2) Remove all the ink cartridges from the printer and turn off the printer.
*** I don't bother with step 3, particularly since I have an Artisan which works differently from other Epson printers. However I have never done this even on other printer models. -- izzy
3) Cut a sheet of paper towel into long strips and place them around the area where the cartridges were to absorb the cleaning solution.
*** Some places recommend heating up the solution in a microwave. I have never done this. Perhaps if you have a very stubborn clog. Here are the instructions for a similar product complete with photos of a clean print head. Notice they sell their virtually identical product for $42, 600% more than us. ***
For each color which is blocked:
4) Fill the tube with a few drops of cleaning solution. It doesn't take much. The syringe itself doesn't need any.
5) On Epson printers and printers where a pin punctures the bottom of the cartridge, place the tube over the pin which puncture the cartridge and press down for as tight a seal as possible. For printers without a pin, press the end of the tube over the hole or "sponge" where the ink enters the printer.
6) Carefully inject the cleaning solution into the pin or hole using slight pressure. Avoid injecting air into the print head.
Repeat from step 4 if other colors are blocked.
7) Sop up excess fluid and remove the paper towel(s).
8) Install the cartridges back into the printer.
9) Do not use the printer for at least 5-6 hours. Longer is better. This allows the print head to soak in the cleaning solution and the ink to drip in and start to replace the cleaning solution.
10) Turn the printer on (after waiting hours). Run the nozzle check. If it isn't good, run the cleaning cycle and another nozzle check, looking for improvement. The first few attempts may not look right because the ink has to completely replace the cleaning solution. If there is no improvement, repeat steps 1-10 again. Some clogs may require multiple application of the cleaning fluid. You may also want to give it more time to work. On a particularly stubborn printer, I gave it two days and it worked. A customer reported that the cleaning failed and he put the printer in his garage and bought another. Severals weeks later, he tried the one in the garage and it worked. (I'm sure it didn't take several weeks, probably just a few days.)
If there is no improvement after three or four cycles with the cleaning solution, your print head is not clogged - the head has burned out. Nothing short of replacement will correct it and replacement costs more than a new printer. You can visit http://ccs-digital.com/Best-printer-deals.asp for information on the latest printer deals. (We don't sell printers but we do keep up with the latest sales.)
Below is a video of using an identical product to unblock clogged Epson printer heads. There may be slight variations with your printer, but the basic idea is the same.