Could a heated cleaning solution (30-40°C) lead to a severe clog? If so, why?
- Vian
- Mar 10, 2025
- 1 min read
Updated: Jan 28
I used two new XP600 printheads for a few weeks and did regular cleanings. A technician friend suggested heating the cleaning liquid to help remove ink buildup.
At first, the ink flowed better, but over time the flow became weaker, especially in one printhead, until it was almost fully blocked. When I took apart the badly clogged printhead, the black membrane was still intact and there was no visible damage, as shown in the photo/video. This made me think the heat caused the problem.
I believe what happened is this:
During the first flushes, the ink in the nozzles flowed out quickly, so it didn’t have time to cure. But as I kept flushing with warm liquid in the same session, small ink particles that weren’t removed at first stuck to the nozzle walls. These particles quickly became rubbery and immediately started blocking the nozzles.
Tips for Maintaining Clean Printheads
Use the right cleaning solution always, make sure it is made for your printer’s printhead and ink type you using to ensure safe and effective cleaning.
Clean your printhead regularly or immediately if you notice poor print quality, and also at the end of your printing session apply final head flushing from the printer function before you turn off the printer.
Soak Method
Place the printhead so only the nozzle plate touches a small amount of cleaning solution.
Leave it for a couple of hours to loosen clogs without using heat.
After soaking, flush each nozzle gently with distilled water to remove leftover solution.
Let the printhead air-dry completely before reinstalling.
