print heads need cleaning

BTW the standard reference spot for fixing printer problems is, not surprisingly called:

http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/

You'll see that the correct cleaning solution (pun intended) varies for different models of Epson.

So we really do need to know the OP's model of printer to give the best advice.

MacIntel Mini 1.83, 2 Gig, OSX 10.4.7; iBook G4 800, 640 Meg, OSX 10.3.9

It depends on what model you have.

In general, Epson print heads do best if you use them at least once a week. They don't like to sit.

The big advantage of most Epsons is that you can buy after-market cartridges for them and save large amounts of money.

For example, my vendor just had a 2-for-1 sale on new, after-market carts for the CX4800, and I got 16 carts for $36 delivered!

When carts are that cheap, you don't mind using your printer more, which is what keeps Epsons working.

The best way to clear the heads is to use the printer, preferably printing in highest resolution.

MacIntel Mini 1.83, 2 Gig, OSX 10.4.7; iBook G4 800, 640 Meg, OSX 10.3.9

Clogged heads are a problem for any inkjet printer where the head is not part of the cartridge and the printer isn't used often.

When the cartridge cleaning option doesn't work, I've found that removing the cartridges and soaking the head with denatured alcohol usually works fine, though it can take a couple of hours to soften and clear the hardened ink.

Having used denatured alcohol to clean various printers with clogged heads, it's more a matter of how to access the head, which varies from model to model since the formulation of ink doesn't change much from model to model.

The link is useful for sure of course.

InkRepublic is selling very decent and powerful cleaning kit, called - i-Remove.

http://www.inkrepublic.com/iRemove.asp

this should solve your problem.

they have powerful cleaning fluid as well as their cleaning damper that is to assist you to remove the blockage. it is different from other cleaning solution.

Power G5 Quad Mac OS X (10.4.3)