How to deep-clean print heads in your Epson printer

First of all, let us say the this post is called this way in order to englobe many printer models and help a lot of our customers at the same time.

It’s come to our attention that most Epson printers seem to have the same print head cleaning systems, which are very effective on their own. However, these consume a lot of ink, even more ink that it would take to clean them on other Epson printers such as the Epson L200 model.

The method we’re about to explain uses a bit more ink than the automatic cleaning process, since it takes the ink and pumps it through the print heads, just as it would when printing a document. This is why this procedure is so helpful.

However, Epson print heads can’t be easily reached and manipulated as ink cartridges can be, a major disadvantage for Epson printers.


This particular problem has already shown up on our device and we’ve been able to understand it, so all we need now is s solution for it. This lies on a cleaning process anyone can execute on their Epson print heads. Please keep in mind this post was made using an Epson L200 printer model, and that this method worked perfon it. Before it was done, the printer had deficient print quality, and even left letters out of the prints.

Deep-clean tutorial for Epson print heads:

Step #1: Click on Printing Preferences on your printer’s menu

You must first locate the printer the dirty print heads are on. In this case, we’re working on an Epson L200 printer model, but you can follow these same steps on your own.

So far, Epson hasn’t changed this deep-clean procedure, so we can count it for a while. Now you can click on Printing Preferences.

epson printer preferences

Step #2: Browse the entire Printing Preferences window

This is the window you’ll see displayed on screen once you click on Printing Preferences; the options shown on it will depend on what printer model you’re using.

Please ignore all settings not available on your printer and just follow the steps we’re describing in order to clean the print heads on your own device.

this is the printing preferences menu for epson printers

Step #3: Click on the Maintenance option

Click on the option called Maintenance, or the proper word used in your own native tongue. We recommend you install your printer drivers in the language you speak more fluently.

maintenance menu will look like on your screen

Step #4: Confirm the deep-clean process on your Epson printer

Please clean the ink injectors before starting with this deep-clean process. after it’s been done, you can execute the cleaning procedure on your print heads by clicking on this option and waiting for the system to ask for your confirmation. It will also issue the warning we told you about in the beginning of this post.

check out the cleaning of the printer

Step 5: Wait for the deep-clean process to do its job.

After confirming the deep-clean request, we will only have to wait until the procedure is done, and hope to reach top print quality standards.

Remember your printer will fill the print heads up with ink to unclog them, just as it would when printing a document. You will also need to confirm the printing of a test sheet after this cleanse is done.

confirmation message you will get before printing the test sheet

Step #6: Confirming the print quality obtained in the test sheet.

If you haven’t reached the desired print quality in the first cleaning process, please repeat it until you do. The following picture shows what bad and good print quality looks like. If you need more information or this procedure doesn’t work out for you, please remember we’re here to help you.

print test page and check the results

This last window will ask you to end or repeat the cleaning process, depending on which of these print qualities you’ve reached in the first test sheet.

If you need help, you can contact us by leaving a comment in the section below this post, and we will get back you as soon as possible. Here is another post directly related to this one:
How to clean the print heads on Epson L200 printers.