How to Clean a Fountain Pen With Dried Ink?

A fountain pen makes an excellent gift and is a great addition to any stationery set. However, these expensive pens tend to dry up if not used frequently.

One fix to this is always to clean out the pen after each use, but it can be hard to remember to do so. If you happen to use your fountain pen and it’s clogged with ink, we can show you exactly how to clean a fountain pen with dried ink.

Why Do Fountain Pens Dry Up?

Fountain pens tend to dry up because the ink that is used is water based. If you’ve studied water evaporation in school, you’ll notice that over time, a small amount of liquid will start to dry out.

It’s similar to water-based makeup products as well. Since fountain pens hold only a tiny amount of water-based ink, the pen will dry out within a few days.

How to Clean a Fountain Pen with Dried Ink?

Fountain pens tend to build up dust, flakes, and other small particles over time and clog the tip of the pen. That prevents you from using the pen or receiving an even flow of ink.

1. Flush the Ink Out

You’ll need to clean out the pen if the ink pours out, gets clogged up, or seems to cut out randomly. To clean the pen of dried ink, you’ll need to take it apart. Taking a pen apart will change with each model because they all feature different designs.

The best method for determining how to take a fountain pen apart is to refer to the manufacturer’s website or check online videos. Once the pen has been taken apart, you can move onto the next step. Take the nib end of the pen and soak it in lukewarm water. From here, you’re going to need to place the body of the pen into the water to lose any remaining ink.

• What to do if Ink won’t come out?

It’s not uncommon for stubborn ink to become clogged if you leave the pen uncleaned for more than a few days. If you’ve let the pen sit with ink in it for an extended period, you may need to soak it in the water overnight or purchase a pen flush.

A pen flush is a type of liquid solution that is made to loosen ink particles. It’s commonly made with distilled water, ammonium hydroxide, and other types of loosening agents.

To use a pen flush, you’ll need to clean out the pen and then allow the flush to go through it. Once the ink is loosened, you can rinse it again with water.

• What if that still doesn’t work?

If you’ve already tried a flush and the soaking method, then you may want to try using a bulb syringe. The tool resembles a turkey baster and can be used to force water through the main ink compartment.

This works better than letting the pen soak, as you’ll be able to see the color of the water turn from black ink to clear water. This can also help push stubborn ink clumps out of the tube. It’s recommended if you’ve left the ink to sit in the pen for a few months or longer.

2. Dry the Pen

Once you’ve cleared out the ink, it’s best to dry all parts using a micro plush towel. This will ensure that there’s no buildup of particles and prevent the exterior from getting scratched with a rough cloth. We find that glass cleaners work best for cleaning.

After this, allow the pen to sit vertically in a glass with some paper towels on the bottom. Allow it to drain out for at least twelve hours before attempting to put it back together.

3. Reassemble the Pen

Once everything is drained thoroughly, you can begin to put the pen back together. If you’re not going to use the pen anytime soon, you should store it away in a safe and dry place. However, if you’re going to use it, then you should install a new cartridge of ink before screwing the tip back on.

What Are Some Tips to Keep in Mind?

When it comes to keeping your pen in top shape, we recommend cleaning it every month to ensure that the ink doesn’t clump. If you notice that the pen is having problems writing regularly, then you will either need to clean it out or switch to a different type of ink. Always carefully disassemble and reassemble the pen, as it will be hard to find replacement parts if you accidentally break it while cleaning.

Conclusion

Fountain pens are a traditional gift that anyone would love to receive. Being able to maintain that accurately enables you to ensure that the gift lasts a lifetime. Hopefully, you’ve found out how to clean a fountain pen along with what type of cleaning solutions to use.