Abstract: In AIP printheads, misfunction after printing a number of prints, due to the accumulation of ink and dust around orifices in the orifice plate may occur. In order to clean the printheads, the dirty printhead is first capped and the ink pressure in the printhead increase significantly to allow ink to escape through the orifices and completely fill a small gap inside the cap portion. After letting the orifices soak for a predetermined time to dissolve the dried ink and loosen dust debris which may be found on the printheads, the cap drainhole is opened to drain the ink while keeping the ink pressure inside the head at an intermediate higher level. This higher pressure prevents the ink still remaining inside the bore of each orifice hole from reentering the printhead. The dirty ink remaining inside the orifice bore is removed using a wiping station in separate steps.