For printing needs, Brother Inkjet Printers have a very dependable reputation and produce exceptional prints. However, just like any other printer, these printers may also present a few problems in terms of quality, where you may notice fading, streaking, or missing prints. Most of the print quality problems can be attributed to a blocked print head, which in normal English means that there is old ink or dust that has filled the print head. Doing this procedure comes in handy when the print head has to be cleaned in order to improve quality and that the printer central unit is physically operational. In this blog post, we will show you how to clean the print head on your Brother Inkjet Printer, both using rags and printer software. For more help, you may reach out at the Brother Inkjet Printer Premium Support Number and get some professional help.
Why Clean the Print Head?
If ink is permitted to remain stagnant within the printhead over a period, the nozzles may turn dry and stop functioning, compromising the true quality of print output. If you would like the printing graphics to look perfect, then you have to clean the nozzle regularly. When streaky or blurry areas of print appear, then it’s time to do a print head cleaning.
Method 1: Clean the Print Head Using Printer Software
The most convenient method of performing the print head cleaning task of a Brother Inkjet Printer remains to be the built-in cleaning function. Such action can most of the time be carried out from the printer’s control panel or your computer. Here’s how:
Step 1: Preparing the Printer
Ensure Power: Your Brother printer should be on, and it is also well connected to your computer.
Check Ink Levels: Due to low ink, this cleaning may not be effective. Do check the ink levels and replace any low cartridges before starting this cleaning activity.
Step 2: Proceed to the PRINTER MAINTENANCE MENU.
From the Printer’s Control Panel:
Press the Menu key on the printer.
Go to the Ink or Maintenance menu (subject to your model).
Choose Cleaning or Print Head Cleaning.
From Your Computer:
In your computer, go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
Right-click your Brother printer and Printing Preferences.
Click Maintenance and then Print Head Cleaning.
Step 3: Commence the Cleaning Process
- Select any of the mediums that require cleaning of the printhead (black, color, or all).
- The printer gets down to work and begins the cleaning process, which would take several minutes.
- When the printing operation is completed, the printer will prompt you to put out a test page in order to check if there were any changes made in the quality of the printed output.
Step 4: If required, do it again.
If you are still not satisfied with the print quality, you might want to try the cleaning process one or two more times. However, do not overdo it, since too much cleaning can consume too much ink.
Method 2: Manual cleaning of the print head‘s assembly
In such a condition, if the problem still does not go away even after performing automatic cleaning, it may be advisable to perform a manual cleaning, or if the printer has been lying unused for a long time.
First Step: Collecting the Materials
- For manually cleaning the print head, you will require:
- A clean, dry, lint-free cloth or a paper towel.
- Only distilled water. Tap water should not be used as it is not pure.
- A small bowl.
Step 2: Remove the ink cartridges
- Turn off the printer and unplug it.
- Open the printer cover and carefully remove the ink cartridges.
- Place the cartridges on a paper towel to prevent ink from spilling.
Step 3: Access the Print Head
- Depending on your model, the print head may be easily accessible once the cartridges are removed. If it’s on a carriage, you may need to gently move it to the center to access it.
Step 4: Clean the Print Head
- Dampen a lint-free cloth with distilled water. Make sure the cloth is only slightly damp, not soaking wet.
- Gently dab the printhead to remove dried ink. Be careful not to apply too much pressure, as the printhead is delicate.
- You can also soak the printhead in a shallow bowl of distilled water for a few minutes if the clog is severe.
Step 5: Reinstall the ink cartridges
- Once the printhead is clean, let it air dry completely before reinstalling it.
- Reinstall the ink cartridges, close the printer cover, and plug in the printer.
Method 3: Use a Cleaning Solution
If you still experience poor print quality after attempting both automatic and manual cleaning, you may need a commercial printer cleaning solution. These solutions are specifically designed to break down dried ink that clogs the nozzles.
- Step 1: Purchase a printer cleaning solution kit from an office supply store or online.
- Step 2: Follow the instructions provided with the solution to safely clean the print head.
Tips to Prevent Print Head Clogs
- Print Regularly: If you do not find the need to print on a regular basis, at least once every fortnight, perform a test print page so that the ink does not dry out and remains usable.
- Use Genuine Ink: Use only Brother-branded ink cartridges; other inks may contain substances that can cause headaches to your printer, more so to the print head.
- Store Properly: Use the printer within the specified temperature range because temperature change will make ink dry out faster or even become chunky.
When to Call Brother Inkjet Printer Premium Support Number
If these cleaning methods do not alleviate an issue, then it might be prudent to reach out to Brother Inkjet Printer Premium Support for more assistance. The Brother Inkjet Printer Premium Support Number serves as a means through which individuals wishing to solve such recurrent problems as print head cleaning or any technical difficulties can get skilled support.
Conclusion
It is worth noting that clearing the print head of your Brother Inkjet Printer is a simple task, but one that can improve the functions and the quality of prints taken from the printer. Such approaches can also rectify issues of poor print quality, whether camouflaged by the automatic cleaning feature or washing the printhead themselves. Basic upkeep, such as performing the cleaning cycle, running proper fan tests, or performing regular test page prints, will also come in handy in preventing clogging of the pipes and thus keeping your Brother Inkjet Printer at the right working capacity.
If there are still pending matters about the problems or need some professional advice, you can reach for the Brother Inkjet Printer Premium Support Number for an authoritative solution. If the printer is properly maintained, you are assured of quality prints, and for a long time, the Brother Inkjet Printer will serve you without any problems.