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Cleaning the Print Heads

The print head Cleaning and Deep Cleaning functions allow you to clear up clogged print head nozzles. Perform print head Cleaning if printing results are not satisfactory or if a specific color fails to print, even though there is enough ink.
Before performing any operation, confirm that the maintenance cartridge has enough available space.

Cleaning

  1. Open Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool

  2. Click Cleaning

    When the Print Head Cleaning dialog box opens, select the ink group for which Cleaning is to be performed.

    Click Initial Check Items to display the items you need to check before performing Cleaning.

  3. Perform Cleaning

    Check that the printer is on and then click Start.

    Print Head Cleaning starts.

  4. Complete Cleaning

    Click OK when the confirmation message is displayed.
    The Nozzle Check dialog box will open.

  5. Check the results

    To check whether the print quality has improved, click Print Check Pattern. To cancel the check process, click Cancel.

    If cleaning the head once does not resolve the print head problem, clean it once more.

Important

  • Cleaning consumes a small amount of ink.
    Cleaning the print head frequently will rapidly deplete your printer's ink supply. Perform Cleaning only when necessary.

Deep Cleaning

Deep Cleaning is more thorough than Cleaning. Perform Deep Cleaning when two Cleaning attempts do not resolve the print head problem.

  1. Open Canon IJ Printer Assistant Tool

  2. Click Deep Cleaning

    When the Deep Cleaning dialog box opens, select the ink group for which Deep Cleaning is to be performed.

    Click Initial Check Items to display the items you need to check before performing Deep Cleaning.

  3. Perform Deep Cleaning

    Check that the printer is on and then click Start.
    Click OK when the confirmation message appears.

    Print head Deep Cleaning starts.

  4. Complete Deep Cleaning

    Click OK when the confirmation message is displayed.
    The Nozzle Check dialog box will open.

  5. Check the results

    To check whether the print quality has improved, click Print Check Pattern. To cancel the check process, click Cancel.

Important

  • Deep Cleaning consumes a larger amount of ink than Cleaning.
    Cleaning the print head frequently will rapidly deplete your printer's ink supply. Perform Deep Cleaning only when necessary.
  • If print results do not improve even after performing Deep Cleaning, turn off the power, wait 24 hours without pulling out the power plug, and then perform Deep Cleaning again.