Cleaning the electrical contacts on your HP DeskJet 3720 printer's cartridges and inside its carriage can often resolve common print quality issues and error messages.
Why Clean Printer Contacts?
Over time, dust, ink residue, or debris can accumulate on the electrical contacts of your printer cartridges and the corresponding contacts within the printer's carriage. This buildup can disrupt the communication between the cartridge and the printer, leading to:
- Streaks or missing colors in printouts
- Faded or inconsistent print quality
- Error messages like "Cartridge Problem" or "Ink Cartridge Missing"
- Failure of the printer to recognize an installed cartridge
Regular, gentle cleaning can help maintain optimal print performance and extend the life of your cartridges.
When to Perform This Cleaning
Consider cleaning the contacts if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, especially after installing a new cartridge or if print quality suddenly declines without an obvious cause.
What You'll Need
Before you begin, gather these essential items:
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Lint-free cloth | For gentle cleaning without leaving fibers. |
| Distilled water | Prevents mineral buildup that tap water can leave. |
| Rubber gloves | Optional, but recommended to avoid ink stains. |
| Good lighting | To clearly see the small contacts. |
Step-by-Step Cleaning Process
Follow these steps carefully to clean the cartridge and carriage contacts:
1. Prepare Your Printer
- Turn off the printer: Press the Power button to turn off your HP DeskJet 3720.
- Unplug the power cord: For safety, disconnect the power cord from the back of the printer.
- Open the cartridge access door: Lift the top cover or open the front access door to expose the cartridge carriage. The carriage will likely move to the center.
- Remove the cartridges: Gently press down on the cartridge you wish to remove (or both if cleaning both sets of contacts) to release it, then pull it out towards you. Place them on a clean, lint-free cloth with the nozzle facing up to prevent ink leakage.
2. Clean the Print Cartridge Contacts
- Locate the contacts: On the back or side of the cartridge, you will see a small, copper-colored strip of electrical contacts.
- Dampen the cloth: Lightly dampen a clean, lint-free cloth with distilled water. Ensure the cloth is damp, not soaking wet.
- Gently wipe the contacts: Carefully wipe only the copper-colored electrical contacts on the cartridge. Avoid touching the ink nozzles at the bottom of the cartridge.
- Set aside to dry: Place the cleaned cartridge on a dry, lint-free cloth with the contacts exposed to air.
3. Clean the Printer Carriage Electrical Contacts
- Locate the contacts: Inside the printer, where the cartridges sit, you will see a corresponding set of electrical contacts within the carriage. These are usually metallic strips or pins designed to connect with the cartridge contacts.
- Dampen the cloth: Lightly dampen a fresh section of your lint-free cloth with distilled water.
- Gently wipe the carriage contacts: Carefully clean the electrical contacts inside the printer carriage. Be thorough but gentle to avoid bending any pins.
- Wait for drying: Allow the cleaned carriage contacts to air dry completely.
4. Reinstall Cartridges and Test
- Allow everything to dry: Wait approximately 10 minutes to ensure all contacts on both the cartridges and in the carriage are completely dry. This is crucial to prevent electrical issues.
- Reinstall the cartridges: Once dry, carefully slide each cartridge back into its slot until it clicks securely into place. Make sure you install them in the correct color slots (if applicable).
- Close the access door: Close the cartridge access door or top cover.
- Reconnect power and turn on: Plug the power cord back into the printer and then turn it on.
- Run a test page: From your computer or the printer's control panel, print a test page or a print quality report (HP Support: How to Print a Test Page). This will help you determine if the cleaning was successful.
Important Tips and Precautions
- Never use alcohol or solvents: Only use distilled water for cleaning contacts, as other liquids can damage the plastic or electrical components.
- Avoid touching nozzles: Be extremely careful not to touch the ink nozzles, as this can clog them or introduce air bubbles, affecting print quality.
- Gentle touch: Apply only light pressure when wiping the contacts to avoid damage.
- Power off: Always ensure the printer is off and unplugged before performing any internal cleaning.
If Issues Persist
If cleaning the contacts does not resolve your printing issues, consider these additional troubleshooting steps:
- Run a printhead cleaning utility: Many HP printers have a built-in utility to clean the printheads, which can be accessed through your computer's printer software or the printer's control panel (HP Support: Printhead Cleaning).
- Replace the cartridge: If only one color is affected, the cartridge itself might be depleted or faulty. Try replacing it with a new, genuine HP cartridge.
- Contact HP Support: If all else fails, refer to the official HP Support website for model-specific troubleshooting or to contact their customer service.
