Epson SureColor P600 Not Printing Vivid Magenta? How to Unclog a Stubborn Cartridge the Right Way

Question:

My Epson SureColor P600 printer has a clogged Vivid Magenta cartridge. It's not printing at all. I’ve already tried the built-in head cleaning, soaking the printhead with isopropyl alcohol and Windex on a paper towel overnight, and ran four additional printhead cleanings—but there’s still no improvement. I read BCH’s blog and watched videos—should I use the clear or green cleaning solution? And should I use a refillable cartridge or a syringe with a hose to apply the solution?

Answer:
Choosing the Right Cleaning Solution for Epson P600

You’re right—the Epson SureColor P600 uses UltraChrome HD pigment-based ink, so selecting the correct cleaning solution is crucial to both clearing the clog and preserving the printhead's condition.

Here’s a breakdown of BCH’s available cleaning solutions and how they match up to your situation:

Clear Cleaning Solution – Safe and Versatile

• Recommended for: Both pigment and dye-based inks

• Strength: Mild

• Use Case: Great for regular maintenance and mild to moderate clogs

• Why Choose It: It’s the safest option and won't harm sensitive components. Since you’ve already tried isopropyl and Windex (which can dry out sponge materials), this may be a good “reset” to flush those out gently.

Learn more: Clear Dual-Action Cleaning Solution.
[https://bchtechnologies.com/products/dual-action-cleaning-solution-for-dye-and-pigment-inks]

Green Cleaning Solution – Stronger, Still Gentle

• Recommended for: Dye, pigment, and sublimation inks

• Strength: Medium

• Use Case: More resilient clogs, including one like yours that’s resisting head cleaning and soaking

• Why Choose It: It's safe for pigment-based systems like yours, but it has more active dissolving power than the clear solution. Given the severity of your clog, this may be a better option.

 Learn more: Green Triple-Action Cleaning Solution
[https://bchtechnologies.com/products/triple-action-cleaning-solution-for-dye-pigment-sublimation-inks-1]

Red Cleaning Solution – Powerful but Risky

• Recommended for: Severe blockages and professional environments

• Strength: High

• Caution: Only leave it in for <24 hours, as it can corrode or degrade internal parts if left too long

• Why Skip It (for now): While tempting for tough clogs, it’s best used only when the green solution fails.

More info: Red Professional Cleaning Solution
[https://bchtechnologies.com/products/professional-red-cleaning-solution-for-water-based-inks-dye-pigment-sublimation-not-for-solvent-ink]

Delivery Method: Syringe vs. Refillable Cartridge

Both methods are valid, but they serve different purposes:

Syringe with Hose

• Best for direct flushing of the printhead via the ink port.

• Gives more control over pressure and volume.

• Useful if you're targeting a specific channel like Vivid Magenta.

• Ideal for manual unclogging efforts.

Refillable Cartridge

• Best for passive soaking inside the printer.

• Allows you to fill the system and run cleaning cycles with the solution.

• Safer for long soaks and less risky for internal damage.

Recommendation:

Start with a syringe + hose method to manually unclog the Vivid Magenta channel, especially since you’ve already done internal soaking. If this still doesn’t yield results, try using a refillable cartridge filled with cleaning solution, running a few cleaning cycles, and letting it sit in the machine for several hours (but never more than 24 hours if using red solution).

Addressing printer issues can be a complex and hands-on process, especially when dealing with printhead clogs like this. Due to the technical nature of these repairs, we can’t provide remote troubleshooting or support. However, we do offer in-person diagnostic and repair services (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service) at our facility. Please note that this service is highly requested and follows a first-come, first-served schedule—it may take a few weeks before we can accept your printer for drop-off. We provide repair options for full printers or individual parts, but we also acknowledge that our rates may not be the lowest. That’s why we encourage customers to explore self-repair methods using resources like YouTube. Visit our YouTube channel homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) and use the search icon near the "About" tab to look up relevant videos by topic. With nine years of content and tutorials, this is often the quickest way to find a solution.

Thanks again for your support, and we hope your Epson P600 gets back to printing those brilliant magenta tones soon!