Canon Pixma Printer is gungy

[smurfchops]

I have a Canon Pixma iP 2200 printer, a few years old now. Works OK but I just changed the black cartridge and noticed loads of black gunge inside on the right hand side under where the cartridge usually sits. When I lift the lid, the cartridge moves over to the left and that's when I saw it.. Its obvious a cartridge has leaked (I once bought a refill type, not Canon and it never worked properly so I always buy Canon now) anyway, I wondered if this had caused the gunge .. it doesn't leak onto the desk thank goodness. Is there any easy way to clean this out without taking the printer apart ? I can sort of get my fingers in there

[Buenchico]

Your iP2200 printer probably has a 'bottom plate cleaning' facility within its maintenance settings. (My own printer, which is also from Canon's iP series, has). Assuming that you've got it (and basing my instructions upon Windows XP), here's what you need to do:

Go to Start > Settings > Printers and Faxes.
Right-click on the icon for your printer.
Select 'Properties'.
Click on the 'Maintenance' tab.
Click on 'Bottom Plate Cleaning'
(You'll need to put a folded sheet of paper into the printer but the instructions will appear on screen, so I don't need to explain that bit!)
Based upon my own experience, you might need to go through the cleaning process two or three times for best results.

Chris

[smurfchops]

Thanks Chris I will give it a try and let you know ! You are a star :)