How to clean Brother DCP and MFC print head nozzles

Tape the top part of the printer and scanner together

*note : I started with the paper trays already removed

Remove the 4 screw holding the front display panel.

Lift the display panel

Remove the blue connector and the ribbon cable gently

Remove the 2 hinge screws on the back of printer

Remove the support arm

Press the tab to release the clips, then when it's out gently pull towards you to release the back

Remove the cover on the right side exposing the ribbon cable gently use the spudger in the tabs to release it

Unplug the ribbon cable and slid it out

*note for reassembly: the ribbon cable placement holders can be removed to make it easier to re-thread the ribbon cable by gently pushing down the tabs with the spudger

Remove the Panel on the left side exposing the wiring connectors for the top of the printer

After dissconecting the connectors remove the hole top of the printer and place it safely out of the way

Remove the 15 screws to the cover

Remove the left and right side covers

Remove the front corners by gently pulling upwards

Open the back paper jam cover.

Lift off the cover and put aside out of the way

Slide the clear print head guide wire off the tab on the right side

*note: put on gloves if you have not it can get messy

Using a spudger, press down on the plastic housing of the park carriage that the print head rests on.

Slide the print head to the left freeing it to move

Slide the print head left until it is at the end of the rail. You can feel it release (lift upwards when it aligns with the cut out notch)

Push the print head unit towards the back of the device and lift the unit from the back rail

Using the spudger, press the spring section of the white pulley

Release the conveyor from the pulley while the spring is still compressed

Remove the conveyor from the gear on the other side of the device

How to clean with paper towel

Tear a single sheet of paper towel in half. Fold the sheet in half several times until it is about 1/2 inch

Put the print head on top of the paper towel and put a few drops of distilled water for at least 15 minutes. This will soften the ink on the printhead.

Move print head assembly back to its resting position. You will probably notice that the paper towel now has one big black blob of ink on it. (There is so much excess ink on the print head that all the colors are mixing to make black.)

If you cannot clearly see individual colors, then dampen another spot on the paper towel and move the print head back over the newly dampened spot on the paper towel. Continue repeating this until you see all the individual colors.

*note: when reassembling be certain to move the print head back to its resting position (the extreme right side above the park carriage)