Keep Your Nozzles Clear

Leaving any inkjet idle for even a week or two can allow the ink in the tiny tubes that feed the nozzles to dry. The resulting clogs cause streaks and other anomalies in your pictures. If the tubes become too blocked, you'll need the services of a professional (at upward of $85 an hour). The results of inkjet cleaning kits (which cost from $15 to more than $50) are mixed at best. To avoid clogs, print at least once a week. Some printers run a maintenance routine on startup, meaning that you can keep the nozzles clear simply by turning your printer on and off once a week. Check your device's manual to see whether it has this feature.