Cleaning liquid and flushing liquid are often sold as if they were the same thing. They are not, and using one where the other belongs is a reliable way to damage a printhead.
What Each Product Does
| Cleaning Liquid | Flushing Liquid | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Dissolve light ink residue, unclog nozzles, clean capping station and wiper | Remove all ink from the head and lines for storage or ink changes |
| Strength | Milder, safe for routine use | Stronger solvent power, thorough removal |
| Typical use | Weekly maintenance, nozzle recovery, wiping the cap and wiper | Long shutdowns, ink type changes, transport, head storage |
| Frequency | Routine | Occasional |
Cleaning Liquid: Routine Maintenance
Use cleaning liquid for swabbing the cap top and wiper, for cleaning the nozzle plate surface, and for pulling a stubborn clog through the head with a syringe. It is designed to dissolve fresh ink before it hardens.
Two rules matter more than anything else:
- Match the ink family. Water-based printers need aqueous cleaning liquid; solvent and eco-solvent printers need solvent cleaner. They are chemically incompatible.
- Never mix brands casually. If you change cleaning liquid brands, finish the old bottle and flush the maintenance station before starting the new one.
Flushing Liquid: For Stopping and Switching
Flushing liquid is used when the machine will be idle for a long period, when it is being moved, or when you are changing ink types. It dissolves all old ink out of the head and the ink line so nothing can dry inside the nozzles.
A correct flush looks like this:
- Drain ink from the lines and damper.
- Push flushing liquid through slowly with a syringe – steady pressure, never a hard push.
- Repeat until the liquid runs out completely clear, with no traces of ink colour.
- Leave the head filled with storage or preservation fluid if the machine will sit for more than a few weeks.
- Fit new dampers before restarting production.
Preservation Fluid: The Third Product
For long storage, a dedicated preservation or storage liquid keeps the head’s internal channels moist and protected. Do not assume cleaning liquid does the same job – it evaporates faster and does not leave the protective film that storage fluid does.
Common Mistakes
- Using flushing liquid for daily wipe-downs. Overkill, and harder on seals and coatings than needed.
- Using aqueous cleaner in a solvent head. The single most damaging shortcut in wide format printing.
- Flushing with fast, high-pressure strokes. This damages the piezoelectric element.
- Storing a solvent printer dry. A head that dries out can be unrecoverable within weeks.
- Reusing a flushed damper. Fit a new one.
FAQ
Can I use cleaning liquid instead of flushing liquid?
For light clogs, yes. For storage, transport or an ink change, no – you need a proper flush and ideally a preservation fluid.
How much liquid do I need?
Routine cleaning uses a few hundred millilitres per month on a busy printer. A full flush of a wide format machine typically takes several hundred millilitres up to about a litre, depending on the number of ink lines, so keep a spare bottle.
Does cleaning liquid expire?
Most keep 1-2 years sealed. Once opened, keep the cap tight and store it away from heat and sunlight.
Order the Right Liquid
We supply printhead cleaning liquid, flushing liquid and preservation fluid for Roland, Mimaki, Epson, Mutoh, Canon, water-based, eco-solvent, UV and DTF printers – plus the cap tops and wipers that keep them working. Tell us your printer model and ink type and we will send the correct product. Worldwide delivery in 2-7 days.