How to Clean HP Printer Printhead: A Step-by-Step Guide

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In this article, we’ll guide you on how to clean HP printer printhead on different HP printer models using both automatic and manual methods.

Clean HP Printer Printhead
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

How to Clean HP Printer Printhead Automatically

Most HP printers come with software that allows you to perform automatic printhead cleaning. Follow these steps:

  1. Open the HP printer software on your computer.
  2. Select ‘Maintenance’ or a similar option.
  3. Choose ‘Clean Printhead’ or ‘Clean Cartridges’.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions until the process completes.

We’ll now discuss how to automatically clean the printheads of different HP printer models.

HP Deskjet 2541

  • Activate the HP DeskJet 2541 printer.
  • Access the printer software on your computer, typically found under “All Programs” > “HP” > “HP DeskJet 2541 series.”
  • Select “Printer Actions” and then go to “Maintenance Tasks.”
  • Click on “Clean Ink Cartridges.” The printer will then start an automatic cleaning process.
  • After the cleaning cycle, print a test page. If unsatisfied with the result, consider the manual printhead cleaning steps discussed later in this article.

HP DeskJet 1055

  1. Power on your HP DeskJet 1055 printer.
  2. On the printer’s control panel, press and hold the “Power” button.
  3. While holding the “Power” button, press the “Start Black Copy” button twice, followed by pressing the “Start Color Copy” button once. Release the “Power” button after.
  4. This initiates an automatic cleaning cycle. Once completed, print a test page to check the print quality.
  5. If manual cleaning is required, follow the general printhead cleaning process detailed in the next section for Deskjet 1055.

These steps will also work for DeskJet 1050 and HP DeskJet 2541.

HP Photosmart Printer

  1. Ensure your HP Photosmart Printer is switched on.
  2. Navigate to the printer’s control panel and select “Setup.”
  3. Choose “Tools” and then opt for “Clean Printhead.”
  4. Your printer will start an automated cleaning process. Once done, print a sample page to assess the results.
  5. For persistent issues, refer to the general printhead cleaning method provided in the next section of this guide for Photosmart printers

The following printers can use the steps above: OfficeJet J-4540, HP C309a

HP 8610 All-in-One Printer

  1. Activate your HP 8610 printer.
  2. From the printer’s touchscreen, go to “Setup”.
  3. Select “Tools” followed by “Clean Printhead”.
  4. Allow the printer to run its cleaning cycle. Subsequently, evaluate results with a test print.
  5. If issues remain, utilize the general printhead cleaning procedure outlined later in this guide.

The steps above also apply to HP printer 3310.

HP 4300 All-in-One Printer

  1. Activate your HP 4300 All-in-One printer.
  2. On the printer’s control panel, press the “Setup” button.
  3. Using the arrow keys, navigate to “Tools” and confirm your selection.
  4. From the tools menu, select “Clean Printhead”.
  5. The printer will start its cleaning procedure. Once finished, gauge the print quality with a test printout.
  6. If additional cleaning is required, reference the manual cleaning steps given at the outset of this guide.

HP Envy Printer Series

  1. Turn on your HP Envy printer.
  2. From the control panel or touchscreen (depending on the model), navigate to “Settings” or the gear icon.
  3. Select “Tools” or “Printer Maintenance”.
  4. Choose “Clean Printhead” or a similar option. The printer will begin an automated cleaning process.
  5. Post-cleaning, print a test page to evaluate the results. If required, perform manual printhead cleaning as detailed earlier in this guide.

HP 5520 Printer

  1. Power on the HP 5520 printer.
  2. On the touchscreen, navigate to the right arrow to access the second navigation screen.
  3. Select “Setup”, then choose “Printer Maintenance”.
  4. Opt for “Clean Printhead”. The device will commence its automatic cleaning cycle.
  5. Upon completion, print a sample page. For stubborn printhead issues, apply the manual cleaning method mentioned in the next sections.

HP 6960 Printer

  1. Ensure your HP 6960 printer is on.
  2. On the device’s touchscreen, tap the right arrow, and then select “Setup”.
  3. Go to “Printer Maintenance” and then select “Clean Printhead”.
  4. The printer will instigate an automated cleaning cycle. Once concluded, conduct a print test.
  5. If results are subpar, resort to the manual printhead cleaning steps discussed later.

HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 e-All-in-One

  1. Power on the HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 e-All-in-One N911a.
  2. On the touchscreen panel, go to the “Setup” menu.
  3. Choose “Printer Maintenance” and then opt for “Clean Printhead”.
  4. Let the printer undergo its automatic cleaning process. Check results with a test print post-cleaning.
  5. For persistent printhead problems, refer back to the manual cleaning process detailed later.

HP Printer 5400 – k5400

  1. Turn on your HP 5400 – k5400 printer.
  2. Access the printer software on your computer, usually found within the HP Solution Center.
  3. Select “Settings” and then navigate to “Printer Toolbox”.
  4. Go to the “Device Services” tab and select “Clean the Print Cartridges”.
  5. The printer will initiate an automatic cleaning. Once done, run a print test.
  6. If necessary, follow the manual cleaning steps provided in the next sections.

You can use the above steps for the HP OfficeJet F4280.

HP OfficeJet Pro 6968

  1. Ensure your HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 printer is turned on.
  2. From the printer’s touchscreen control panel, tap on the right arrow and then choose “Setup”.
  3. Select “Printer Maintenance” and then opt for “Clean Printhead”.
  4. The printer will commence its automated cleaning cycle. Upon its completion, run a test print to assess the print quality.
  5. Should the results be unsatisfactory, follow the general manual cleaning steps outlined earlier in this guide.

HP Envy 5660 Printer

  1. Turn on your HP Envy 5660 printer.
  2. From the printer’s touchscreen, navigate to the “Setup” option.
  3. Proceed to “Printer Maintenance”, and then select “Clean Printhead”.
  4. The device will undergo its standard cleaning procedure. Once done, print a test page to check the results.
  5. If unsatisfied with the outcome, resort to the manual cleaning method detailed in the initial parts of this article.

HP OfficeJet 8710

  1. Activate your HP OfficeJet 8710 printer.
  2. Using the touchscreen control panel, navigate to and select the “Setup” option.
  3. From there, choose “Printer Maintenance”, followed by “Clean Printhead”.
  4. Allow the printer to execute its automated cleaning cycle. Once it’s finished, run a test print to evaluate the results.
  5. Should there be any persisting issues, you can utilize the manual cleaning steps outlined at the start of this guide.

HP OfficeJet Pro 6835 Printer

  1. Turn on your HP OfficeJet Pro 6835 printer.
  2. On the printer’s touchscreen panel, tap on the right arrow to access the “Setup” menu.
  3. Choose “Printer Maintenance” and then select “Clean Printhead”.
  4. The printer will begin its automated cleaning process. After it’s done, print a sample page to evaluate the print quality.
  5. If the print quality isn’t optimal, revert to the manual cleaning method detailed at the beginning of this guide.

HP 8600 All-in-One Printer

  1. Switch on your HP 8600 All-in-One printer.
  2. Using the printer’s touchscreen, tap on the “Setup” menu.
  3. Scroll and select “Printer Maintenance”, and then tap on “Clean Printhead”.
  4. The device will commence its standard cleaning cycle. Once it’s done, print a test page to examine the outcomes.
  5. Should the print quality not meet expectations, make use of the manual cleaning instructions provided earlier in this guide.

HP F 4200 Printer

  1. Turn on the HP F 4200 printer.
  2. Access the printer’s software on your computer. This can be done via the HP Solution Center.
  3. Go to “Settings” and select “Printer Toolbox.”
  4. Under the “Device Services” tab, click on “Clean the Print Cartridges.”
  5. The printer will initiate an automatic cleaning cycle. After completion, run a print test to verify cleaning effectiveness.
  6. If necessary, use the manual printhead cleaning method described earlier in the guide.

Manual Cleaning for Specific Models

If the automated process doesn’t resolve the issue, or if you own a printer model that requires manual cleaning, here are specific instructions for some popular models:

HP Deskjet 350a J611

  1. Open the printer lid to access cartridges.
  2. Remove the cartridges gently.
  3. Using a lint-free cloth dampened with distilled water, clean the printhead’s gold-colored contacts.
  4. Reinsert the cartridges and run a test print.

HP OfficeJet Pro 6830

  1. Switch on the printer and open the cartridge door.
  2. Take out the cartridges.
  3. Clean the printhead as mentioned above.
  4. Reinstall the cartridges and check for improvements.

HP Envy 7645 Printer Scanner

  1. Turn on the HP Envy 7645 printer.
  2. Open the cartridge access door.
  3. Remove the cartridges gently.
  4. With a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water, gently clean the printhead’s contacts.
  5. After ensuring that no moisture remains, reinsert the cartridges and run a test print.

HP OfficeJet 4650

  1. Power on the HP OfficeJet 4650 printer.
  2. Open the top cover to gain access to the cartridges.
  3. Carefully take out the cartridges.
  4. Clean the printhead using the method mentioned above.
  5. Replace the cartridges, close the lid, and conduct a test print.

HP Envy 5660 Printer

  1. Switch on your HP Envy 5660 printer.
  2. Lift the scanner lid to access the cartridges.
  3. Gently remove the cartridges from their slots.
  4. Clean the printhead with a damp lint-free cloth as described above.
  5. Reinstall the cartridges, close the lid, and test the printer.

HP Deskjet 1050

  1. Turn on the HP Deskjet 1050 printer.
  2. Open the cartridge access door.
  3. Carefully take out the cartridges.
  4. Clean the printhead following the aforementioned method.
  5. Reinsert the cartridges, close the printer, and print a test page to check.

HP OfficeJet 8710

  1. Switch on the HP OfficeJet 8710 printer.
  2. Open the cartridge access compartment.
  3. Carefully remove the cartridges.
  4. Clean the printhead using the method previously detailed.
  5. Reinstall the cartridges, close the compartment, and test the printer functionality.

HP Deskjet 3054

  1. Turn on your HP Deskjet 3054 printer.
  2. Lift the top cover to access the cartridge area.
  3. Take out the cartridges gently.
  4. Clean the printhead using a lint-free cloth slightly moistened with distilled water.
  5. Reinsert the cartridges, close the cover, and perform a test print.

HP Deskjet 2541

  1. Activate the HP Deskjet 2541 printer.
  2. Open the cartridge lid.
  3. Remove the cartridges with care.
  4. Proceed to clean the printhead as explained previously.
  5. Reposition the cartridges, close the lid, and test the printer.

HP 4300 All in One

  1. Power on the HP 4300 All in One printer.
  2. Gain access to the cartridges by lifting the printer’s top cover.
  3. Gently remove the cartridges.
  4. Follow the standard printhead cleaning method provided earlier in the guide.
  5. Replace the cartridges, lower the lid, and verify the cleaning process by printing a test page.

HP Photosmart Printer

  1. Switch on your HP Photosmart printer.
  2. Open the cartridge access door.
  3. Gently remove the cartridges.
  4. Clean the printhead with a dampened lint-free cloth as detailed above.
  5. Reinstall the cartridges, close the door, and conduct a test print.

HP Deskjet 1055

  1. Turn on the HP Deskjet 1055 printer.
  2. Access the cartridge area by lifting the printer’s top cover.
  3. With caution, take out the cartridges.
  4. Thoroughly clean the printhead as mentioned before.
  5. Return the cartridges to their slots, close the cover, and print a test page to assess the results.

HP OfficeJet Pro 6835 Printer

  1. Ensure the HP OfficeJet Pro 6835 is powered on.
  2. Open the cartridge access door.
  3. Remove the cartridges gently from their slots.
  4. Clean the printhead following the general method described earlier.
  5. Place the cartridges back, close the door, and conduct a test print for verification.

HP OfficeJet J-4540 All in One Printer

  1. Switch on your HP OfficeJet J-4540 printer.
  2. Access the cartridges by lifting the top cover of the printer.
  3. Gently take out the cartridges.
  4. Clean the printhead with a slightly moistened lint-free cloth as explained in the previous sections.
  5. Reinsert the cartridges, close the cover, and perform a test print to confirm cleaning efficacy.

HP 8600 All in One Printer

  1. Activate your HP 8600 All in One printer.
  2. Open the top lid to gain access to the cartridges.
  3. Remove the cartridges with caution.
  4. Use the standard printhead cleaning method as previously detailed.
  5. After cleaning, replace the cartridges, close the lid, and test the printer’s performance with a test print.

HP PSC 1510 All-in-One Printer

  1. Power on the HP PSC 1510 All-in-One printer.
  2. Lift the scanner unit to reveal the cartridge slots.
  3. Extract the cartridges gently.
  4. Follow the previously mentioned printhead cleaning steps.
  5. Insert the cartridges back, lower the scanner unit, and print a test page for verification.

HP L7680 Printer

  1. Turn on your HP L7680 printer.
  2. Open the cartridge access compartment.
  3. Carefully remove the cartridges.
  4. Clean the printhead using a lint-free cloth and distilled water as directed earlier.
  5. Reinstall the cartridges, close the compartment, and perform a test print to ensure the printhead is clean.

HP Latex 100 Printer

  1. Ensure the HP Latex 100 printer is activated.
  2. Open the front cover to access the printhead area.
  3. Remove the cartridges and printheads as per the printer’s manual (latex printers might have different handling procedures).
  4. Carefully clean the printhead with a damp lint-free cloth.
  5. Reinsert the printheads and cartridges, close the cover, and conduct a test print to verify cleanliness.

HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 Printer

  1. Power on the HP OfficeJet Pro 6968 printer.
  2. Lift the top cover to expose the cartridges.
  3. Take out the cartridges with care.
  4. Proceed with the general printhead cleaning technique outlined earlier in this guide.
  5. Once cleaned, insert the cartridges back, close the lid, and run a test print to assess results.

HP OfficeJet 5400-K5400 Printer

  1. Switch on the HP OfficeJet 5400-K5400 printer.
  2. Open the top section to access the cartridges and printhead area.
  3. Remove the cartridges gently.
  4. Follow the printhead cleaning method detailed earlier using a lint-free cloth and distilled water.
  5. After cleaning, reinstall the cartridges, close the section, and perform a test print to verify cleanliness.

HP Printer 3310

  1. Activate your HP 3310 printer.
  2. Lift the printer’s top cover to get to the cartridge area.
  3. Carefully extract the cartridges.
  4. Clean the printhead according to the earlier provided instructions.
  5. Reinsert the cartridges, lower the cover, and print a test page to confirm the effectiveness of the cleaning.

HP C309a All-in-One Printer

  1. Turn on the HP C309a printer.
  2. Open the cartridge access door.
  3. Gently remove the cartridges.
  4. Use a slightly damp lint-free cloth to clean the printhead, as explained in prior sections.
  5. Reinstall the cartridges, close the access door, and conduct a test print to assess the results.

HP OfficeJet F4280 Printer

  1. Ensure your HP OfficeJet F4280 is powered on.
  2. Open the front cover to gain access to the cartridges and printhead.
  3. Remove the cartridges carefully from their slots.
  4. Follow the standard printhead cleaning process, using a lint-free cloth slightly moistened with distilled water.
  5. Once done, place the cartridges back, close the cover, and run a test print for verification.

Tips for Effective Cleaning

  • Always use distilled water to avoid mineral deposits.
  • Never touch the nozzles of the printhead; clean only the contacts.
  • Allow the printhead to dry completely before reinstalling.

General Maintenance Tips

  • Always turn off the printer before starting the cleaning process.
  • For persistent printhead issues, consider using a printhead cleaning solution like this Printhead Hospital Cleaning Fluid from Amazon.
  • If you experience print quality problems, it’s good practice to first run the printer’s built-in cleaning function before manually cleaning.