Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided for cleaning an ink jet printhead following a print operation. A source of pressure is applied to the printhead nozzle face via a resilient sealing cap member. The printhead manifold is connected to a reservoir which is filled with cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid is introduced into the printhead interior. The pressure source is activated for short time periods and at a low pressure forces air into the interior of the printhead. This creates an agitation of the cleaning mixture and a bubbling effect which causes residual ink within the printhead to be mixed with the cleaning fluid and carried through the ink manifold back into the ink tank. The operation can be repeated until all of the residual ink is purged from the printhead interior.