An inking arrangement for printing presses comprises an ink fountain member having at least one fountain-forming face for forming an ink fountain, an ink fountain roller defining an ink channel together with the fountain member and having an outer peripheral surface to be inked through the channel, a plurality of rollers for supplying the ink applied to the peripheral surface of the fountain roller to a printing portion, and a cleaning tank disposed below the fountain member. The cleaning tank is provided with a cleaning blade at least alternatively shiftable to a cleaning position in which the blade is pressed against the peripheral surface of the fountain roller, or to a stand-by position in which the blade is away from the fountain roller. The ink applied to the peripheral surface of the fountain roller through the channel is scraped off by the blade in the cleaning position and collected in the tank.