Printer printing streaks, faint pages or jamming paper? Printhead cleaning and other home fixes
Inkjet printers most often “break” because ink dries in the nozzles, and laser printers because of worn toner or a worn drum. You can solve many of these problems with a program in the printer menu.
- Most common cause
- dried ink, worn toner, dirty rollers
- Time
- 15–30 minutes
- Repair shop, if it doesn't help
- 140–680 zł, often more than a new printer
Don't yank jammed paper out against the print direction, and don't reach for the fuser (heating unit) in a laser printer, because it can be very hot. Unplug the printer before cleaning.
Step by step
Print a nozzle check
In the printer menu or the manufacturer's software, choose “Nozzle check” or “Print head check”. The printout will show which colours have gaps. If a whole colour is missing, first check that the cartridge isn't empty.
Run printhead cleaning 1–2 times
From the same menu, run “Head cleaning”. Do it at most 2 times in a row, then leave the printer for a few hours so the ink can dissolve the dried deposits, and print the test again. Each cleaning uses a fair amount of ink.
Check the ink or toner
Old, dried-out or poor-quality third-party cartridges are a common cause of streaks. In a laser printer, light streaks or smears usually mean the toner is running out or the drum is worn. Take the toner out and gently shake it from side to side to spread the powder.
Remove jammed paper and every scrap
Open all the covers and pull the paper out in the print direction. Use a torch to check that no small scrap is left inside. That's what causes the next jams.
Clean the pickup rollers
Rubber rollers get slippery over time and stop gripping the paper. Wipe them with a cloth lightly dampened with water (no detergent) and wait for them to dry.
Set the paper and its type
Fan the ream, don't overfill the tray and push the guides against the edges of the sheets. In the print settings, choose the right paper type. Photo paper and plain paper need different settings.
- After several cleanings and a rest, the printhead still doesn't print one colour.
- The printer reports an ink absorber error (the “waste ink pad”) or a mechanism error.
- A laser printer smears the pages even with new toner. It could be the drum or the fuser.
How much does a repair shop charge?
| Printhead cleaning / unclogging at a repair shop | 140–340 zł |
| Printhead replacement | 200–680 zł |
| Pickup roller replacement | 140–340 zł |
| Ink absorber replacement / reset | 140–270 zł |
| New inkjet printer (for comparison) | 410–1100 zł |
Typical prices at independent repair shops in Poland, October 2026. Authorised service centres and big cities can be more expensive.
Repair or buy new?
With cheap inkjet printers, repairing the printhead often costs as much as a new device. In that case it's better to buy a new one, ideally with a refillable ink tank system. Laser printers and more expensive office models are usually worth repairing.
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Open the calculator →FAQ
How do I stop the ink from drying out?
Print at least one colour page a week and don't switch the printer off at the power strip. The power button lets it park the printhead properly.
Do third-party ink cartridges damage the printer?
Good third-party cartridges work fine, but the cheapest ones can clog the nozzles. If streaks appear, try an original cartridge as a test.
Laser or inkjet printer for home use?
If you print rarely and mostly text, a mono laser is cheaper to run because toner doesn't dry out. For photos and colour, an inkjet with large ink tanks is better.