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Canon print-head cleaning: start with a nozzle check
Missing colours or streaks may call for print-head maintenance, but cleaning is not the first answer to every poor print. Check the supplies and run the nozzle-check procedure described in your printer’s manual.
Use the test pattern to choose the next step
Inspect the nozzle pattern for missing sections. Canon’s iX6700 ink-not-ejected guidance illustrates the relationship between a nozzle check and cleaning. It is an example for that series; use the manual for your own model before applying a maintenance procedure.
Run only the recommended cleaning
Use the printer controls or official maintenance software for the cleaning step supported by your model. Let it complete, then compare another nozzle pattern. Repeated cleaning consumes ink and does not establish that the head is the cause.
Separate other quality problems
Smudging, incorrect paper settings and alignment problems may need different checks. Note the paper type and whether the fault appears on every document. Do not pour cleaning fluid into the printer or remove a head unless the model’s instructions specifically describe user removal.
If the recommended sequence does not improve the result, use Canon service options. If the printer displays a support code rather than simply printing badly, look up that code in its manual first.