Printer problems are frequent and usually happen when they are the least needed, one easy way to prevent most of these problems is to stop the deterioration of your ink jet cartridges. These kinds of cartridges have a tendency to dry while inside the printer. Loss of ink and problems with impression can arise after only 2 to 3 weeks of no use. So when you predict that you will not be using your printer for a while, it would be wise to either use the test option on your printer to cause the ink to flow and prevent drying or to take out the cartridge and put back the protector its head. If the protector has been lost, you can always wrap your cartridge using plastic film. Finally, for an optimal conservation, keep your cartridge in an airtight resealable bag.
If you’re reading this and its too late for prevention, there is still hope to retrieve your ink. The first thing to do is to use the built-in option to clean your cartridge or printer heads. With very bad cases of obstructed heads, it can take from 5 to 6 cleanings to dislodge the dried ink from the head’s pores. If those pores are still obstructed after the cleanings, take out the cartridge and immerge the head in lukewarm water for a couple of minutes or until ink starts mixing in the water. After taking it out of the water, clean the head with a cotton swab or a paper towel to wash out any particles stuck in it. With a bit of luck, this should fix your cartridge.