How To: Clear Clogged HP Workforce Printer Head

Ok, So we haven't been using most of the colours from the HP Workforce 4720 and only using black. Which caused the printer head (colours) to clog. Watched 2 youtube videos and decided we will do the same.

Youtube videos watched and to copy:

https://youtu.be/IszUNL7znds

https://youtu.be/Qtnd8xO9g9Y

I also read this article: https://blog.inkjetwholesale.com.au/printer-maintenance/blocked-printer-head-printer-head-cleaning-process-explained/


The basic ideas from the 2 videos are:

1. Print Head Nozzle Check, which colours are having nozzle problem?
2. Try the Printer's maintenance - clean nozzle head. Are the nozzles still clogged after this?
3. Get the printer head in a loose mode (not stuck in "home"). Put the printer to print and immediately plug the power off.
4. Remove the ink cartridges and in saran wrap (this method can keep the ink for a while).
5. Create an absorbent below the printer head. Use a Kitchen towel that has been folded into the same size and move the printer head above it (lift it up and slide it to the right).
6. Push warm (almost hot) liquid through each individual noozle. Use a medication dispenser syringe with a tube stuck to the front.
7. LOOP: Keep changing the kitchen towel at the bottom and keep pushing warm liquid into each noozle until the liquid runs clear as seen on the kitchen towel.
8. Put everything back. 
9. Print Head Noozle Check.

WHAT I DID:

1. Put the printer to COPY and immediately plug the power off.
2. Remove the ink cartridges & soft vacuum pack then seal quickly before it ends.
3. Use a Kitchen towel that has been folded into the same size and move the printer head above it (lift it up and slide it to the right).
4. Use a baby medicine dispenser syringe and keep the adaptor at the front. It is the perfect size for the noozle, see fig. 1.
5. Push warm (almost hot) WATER through each individual noozle. I did not want to use any solution and took the advice from inkjetwholesale article to use either water / alcohol so as not to damage the sponge underneath. Warm to almost hot water worked wonders for me. 
6. I use 4ml water for each noozle every single time. In order to keep the water from flowing out and/or flowing into the pan, I find 4ml the best. 
7. I use 4ml water for 2 noozles and then change the kitchen towel underneath. I find this the most efficient method as the kitchen towel is not soaked through (which will then be hard to remove as it will be all soggy) and yet utilises the kitchen towel to its best maximum capacity. 
8. LOOP: Keep changing the kitchen towel at the bottom and keep pushing warm liquid into each noozle until the liquid runs clear as seen on the kitchen towel.
9. Let the printer to dry for 24 hours.
10. Put all the cartridges & power back.  
11. Print Head Noozle Check.

BUT the next day, I still couldn't print! So I followed the instructions from this article: https://bchtechnologies.com/blog/how-to-fix-blocked-or-clogged-epson-printhead-nozzles-cleaning-and-unclogging-tips/

SO... In the end I caved and bought a universal print head cleaning kit for $14 and it works wonders!

NOTE: To make sure this doesn't happen again in the future, print one full colour page at least once a week.

Figure 1: Oral Medication Dispenser Syringe with Adaptor

Passover: Matzah Ball Soup

Here's what we have successfully made because:

1. Need to be kosher for passover
2. Need to cater to our eggs & dairy allergy

Soup base from: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/matzo-ball-soup

Put all these ingredients into the Instant Pot & slow cook for 48 hours or less

Chicken Stock

• 1 4–5-lb. chicken, cut into 8 pieces
• 1 pound chicken wings, necks, and/or backs
• 2 large yellow onions, unpeeled, quartered
• 6 celery stalks, cut into 1" pieces
• 4 large carrots, peeled, cut into 1” pieces
• 1 large parsnip, peeled, cut into 1” pieces
• 1 large shallot, quartered
• 1 head of garlic, halved crosswise
• 6 sprigs flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns

Not using eggs for the matzah ball is hard!! Everything crumbles... Don't even try with flaxseed because... is it kitniyot??

So we modified the recipe from https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/vegan-matzo-ball-soup/ for the matzo balls.

Matzo Balls:

• (4 teaspoons egg replacer OR 1/4 cup potato starch) + 3/4 cup warm water 
• 1 cup matzo meal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried dill OR 2 tablespoons fresh dill
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 teaspoons safflower oil
• 2 tablespoons water

Like you would with baking, add dry ingredients together. Add wet ingredients into dry ingredients. You should have a thick batter. Because I'm lazy, I did it a day earlier and kept it overnight in the fridge. 

Makes 10 to 13 balls

Note to self: When boiling matzah balls, remove the matzah balls immediately when when they float and put aside or else they will crumble.

So I found reviews from https://wakeupandeat.com/we-tried-3-vegan-matzo-ball-recipes-and-heres-the-results/ but might try https://theveganatlas.com/vegan-matzo-ball-soup/ with baking instead of boiling!

Or this one http://veganstart.com/vegan-matzo-balls-kneidlach/.