About the ink cartridges.
These cartridges have a print head attached and therefore, if you suffer severe blocking due to lack of use and are unable to clean the heads using the software provided, you can just take the cartridge out and buy a new one and all your print head nozzle clogging problems will be over.
Always use your printer at least once per fortnight or the ink will dry on the nozzles of the print head and block them. It would be even more beneficial to the flow of the ink from the cartridge, to use your printer once per week.
*Note*
Switching your printer off and back on will start the 'head clean' automatically, which uses both black & colour ink to clear the nozzles. You can completely empty your ink cartridges just by turning the printer on and off continuously.
*Note*
Regular use will save you the expense of replacing cartridges prematurely.


Cleaning information:
If your printer shows broken lines when printing, then the print head is usually suffering from a blockage or air lock. To clear the blockage / air lock, carry out a head clean in accordance with your printer software and user manual. If blockages are severe, clean the print heads 3 or 4 times without doing the nozzle check, only print the nozzle check after you have cleaned the heads 3 or 4 times. The blockages should now be cleared or at least you should see some improvement. If still not perfect, carry our 3 or 4 more cleans and then print the nozzle check pattern.
If blockage is too severe and does not show improvement, remove the troubled cartridge, add boiling water to a saucer and sit the cartridge in the water upright so that the print head is immersed. Ink will start to flow into the water and will look like a lot of ink is escaping, don't worry this is deceiving. After a few seconds of ink flow, pick up the cartridge and dry with kitchen roll, then dab a dry piece of kitchen roll against the print head (where the ink comes out). You should see a perfect rectangle of black or three complete and even lines of colour depending on which cartridge you are cleaning.
If improved, but not perfect, repeat the process, but leave the cartridge in the water for a couple of minutes this time. Remove, dry and check once again.
If no improvement still, you will need to purchase a new cartridge.
If perfect, replace the cartridge into the printer and continue to print as normal, but use it regularly in order to prevent severe clogging in the future.

Additional helpful information:
The above black & colour Canon PIXMA MP240 / MP245 / MP250 / MP252 / MP258 / MP260 / MP268 / MP270 / MP272 / MP276 / MP280 / MP480 / MP486 / MP490 / MP492 / MP495 / MP499 / MX320 / MX328 / MX330 / MX338 / MX340 / MX350 / MX410 / MX420 / IP2700 / IP2702 inkjet cartridges are new  remanufactured ink cartridges originally manufactured by Canon ( the Original Equipment Manufacturers ) and supplied in the UK. They are made using high quality ink and are 100% guaranteed, however this guarantee does not extend to lack of use of the cartridge causing dry ink clogging once fitted in your printer or maltreatment and neglect of the ink cartridge once removed from its packaging. Only genuine faults are guaranteed and if you have any reason for complaint regarding the cartridge design, manufacture or suitability to your needs, you should contact The INK Store and voice your complaint. You can do this online through our website.  We also supply other inkjet products and compatible ink cartridges for other Canon printer models and other brands of printer, see cartridges or media