How to Clean the Head on an HP Ink Jet Printer

1. Open the HP device manager application that cleans each HP printer. Either you installed the HP device manager software via CD-ROM when you first purchased your printer, or if you are a Mac user, the printer driver and software are already installed. You can also conduct a search on your computer from the 'Start' menu and then select 'Search files or folders.'
2. Select, 'Information and Settings,' and under the drop-down menu, select 'Maintain Printer.' Another window will open.
3. Select 'Clean Printheads' under the information and support section. The HP printer will automatically begin the process of cleaning the print heads.
Manually cleaning your HP print heads
1. Lift the lid of your printer. The printer carriage should automatically move to the center for you to remove the printer ink, depending on your printer. If the print heads stays stationary, press the 'OK' button on the printer for five seconds. The printer carriage will move to the middle of the printer for you to remove the cartridge.
2. Unplug the power cord from the back of the printer.
3. Remove the ink cartridge from your printer. Take a cotton swab that has been dipped in hot, distilled water or isopropyl alcohol, and rub the cotton swab around the printer head; but do not touch the printer nozzles. The printer nozzles will be at the bottom of the cartridge, which has 2 small strips. The 2 small strips located on the gold cover are where the ink leaves the cartridge, and according to HP, should not be touched because doing so could cause your colors to blend incorrectly while the printer is printing.
4. Clean the inside of the carriage within the printer using a clean cloth. Continue to clean the area until it is free of dust or ink.
5. Place the printer cartridge back into the printer, and using the menu options on the printer or the HP device manager software, run the print alignment page option.