How to clean and maintain your fountain pen
If you're having trouble with your fountain pen, it stops writing or it doesn't write as well as before, there are several possible causes:
- If you've forgotten to put the cap back on or you did not close your pen properly, the ink may dry on the nib.
- If a pen has been stored incorrectly for too long it may dry out. Fountain pens are best stored flat and not vertical, as this keeps the ink in the nib and in the feed (the toothed, often black part behind the nib).
- Dust or other particles may have accumulated on the nib.
It is important to clean your pen regularly (at least once a month).
If your pen does not write, but it still has ink in its cartridge or reservoir:
- You can simply dip the nib in a glass of cold water and wipe it gently with a paper towel. The pen should write better afterwards
If you want to change your ink color and you use cartridges:
- Unscrew the nib section and discard its cartridge
- Hold the nib under cold tap water (low flow) for a few seconds
- Gently wipe the nib with a paper towel
- If there is ink on the paper towel, you can soak the nib in a glass of cold water. Change the water often, until it runs clear
If you want to change your ink color and you use a converter pump:
- Unscrew the nib section and remove the converter pump
- Hold the nib under cold tap water (low flow) for a few seconds
- Gently wipe the nib with a paper towel. If there is ink on the paper towel, you can soak the nib in a glass of cold water. Change the water often, until it runs clear
- Pump cold water through your converter until there is no more ink residue
- Reassemble and refill your pen