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How to Clean a Fountain Pen

The pleasure you take in writing with a fountain pen can diminish considerably if you don't maintain the pen in good working order. Unlike ballpoint and rollerball pens, fountain pens require simple, regular cleaning to perform optimally. Well- maintained fountain pens can last for decades without needing replacement parts. The methods for cleaning these pens also depend on the materials used to manufacture them, such as sterling silver, gold, nickel, stainless steel or iridium. Plan to clean your fountain pen before every third refill.

Things You'll Need

Paper towels
Household ammonia
1 cup cold water
Empty plastic cup
Ear syringe or clean ink syringe
Cotton ear swabs
Liquid silver polish
Soft, clean cloth

Instructions

Cleaning the Nib
- 1
  
  Keep the nib in working order with regular flushing.
  
  Unscrew the pen block from the pen body and remove the ink reservoir or cartridge.
- 2
  Fill an ear syringe or a clean ink syringe with cold water, and with the syringe attached where the ink reservoir normally sits, hold the pen block nib over the empty plastic cup and squeeze the water from the syringe into the nib. As the water passes through the nib, the leftover ink will drip into the cup.
- 3
  Refill the syringe and repeat until the water emerges clear from the nib. When the water is clear, remove the syringe. If the nib requires extra cleaning or is clogged, fill the syringe with household ammonia and squeeze it through the nib to loosen solidified ink.
- 4
  Wrap a paper towel around the nib and shake the pen several times to force any remaining water from the nib.
- 5
  Keep the nib wrapped in the paper towel overnight so that any remaining water has time to dry.
- 6
  Insert the ink reservoir or a new cartridge into the pen, reconnect the barrel and re-cap the pen.
Cleaning the Pen Body
- 7
  
  Materials dictate the best cleaning methods.
  
  Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe down the body of the pen if it is made of celluloid, lacquer or a hard-metal finish (for example, stainless steel, chrome, platinum or rhodium).
- 8
  Wipe down a resin pen body with a soft, clean cloth and at the same time check the pen for chips or cracks. This material is generally less durable and more susceptible to damage from dropping or scratching.
- 9
  Use a soft, clean cloth to wipe down sterling and plated-silver pens. If the pen is tarnished, coat cotton ear swabs with liquid silver polish and apply the swabs to the silver.
  
  Wipe the tarnish and any remaining silver polish away with the soft cloth.

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