How to Clean Your Fountain Pen (And Why It's Not as Scary as You Think!)

So, you've taken the plunge and bought your first fountain pen – congratulations! Maybe it's a cartridge-based pen like the Lamy Safari, or perhaps you went bold with a TWSBI Eco and bottled ink. Either way, you're probably wondering about the dreaded "M" word: maintenance.

Full disclosure, when I first got my fountain pen, I was terrified I'd ruin it the moment I tried to clean it and that I’d get ink EVERYWHERE. I mean, I can barely eat pasta without getting a stain. How am I supposed to maintain a "fancy" writing instrument? But here's the thing – cleaning your fountain pen is actually easier than getting ragu out of a white shirt. I promise.

"It seems so complicated." I get it, I really do. Let me put your mind to rest. You're not performing surgery here; you're just giving your pen a bath. You need three things: lukewarm water, a little patience, and maybe a paper towel.That's it. No special solutions, no fancy equipment, just water. Hot tip: the first time you do it, maybe wear something you aren’t afraid to ruin just to be on the safe side. Ink is a lot harder to get out than spaghetti sauce!  

For cartridge pens: Remove the cartridge, run some lukewarm water through the grip section until it runs clear, shake out the excess water, and let it dry overnight. Seriously, that's it. 

For pens with converters or piston fillers: Fill and empty the pen with clean water a few times until the water runs clear. It's like rinsing out a water bottle – nothing scary about it.

"How often do I need to do this?" Here's where I'm going to make your life even easier – you don't need to clean your pen very often. If you're using it regularly (which you should be!), a monthly cleaning is plenty. If you're switching ink colors or the pen's been sitting unused for a while, then yes, give it a rinse. But daily cleaning? Absolutely not necessary.

"What about those stubborn inks?" Okay, so maybe you went a little crazy with that beautiful Wearingeul “A Study in Scarlet” ink and now your pen looks like it's been through a crime scene. Don't panic! A little dish soap in your water will work wonders. A friend learned this the hard way when she decided to try a particularly vibrant purple ink that seemed determined to stain everything it touched.  

Another hot tip: Don't use hot water or any harsh chemicals. Your fountain pen is like a good friendship – it responds better to gentle treatment than aggressive action.

The biggest revelation is realizing that fountain pen cleaning isn't about being perfect – it's about being practical. You're not trying to make your pen look brand new after every use. You're just keeping it happy and functional, like watering a plant or charging your phone.

And here's a secret that nobody tells you: a little ink residue is normal and won't hurt anything. A slightly tinted pen is a well-loved pen.

Still nervous? Stop by Penny Post and let us show you – we've walked plenty of fountain pen newbies through their first cleaning, and I promise it's much less dramatic than you're imagining. 

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