Free Printer Test Page

Weekly Inkjet Maintenance Page

Inkjet printers that sit unused for weeks often clog: ink dries in the nozzles, and the fix — repeated head cleaning — uses far more ink than regular printing would have. Printing one small page with every color once a week keeps the ink moving.

Weekly Inkjet Maintenance Page – free printable PDF

In the print dialog choose 100% / Actual size, and turn off “Fit to page”.

This page uses as little ink as possible: one small block and one thin line in each ink, plus a log table where you can note the date and whether everything printed. If a block shows gaps, run the printer’s nozzle check and cleaning before the clog gets worse.

How to print it

  1. Pick the paper size above, and add the printer name and date if you want to keep the printout.
  2. Click Print test page (or Download PDF and open it).
  3. In the print dialog, choose your printer and set the scale to 100% or Actual size.Use plain paper unless you are testing photo paper.

How to read the printout

Color blocks
Each small block should be solid. A block with gaps is the early warning of a clog in that ink.
Thin lines
One line per ink. A broken line means some nozzles are not firing.
Print log
Write the date and result each week. A clog that keeps coming back in the same ink can point to a failing cartridge.

Something wrong on your print?

Tap the problem you see for the usual causes and what to try.

White lines or streaks across the page

Usual causes: On inkjets: clogged nozzles. On laser printers: low toner or a dirty or scratched drum. On thermal label printers: a dirty or dead print head dot.

  1. Inkjet: run the nozzle check and one head cleaning, then print the test page again.
  2. Laser: remove the toner cartridge and rock it gently side to side to spread the toner; clean the corona wire if your drum has one.
  3. Thermal: clean the print head with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry.
  4. If lines appear in exactly the same place after cleaning, a part (print head or drum) may need replacing.
A color is missing or looks wrong

Usual causes: Empty or dried cartridge, clogged nozzles, protective tape on a new cartridge, or a cartridge or ink bottle in the wrong slot.

  1. Check ink levels and make sure all protective tape is removed from new cartridges.
  2. Print the Nozzle Check page (or the printer’s built-in nozzle check) to see which ink is affected.
  3. Run one head cleaning, then check again. Do not run more than two or three in a row.
  4. If one color is replaced by another, check that each cartridge or ink bottle is in the right slot.
Faded or light print

Usual causes: Draft or toner-save mode, low ink or toner, the wrong paper type setting, or partly clogged nozzles.

  1. In the print dialog, set quality to Normal or Best and turn off draft, economy or toner-save mode.
  2. Make sure the paper type in the dialog matches the paper in the tray.
  3. Check ink or toner levels, then run a nozzle check.

More test pages

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Frequently asked questions

How often should I print to keep an inkjet working?

About once a week is a common rule of thumb. Printers in dry rooms or with pigment inks may need it more often; tank printers like EcoTank and MegaTank are especially worth keeping in use.

Does the printer clean itself if I leave it on?

Many inkjets run short automatic cleanings, which also use ink. Leaving the printer plugged in and switched off with its own power button lets it cap the print head properly; unplugging it at the wall can leave the head uncapped.

Is it cheaper to print weekly than to clean?

Usually yes. A cleaning cycle flushes ink through every nozzle at once; a small weekly page uses a fraction of that and keeps the nozzles from clogging in the first place.