O.T. Ink Jet Cleaning Fluid

[Smirnoff]

My Epson printer has clogged ink jets and needs a suitable pH liquid to
clean
them.
I live in the UK and am having trouble obtaining an ammonia-based fluid.
In the US a window cleaner called Windex does the job but the UK equivalent,
Windolene (the blue one) is very difficult to come by.
If I go into a chemist and ask for ammonia, I'm looked upon like a potential
mugger!
Is there a proprietry brand of ammonia- based ink cleaning fluid, perhaps
available from a PC outlet?
Any suggestions welcomed (eh, already thought of urine, I'll leave that as a
last resort!).
Thanks

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Have you tried posting a hardware newsgroup? You are
far more likely to get a reply there than here.

 

[Sandgroper]

My Epson printer has clogged ink jets and needs a suitable pH liquid to
clean
them.
I live in the UK and am having trouble obtaining an ammonia-based fluid.
In the US a window cleaner called Windex does the job but the UK
equivalent,
Windolene (the blue one) is very difficult to come by.
If I go into a chemist and ask for ammonia, I'm looked upon like a
potential
mugger!
Is there a proprietry brand of ammonia- based ink cleaning fluid, perhaps
available from a PC outlet?
Any suggestions welcomed (eh, already thought of urine, I'll leave that as
a
last resort!).
Thanks

Use Isopropyl Alcohol , it is pure alcohol that is used for cleaning most
electronic products and should be able to clean ink jets.


--

 

[Sandgroper]

Use Isopropyl Alcohol , it is pure alcohol that is used for cleaning most
electronic products and should be able to clean ink jets.

Forgot to mention that Isopropyl Alcohol is widely available in most
electronic shops and it's quite cheap .
( in Aust it costs $AU6 for a 250ml bottle )

--

 

[Smirnoff]

Have you tried posting a hardware newsgroup? You are
far more likely to get a reply there than here.

Yes, tried alt.epson.printers, managed to obtain a manual but still can't
get required liquid.

 

[Smirnoff]

Forgot to mention that Isopropyl Alcohol is widely available in most
electronic shops and it's quite cheap .
( in Aust it costs $AU6 for a 250ml bottle )

Thanks but according to the manual that I obtained in alt.epson.printers,
isopropyl is part of an overall requirement for cleaning but the only thing
that breaks down the ink clogs is an ammonia-based fluid (something to do
with the pH rating of Epson inks).

 

[David Candy]

Have you actually been to a chemist? Do chemists still have chemicals (methinks they now just buy prepackaged stuff - but I don't visit chemists shops except every few years for codine when I have a back problem AND the flu at same time - very painful coughing with a sore back).

Our supermarkets are filled with ammonia based cleaners (in Oz). Not that I buy them (I'm a Spray and Wipe/NIFTI person but am thinking of converting to BAM).

 

[Sandgroper]

Thanks but according to the manual that I obtained in alt.epson.printers,
isopropyl is part of an overall requirement for cleaning but the only
thing that breaks down the ink clogs is an ammonia-based fluid (something
to do with the pH rating of Epson inks).

If you are after a ammonia based fluid , maybe you could check out your
local supermarket for Cloudy Ammonia , it's used in Aust as a general
purpose cleaner for floors and tiles.


--

 

[Mike Cawood, HND BIT]

My Epson printer has clogged ink jets and needs a suitable pH liquid to
clean
them.
I live in the UK and am having trouble obtaining an ammonia-based fluid.
In the US a window cleaner called Windex does the job but the UK
equivalent,
Windolene (the blue one) is very difficult to come by.
If I go into a chemist and ask for ammonia, I'm looked upon like a
potential
mugger!
Is there a proprietry brand of ammonia- based ink cleaning fluid, perhaps
available from a PC outlet?
Any suggestions welcomed (eh, already thought of urine, I'll leave that as
a
last resort!).
Thanks

Take the cartridge out & hold under a hot tap, that should do the trick.
Regards Mike.

 

[Alan]

Hi Smirnoff,

I'm writing this tongue-in-cheek, but this reminds me of Michael
Constantine's character in the movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." He said
that Windex is the cure for anything -- he spritzed Windex to solve all
sorts of problems in life -- and it looks as if he was right!!

Alan

 

[Smirnoff]

Yeah, seems so.
Urine is looking better and better.
It is funny in a way, "my kingdom for a bottle of ammonia-based windowlene".
Not so funny is that Epson would want £25 just to look at it.
Ah well.

 

[DaWalRus]

My Epson printer has clogged ink jets and needs a suitable pH liquid
to clean
them.
I live in the UK and am having trouble obtaining an ammonia-based
fluid. In the US a window cleaner called Windex does the job but the UK
equivalent, Windolene (the blue one) is very difficult to come by.
If I go into a chemist and ask for ammonia, I'm looked upon like a
potential mugger!
Is there a proprietry brand of ammonia- based ink cleaning fluid,
perhaps available from a PC outlet?
Any suggestions welcomed (eh, already thought of urine, I'll leave
that as a last resort!).
Thanks

Are you saying that ammonia IS available but the sale of it would look
nefarious? If that is the case then why not show the guy documentation that
suggests its use.

 

[Smirnoff]

Are you saying that ammonia IS available but the sale of it would look
nefarious? If that is the case then why not show the guy documentation
that suggests its use.

Tried a couple of "pharmacies", not like the old Chemists, no luck.
Maybe some old back street shop will oblige.

 

[DaWalRus]

Tried a couple of "pharmacies", not like the old Chemists, no luck.
Maybe some old back street shop will oblige.

Good luck. I just found it strange that this such a hard thing to find. I
thought it was used as in smelling salts. Maybe you could start your own
still and go into business

 

[Guest]

Hello,
Perhaps a mixture of : white distilled vinegar and 100% denatured alcohol or
99% isopropyl alcohol will work.
take care.
beamish.

 

[Smirnoff]

Thanks for the reply,
Trouble is that most of the new glass/window/general cleaners contain
vinegar rather than ammonia and ammonia is the thing needed to break down
Epson Durabrite ink for my printer.

 

[Smirnoff]

My Epson printer has clogged ink jets and needs a suitable pH liquid to
clean
them.
I live in the UK and am having trouble obtaining an ammonia-based fluid.
In the US a window cleaner called Windex does the job but the UK
equivalent, Windolene (the blue one) is very difficult to come by.
If I go into a chemist and ask for ammonia, I'm looked upon like a
potential mugger!
Is there a proprietry brand of ammonia- based ink cleaning fluid, perhaps
available from a PC outlet?
Any suggestions welcomed (eh, already thought of urine, I'll leave that
as a last resort!).
Thanks

Perhaps this will explain my situation better, quoting from the manual:

"Throughout this manual I use the term "Windex", which is a North
American name brand window cleaning liquid. In the last few years, the
Windex name has been applied to several types of cleaners, extending
beyond the window cleaner type, and the company now has many versions
of the product including "scented" "multi-surface" (which contains
vinegar, which is the WRONG pH for most Epson inks) "citrus or orange
oil fortified" (which contains oils which may be harmful to some
plastics used in printers) etc. Even standard blue Windex is not what
it used to be, as that formula no longer contains ammonia. In some
markets, Windex "original" has been reintroduced, which does, as
recommended, have ammonia in it.

"Therefore, to clarify, when I indicate the term "Windex" in this manual,
I mean either Windex with Ammonia "D" (or "original Windex") or any
standard generic window cleaning liquid which contains ammonia. In the
UK, there are several products sold under the name "Windolene". One is
a thick pink liquid, which is NOT appropriate. Another is a water-like
constancy blue liquid, which I have been told is similar to Windex in
North America, and appears to work similarly to it. There is a no-drop
Windolene formula which is clear and may state "original" on it. This
is NOT recommended as it has no ammonia, is too thick, and instead
contains a very dilute (1%) Sodium Hydroxide which may be damaging to
some metal components. If you cannot locate an ammoniated window
cleaner, try to locate household strength NON-sudsy ammonia, which is
used as a home cleaning agent, or for stripping some types of floor wax.
You can tell something which has ammonia in it by it's very
characteristic odor (a concentrated form was used in "smelling salts").
Try to avoid inhaling in quantity as it is caustic and the vapor is not
good for your lungs."

I'll keep looking

 

[antioch]

Hello Vodka
Have you visited a local comp shop - some do printer cleaning etc and they
may just have what you need.
Chemist shops/pharmacies etc ARE a waste of time these days - too many
regulations prevent from selling this stuff.
Once, you could walk in a buy a pint of 'polish spirit' straight off the
shelf.
Now, if they have it, you get grilled before they sell.
Same with medinight and nightnurse - ones on the shelf - the other is under
the counter.
Bloody 'Nanny State'
Rgds
Antioch

 

[DaWalRus]

Perhaps this will explain my situation better, quoting from the
manual:
"Throughout this manual I use the term "Windex", which is a North
American name brand window cleaning liquid. In the last few years,
the Windex name has been applied to several types of cleaners,
extending beyond the window cleaner type, and the company now has
many versions of the product including "scented" "multi-surface" (which
contains
vinegar, which is the WRONG pH for most Epson inks) "citrus or orange
oil fortified" (which contains oils which may be harmful to some
plastics used in printers) etc. Even standard blue Windex is not what
it used to be, as that formula no longer contains ammonia. In some
markets, Windex "original" has been reintroduced, which does, as
recommended, have ammonia in it.

"Therefore, to clarify, when I indicate the term "Windex" in this
manual, I mean either Windex with Ammonia "D" (or "original Windex")
or any standard generic window cleaning liquid which contains
ammonia. In the UK, there are several products sold under the name
"Windolene". One is a thick pink liquid, which is NOT appropriate.
Another is a water-like constancy blue liquid, which I have been told
is similar to Windex in North America, and appears to work similarly
to it. There is a no-drop Windolene formula which is clear and may
state "original" on it. This is NOT recommended as it has no
ammonia, is too thick, and instead contains a very dilute (1%) Sodium
Hydroxide which may be damaging to some metal components. If you
cannot locate an ammoniated window cleaner, try to locate household
strength NON-sudsy ammonia, which is used as a home cleaning agent,
or for stripping some types of floor wax. You can tell something
which has ammonia in it by it's very characteristic odor (a
concentrated form was used in "smelling salts"). Try to avoid
inhaling in quantity as it is caustic and the vapor is not good for
your lungs."
I'll keep looking

Try here: http://windex.com/

Contact them and explain the your situation and maybe they will respond
with a free sample. Tell them you are in the 'Industry' and am considering
their product line. I see they have an applicator that might even be better.

HTH

 

[Mike Fields]

Take the cartridge out & hold under a hot tap, that should do the
trick.
Regards Mike.

You are thinking of HP I believe -- all the Epsons I have worked
with the head assembly is NOT part of the cartridge. I have
had good results with Windex, but the OP indicates problems
finding it in the UK. Typically, ammonia based cleaners work
well for glass -- you might try a a window cleaning service
and see if they have any ideas. What you need is usually
around, the trick (as you have discovered) is finding out what
it is being used for today ;-) Customs would probably get
a bit excited if you found someone to smuggle a gallon
of Windex back from the states for you (they would not
believe the reason).

mikey