I am currently in the process of ordering the color ink cartridges and icing sheets for my Canon 5000. I need to know about the print head cleaning cartridges. I see that they have single cartridges wide that fits in the wide black cartridge spot and then there is a narrow cleaning cartridge that fits into a color spot. Then there are kits with five cleaning cartridges!!!!! Do I just need one or all five to clean my print head!!! 
So many options. Then they also recommend in an "either/or" situation to use a jet steam cleaner which I have. What do I do. I'm already spending enough money with the set of 5 color cartridges and the 1/4 sheet icing sheets!!!!!!!
Amy
Well, I understand that there aren't enough of us online right now to help me out and I appreciate your reply (YOU LIKE ME YOU REALLY LIKE ME) 
Anyway, I didn't order the cleaning cartridges at this time. I'll do that at another time!!!
Thank you!!!
Amy 
I can't help you for now, but I ordered a cleaning kit on Ebay and should receive it soon. I'm planning on buying cartridges and sheets soon to equip my canon-6100, but I just wanted to be sure to clean the heads correctly so it works, be fore ordering anything. Can I ask where you buy your cartridges and sheets?
thanks
Lorris
I just bought them directly from KopyKake. It was cheaper than buying from sugarcraft. Sugarcraft sells KopyKake but buying directly from KopyKake was cheaper This is going to be my first time using the edible images!!! I'm really excited about it as I have a going away cake for the CO of the Naval Hospital out here and then the following week I have the Change of Command cake for the outgoing CO and the incoming CO. These are going to be pretty big cakes with a picture of the Naval Hospital on the first one and then the Command emblem on the second. I figured an edible image is the only way to go for those cakes!!!! Don't ya think!!!!
I see you bought Canon's new printer. How cool! I got the 5000 at a seriously discounted price because they don't make it anymore or at least the store I bought it from won't be selling it anymore because of the newer models!!!
Amy
You're right....using edible images for these cakes sounds perfect.
As for the cleaning cartridges....I just got the same configuration of cartridges that I get for ink. What they have you do is print a page(on paper) with the cleaning cartridges in place instead of ink. You keep repeating that printing cycle until the page has no ink on it. I guess you could do that and rotate the placement of the colored cartridge if you just bought one...but I'm not sure the printer would function that way. You'd best consult with KopyKake about that and give them your model number, etc. If you have a steam cleaner, that might be the way to go for you. If my normal cleaning routine ever fails to do the job, I'll take the printhead off and clean it with Everclear. That's another option for you to think about. To be honest, even though lots of people have complained about clogging, I've just about finished my first pack of icing sheets, and I've only had to run the light cleaning routine twice. I do run a nozzle check if the printer's been sitting a couple of weeks . But, usually, it's OK.
You'll love having this resource. It's a lot of fun to come up with creative ways to use edible images.
Oh that's really really helpful! Okay now, what do you mean by nozzel check? Doing a check on the printer head? 
You're right, I hope this will be a lot of fun. That means I can raise the price of my cakes by $10.00 for the images!! Is that too steep?
Amy
I am currently in the process of ordering the color ink cartridges and icing sheets for my Canon 5000. I need to know about the print head cleaning cartridges. I see that they have single cartridges wide that fits in the wide black cartridge spot and then there is a narrow cleaning cartridge that fits into a color spot. Then there are kits with five cleaning cartridges!!!!! Do I just need one or all five to clean my print head!!!
So many options. Then they also recommend in an "either/or" situation to use a jet steam cleaner which I have. What do I do. I'm already spending enough money with the set of 5 color cartridges and the 1/4 sheet icing sheets!!!!!!!
Amy
The 5000 has 4 narrow tanks and 1 wide. You'd need a cleaning cartridge for each. The cleaning cartridges can be handy so you don't waste ink when performing cleaning cycles but since you have the steam cleaner, I'd just use that if/when you get a clog.
Oh that's really really helpful! Okay now, what do you mean by nozzel check? Doing a check on the printer head?
You're right, I hope this will be a lot of fun. That means I can raise the price of my cakes by $10.00 for the images!! Is that too steep?
Amy
The nozzle check test is a function in the printer's maintenance menu. You'll perform one of these to test whether or not you have clogged nozzles. It's also good to perform one after cleanings to be sure you've cleared the clog.
Amy[/quote]
The nozzle check test is a function in the printer's maintenance menu. You'll perform one of these to test whether or not you have clogged nozzles. It's also good to perform one after cleanings to be sure you've cleared the clog.[/quote]
And, there's other stuff in the maintenance section...DEEP cleaning, roller cleaning. I forget what all. Be sure to check it out. You can get there by right-clicking on your printer's name and choosing properties when you're in the printer portion of your computer's control panel. You can also get there by pretending to print something. You get the same properties window to choose the print settings...just choose the maintenance tab in either case.
The thing is....cleaning procedures use ink. Just be aware of that. I've not noticed a severe drain, but there is a little loss.
But, most of all...have fun!
I can't help you for now, but I ordered a cleaning kit on Ebay and should receive it soon. I'm planning on buying cartridges and sheets soon to equip my canon-6100, but I just wanted to be sure to clean the heads correctly so it works, be fore ordering anything. Can I ask where you buy your cartridges and sheets?
thanks
Lorris
Hi Lorris...if you've used your printer with regular ink, you should think about purchasing a new printer just for edible imaging. Cleaning the print head won't be enough and there's the risk of cross-contamination.
I'm always glad to help. Lisa's the REAL expert. I'm just an old graphics freak who happens to love Canon printers. I've had a long line of them, starting way back when nobody else had color printers. I was quite the adventuress. 
I absolutely LOVE using edible images, but I'm just now working my way through my first package. They're so much more versatile than just plopping pictures of the baseball team on top of a sheet cake. Fun, fun, fun!
Thanks cakemommy.
But on the kopyKake site they say how to change the old printers, and how to clean them for the use of edible ink. I still need to change my printer? If so I'll check for a new one. They must cheaper now than when we bought ours. But by what the site said I thought I could clean it well, just change heads and be good to go. I'll check on that. Don't what anyone to get sick....
thanks again
Lorris
Thanks cakemommy.
But on the kopyKake site they say how to change the old printers, and how to clean them for the use of edible ink. I still need to change my printer? If so I'll check for a new one. They must cheaper now than when we bought ours. But by what the site said I thought I could clean it well, just change heads and be good to go. I'll check on that. Don't what anyone to get sick....
thanks again
Lorris
The cleaning instructions are for cleaning the print head if it gets clogged using edible inks. You should start with a new inkjet printer. This is from the Canon site:
Standard inks (either Canon manufactured inks or other third party inks) are not safe to digest and immediate medical advice should be sought if this were to happen.
If the use of edible inks and/or edible icing paper were contemplated then extreme caution should be taken to avoid cross contamination with any standard inks. If standard ink has ever been used in a printer, internal components of that printer will contain standard ink. As such anything edible passing through the printer should not come into contact with such components. Canon accepts no liability or responsibility for health concerns caused by the use of edible ink.
The printers are inexpensive though and you can get one for as little as $50 new (not refurbished) on eBay. You only need up to a 4 cartridge for edible imaging like the iP3000. Using this instead of the 6 cartridge will save you money and your new printer will pay for itself 
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%