These days, each color ink cartridge has its own print head -- the head through which the ink gets squirted onto the paper. Each time you use that color, a tiny amount of ink gathers around and in the tiny holes. If the cartridge isn't used within a certain amount of time, the ink that's sitting there can try out, and clog the printer heads.
In order to prevent that from happening, printer manufacturers arrange for a small amount of ink to be regularly squirted through those holes -- whether you're using it or not. Sometimes, that ink is expelled while your actually using your printer. Other times, the printer can automatically go through a cleaning cycle while you're not using it. (Have you ever noticed that your printer seems to suddenly go into action for a moment or two whether your not you're sitting there? That's what's happening.)
On the one hand, that means that you never have to deal with clogged print heads, which can ruin your printer. On the other, it can get very expensive, depending on how much ink cartridges for your printer cost, and how much ink gets used up in this process.
What is the best way to deal with this problem?
- If you use a lot of color frequently, and your printer still goes into head-cleaning mode when you're not using it, contact your printer vendor or check on its Web site, and find out if there's a way to cut down on the frequently of head cleanings.
- If there isn't a way to limit the number of head cleanings, and you only use your printer occasionally, there is one sure-fire way to limit this feature -- shut off (or, if you need to) unplug your printer when you're not using it. It will take you a slightly longer time to get up and running, and it will go through a head-cleaning process when you start it, but that's several less than it would otherwise perform.
- If you don't use a lot of color, and you're spending a lot on cartridges, you may want to investigate the possibility of getting a printer which less expensive cartridges. (Unfortunately, because the number of head cleanings per printer isn't often tested, it's difficult to look for a printer that doesn't do as many.)
- If you use color only occasionally, or not at all, consider a monochrome or color laser printer. Because of the different technology, they are not subject to the same problems, and you could save a lot of money in the long run.
