HP Smart Tank 450 series ink removal

[KaylaS28]

I wanted to know if there is any possible way to remove the ink I have in my printer. When moving the printer to our new house I believe the black ink has leaked and gotten into the other colours and is causing them to print darker and incorrectly. 

I am wanting to remove the ink in there and replace with new ink but am unsure on how to remove the ink already in the printer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[Garp_senchau]

@KaylaS28, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

Ink contamination in an HP Smart Tank printer (like the HP Smart Tank Wireless 450) can cause serious color issues if black ink has leaked into the color reservoirs or printhead system. The Smart Tank series is designed with refillable ink tanks, but cleaning them out isn't as straightforward as just refilling them.

Here’s what you need to know and do:

If the ink has leaked into the wrong tanks or internal tubes, it can be tricky — but not impossible — to flush and replace.

1. Drain Ink from the Tanks (if mixed)

If the contamination is in the visible external tanks:

Use a syringe with tubing (available at pharmacies or printer stores) to draw out the ink from each tank.

Dispose of ink safely (don't pour down the sink).

Repeat until the tank is nearly empty.

Wipe the inside of the tank with lint-free cloth or a cotton swab and distilled water (if needed).

2. Flush the Printhead (if possible)

The ink contamination is likely also in the printhead or ink lines, not just the tank.

Remove the printhead (if possible)

Rinse it gently with warm, distilled water in a bowl. You can also use a printhead cleaning solution (available online).

Soak for several hours, changing the water if it becomes heavily inked.

Let it dry completely before reinstalling.

3. Check for Ink Line Contamination

Unfortunately, if black ink got into the tubing (connecting tanks to printhead), you cannot easily flush these without disassembly.

You can try running multiple printhead cleanings via the HP software.

Refill tanks with fresh ink, and run deep cleaning cycles several times.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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