridges removed - I gave the print heads a good cleaning and rubbing with the denatured alcohol.  

It wasn't perfect, but I did find that the printing improved dramatically!  If I could have figured out how to get at the bottom of the print heads - tomorrow I am going at them with a screw driver - there are two screws on the sides.... bet they open things up - then I'll be in business!   Then I can really clean properly and have another spare printer

printhead

Before this experience, I hardly knew what a print head was, and definitely did not know a thing about where they were, what they did, and how to clean them. 

I am a little ahead of where I was.......

Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Yeow...the fix it lady Dagny...i would not have a clue and would have to bring my printer down to you..did you have a book to go by?

Oct 01, 2011 11:39 PM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Sorry to hear abt your printer woes.  But, thx for sharing that info as I'm pretty sure it will be super handy for me.

Oct 02, 2011 12:29 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Ginny - I started at the ink cartridge shop, then after they had done a few things, I could see that it was pretty easy.  This machine was one I had not been inside, but since it's on its way to reclyvling, I guess I can learn on it.

Oct 02, 2011 01:29 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Debbie- Hope your birthday was a good one!   I didn't know!   You are a handy lady, so I am sure you could do this fix!

Oct 02, 2011 01:30 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Valerie - I would rather pay once for a geek, and learn all I can so I can do it the next time...

Oct 02, 2011 01:30 AM
James Loftis
RealEstate911.com - West Palm Beach, FL
RealEstate911.com

Hello Dagny,

 

  Interesting and informative tip, thanks for sharing with us.

Oct 02, 2011 02:05 AM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Dagny - aren't you clever! I still don't think I'd try this - I'd wait until the hubby came home -lol! I clicked the 1+ - have a wonderful weekend!

Oct 02, 2011 03:13 AM
Gail Robinson
William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT
CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Dagny - I have an HP printer that I haven't used in over a year.  I had no idea that I could clog up the printer heads by not printing.  I just figured I'd have to get new ink cartridges, but what you say makes perfect sense.  Yikes!  I'd best print on it at least once a month.  I've noticed the new printers are not as sturdy as my old ones.  I ended up buying my same HP Color Laserjet printer on eBay after the last one died as I couldn't find a good quality new one.

Oct 02, 2011 03:51 AM
Frances C. Rokicki
Fran Rokicki Realty, LLC - Bolton, CT
Broker-Mentor,CRS

Dagny, The Realtor who does it all!  That would be a good marketing campaign for you:)  Printers are so dispoable now. The prices have really come down, so, most people do throw out the old and purchase a new one.

Oct 02, 2011 05:43 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

James - you are certainly welcome!

Oct 02, 2011 06:17 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

I know you could do it, too!  You are handy...

Oct 02, 2011 06:17 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Gail - Thanks for taking my call.  The new ones are so bad that they were arriving broken, or at least not working properly

Oct 02, 2011 06:18 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Frances - I wish I could just buy a new one and throw it oput when it breaks - they were arriving broken.

Oct 02, 2011 06:19 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Dagny, I had that happen to me.  I had a printer that I only used once in a great while, and every time that I needed to use it, I had to clean the print heads.  You would think that I would have learned to just print something on it once a week, but that would have been to easy :)

Oct 02, 2011 12:14 PM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

George - It never occurred to me that I should use my printer once a month just to keep it functioning!   Google calendar reminders!   I now have  a little one for emergencies, and hope that I remember to keep it going!

Oct 02, 2011 02:27 PM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Happy Monday!

Oct 03, 2011 06:31 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

I like someone with a "can do" attitude, Dagny!  Just think ... you may have another career awaiting you if you ever retire from real estate!!  Good luck with all your technology in the future ...

Gene

Oct 03, 2011 07:12 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Thanks, Russell!

Gene- It has been quite a road of troubled technology for awhile....   nice to be out of that for awhile...

Oct 03, 2011 07:17 AM
John Maclane

Hello Dagny,

The blog is really informative and i like to share it with my friends.I love to come back on a regular basis, please post more on the subject. Your posts are simply fabulous and inspiring . Thanks for the inspiration!

 

Printhead911

Jul 06, 2012 09:13 AM