How to Clean Epson Durabrite T542 Pigment Ink Nozzles: Solutions and Tips

Question: What cleaning solution do you recommend for unclogging Epson Durabrite T542 pigment-based ink? I’ve heard it’s resin-based, so can I use water or alcohol-based solutions? I’ve seen BCH’s red cleaning solution, double-action green solution, and triple-action solution online. How do these compare to DTGPro cleaning solutions like Last Chance Navel Orange and Purple Hammer? My printer is the Epson WorkForce ST-C8090, which uses Epson Durabrite T542 pigment-based ink. The problem started with striping, then fading colours, and now it prints blank except for colour. I also have an older sublimation Epson printer for future use. Can you help clarify?
 
Answer: Thank you for contacting us! We apologize for not getting back to you sooner. Printer issues like the ones you’ve described are critical, and we want to provide you with a thoughtful and precise response. At BCH Technologies, we greatly value your engagement, mainly through our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), which helps us continuously improve our products and expertise.
Let’s break this down and address each part of your question.
 

Understanding Cleaning Solutions for Epson Durabrite T542 Pigment-Based Ink

  1. Resin-Based Ink and Cleaning Solutions:
    Epson’s Durabrite T542 is pigment-based, with resin elements in its formula. While it is water-based, standard water or alcohol-based solutions may not effectively dissolve resin clogs. Instead, specialized cleaning solutions are required to safely handle this type of ink.
  2. Recommended BCH Cleaning Solutions:

Differentiating from DTGPro Cleaning Solutions

You mentioned DTGPro products like Last Chance Navel Orange and Purple Hammer. While these are high-strength cleaning agents, they’re often designed for DTG/DTF printers and may be unnecessary for regular pigment-based printers like your Epson WorkForce ST-C8090. In most cases, BCH cleaning solutions are sufficient for unclogging standard printers without risking damage.
 

Troubleshooting Your Epson WorkForce ST-C8090 Issue

The striping, fading, and blank prints you described may be partially caused by clogging. Here are additional steps you can take:
  1. Check the Ink Dampers. Ensure they are properly filled with ink. An empty damper can lead to inconsistent or blank prints.
  2. Prime the Nozzles: Use the printer’s cleaning or priming function to draw ink through the nozzles, ensuring proper flow.
  3. Inspect the Printhead Alignment: Misaligned printheads can cause striping and colour fading. Perform a printhead alignment test using the printer’s settings.
If these steps don’t resolve the issue, consider replacing the dampers or checking for air bubbles in the ink lines, which can disrupt ink flow.
 

For Your Sublimation Epson Printer

Our triple-action cleaning solution is ideal for preventing and resolving clogs in sublimation ink systems for future maintenance of your unused sublimation printer.
 
Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we can't provide remote troubleshooting or direct repair support. Instead, we offer in-person evaluations at our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) on a first-come, first-served basis. Our services include whole-printer and component-specific repairs, with clear instructions for mail-in or drop-off options.
We encourage you to start with the recommended self-help steps and use our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) for additional guidance. The search icon can locate videos specific to your printer model or cleaning needs.
Thank you again for contacting us. Let us know how else we can help resolve your printing issues!