I often get questions from new users about cleaning fountain pens, namely how to do it and how often. I’ve previously published some resources on techniques for cleaning and maintaining fountain pens, but the most basic question involves frequency. There’s no clear answer: my general guidance is every two months or so as a rule of thumb, with more frequent cleaning recommended if you are using specialty inks that contain shimmer particles, are highly saturated, or feature pigment or other additives to make the inks permanent. Usually all you need to do is flush the pen with water using the integrated filling mechanism, a converter, or bulb syringe.
While you may need to add a drop of dish detergent to tougher jobs (purples, reds, and oranges can sometimes be harder to clean), you don’t usually need more than a glass of water to thoroughly clean a fountain pen. The bulb syringe can help flush water through a cartridge/converter pen.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Pens Regularly?
99% of the time, the worst thing that will happen is the pen will hard-start (not write immediately when you touch nib to paper), skip when writing, or not write at all because it’s clogged. Fountain pen ink is water-based, so over time the water in the ink will evaporate, causing the ink to thicken or dry up entirely and clog the pen. Most dyes used by ink manufacturers are water-soluble, so flushing the pen with water should resolve these issues, and if you clean the pen every couple of months as part of your routine you can usually avoid them altogether.
I will have to say that the need to clean pens religiously on some sort of set schedule is often overstated. I know many long-time fountain pen enthusiasts who never clean their pens at all, or at least not until the pen actually clogs, which they take as a sign that the pen “needs cleaning”. However, the best course of action is to use your pens regularly and rotate ink colors because it forces you to clean.
The Major “Don’t-Ever-Do-This” of Fountain Pens
Unfortunately, I’ve run into many new users who have been told by unknowledgeable sellers and “people online” that they can use artists inks such as India ink, Higgins ink, Calligraphy ink, and other paint-like inks in fountain pens. You cannot. Certain of these products contain shellac, which is a glue-like substance that will bind up the inside of your fountain pen and render it unusable if it is allowed to dry. You should only use ink labeled as safe for fountain pens, and preferably inks made by pen manufacturers or boutique ink manufacturers who specifically make ink for fountain pens.
The “Ask TGS” series of blog posts features questions from readers and customers that frequently appear in my inbox, social media DMs, and customer questions. Some of the most frequent posts are summarized on our FAQ page. We also answer reader questions on a podcast that we co-host with Vanness Pens, “On the Paper Trail”. If you have a question you want answered, please do write in using the contact form and we will try to answer the question in one of these forums.