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Here’s a video of us cleaning down a 1ClickPrint DTF Pro 2 Printer: https://www.dtf-printers.co.uk/how-to-clean-a-dtf-printer/
If you ask any veteran DTF technician in the UK what the most common cause of a “dead” printhead is, they won’t tell you it’s a mechanical snap or a software glitch. They will tell you it’s a dirty capping station.
The capping station is the “home” where your printhead parks when it isn’t working. Its job is to create an airtight seal to keep the nozzles from drying out. If that seal fails, your expensive printhead starts to “skin over” and clog.
Here is how to properly maintain this critical bit of kit using 1ClickPrint Isopropanol printhead wipes to ensure your vacuum remains perfect and your heads stay fresh.
The capping station consists of a rubber-rimmed “cap” that presses against the bottom of the printhead. Inside is a porous sponge connected to a pump.
The Problem: Over time, the heavy white ink used in DTF leaves a residue on the rubber seal. This residue hardens, creating tiny gaps. Once air can get in, the vacuum is lost, and the ink inside the printhead begins to dry.
The wiper is the small rubber blade that physically “wipes” the excess ink off the bottom of the printhead after a cleaning cycle.
The Problem: If the wiper is coated in dried, crusty ink, it stops being a soft squeegee and starts acting like a piece of sandpaper. Instead of cleaning the head, it drags dried grit across the delicate nozzle plate, causing permanent damage.
You should perform this clean of these parts at the end of every shift. Using 1ClickPrint Isopropanol wipes makes this process much cleaner and more consistent than using loose liquids and swabs.
1ClickPrint Isopropanol Printhead Wipes: These are specifically designed to be lint-free. Standard tissues or paper towels will leave tiny fibres behind that act like wicks, sucking the ink out of your nozzles and causing clogs.
A torch: Essential for seeing into the dark corners of the carriage area to spot hidden ink build-up.
Move the Carriage: In your BYHX software or printer control panel, move the carriage to the far left position. This slides the head out of the way so you can get a clear look at the station on the far right.
Clean the Wiper: Take a fresh 1ClickPrint wipe. Pinch the rubber wiper blade between the wipe and your fingers. Pull upwards to clean both sides of the blade until it is supple and completely free of white ink residue. If the rubber feels “stiff” or has visible nicks, it’s time to replace it.
Clean the Rubber Seal: This is the most important part of the job. Use the wipe to thoroughly clean the top rim (the “gasket”) of the capping station. You want that rubber seal to be perfectly smooth and black, with no white “fuzz” or dried crust.
The “Flood” Test: Once the rim is clean, you can carefully drop a small amount of DTF cleaning solution into the cap.
If the liquid stays there, your seal is likely good.
If it drains away instantly (without the pump running), there may be a leak in your lines or a clog in the waste tube.
In a busy shop, it’s tempting to grab whatever is to hand, but DTF ink is chemically stubborn. The “white” contains Titanium Dioxide, which will leave solid residue on machine parts.
The 1ClickPrint wipes are pre-saturated with the correct concentration of Isopropanol to break down these binders without perishing or “swelling” the rubber components of your capping station. Crucially, they don’t leave behind the microscopic “hairs” that cotton buds or kitchen roll do—hairs that can easily find their way into a nozzle and ruin a £1,000 printhead.
| Component | Frequency | Action |
| Rubber Wiper | Daily | Wipe both sides until clear of ink. |
| Cap Seal Rim | Daily | Ensure the rubber gasket is supple and clean. |
| Complete Cap Unit | 6–12 Months | Replace the entire unit as a standard wear-and-tear item. |
A clean capping station is the best insurance policy you can have. It takes less than two minutes at the end of the day, but it can save you an absolute fortune in replacement parts. Keep the rubber clean, keep the vacuum tight, and your machine will be ready to work the second you turn it on the next morning.
Would you like me to explain how to test the suction of your waste pump if you suspect the capping station isn’t pulling ink through properly during a head clean?
