Have you ever tried changing the ink cartridge on your printer, only for the reserve that you just put in to not work properly? Frustrating, indeed, but that’s probably because the ink on your cartridge has already dried out. Once you know why and how it happens, you can easily fix the issue – which makes knowing how to properly store and maintain your ink cartridges essential.
Usually, we tend to overlook small details like our printers, because there are other more urgent things that we need to take care of and preoccupy ourselves with – and that’s okay! You can easily avoid any ink dry outs just by following our guide on how you can store and maintain your ink cartridges properly.
Digital printing equipment can seem daunting and difficult to work with at first. But once you get the hang of how to use and care for it, you’ll be able to use your equipment for a long time.
But before we go into the importance of ink cartridges and their proper care and use, let’s first talk about what they are.
What are Ink Cartridges?
In a nutshell, ink cartridges are used for traditional cartridge printers and offer only two variants that have designated compartments in the printer: black and colored. These types of printers are more budget-friendly and easier to use, especially since you can just replace the ink by snapping the cartridge into or out of their compartments.
However, if we compare cartridge printers to ink tank printers:
- Ink tank printer bottles can yield at least 1000-7000 pages before you need to exchange them while cartridges can yield around 300-400 per refill.
- While a cartridge printer is more affordable than ink tank printers, the refills of a cartridge printer are at least ₱505.00 per piece while ink bottles are at ₱290.00 each.
So, given those numbers, you really don’t want to waste any of the refills you buy for your cartridge printers. Other than that, you also have to think of the extra time and effort you’ll put into going out and buying a new cartridge again when your refill doesn’t work.
This is why knowing how you should store your ink cartridges properly is important. You can easily save your energy and resources just by learning the proper maintenance of the cartridges you have yet to use.
The Importance of Storing Your Ink Cartridges Properly
Printer toner cartridges are essential to your printing operations, whether for work or home use. And now that you know what they are, let’s dive deeper into the importance of maintaining and storing your printer’s ink cartridges properly.
- Prolongs the Life of the Cartridge and Prevents Clogs
Correctly storing your spare printer ink cartridges can extend their lifespan. When stored in poor conditions, it can get clogged or it can dry out, which stops it from working altogether.
This can also happen with the cartridge already installed on your printer. If you don’t use them for a long period of time, it can clog and affect print quality.
- Prevents Contamination
Ink cartridges are sensitive to contamination and need to be stored in a clean environment. When you expose it to dust, dirt, or other substances, it can taint the ink and cause streaks, smudges, or other printing defects.
This is also true about where you store the printer itself. You have to make sure that the area you’re keeping it in is clean, so that any unwanted dirt or substances won’t damage your printer and ink cartridges. You wouldn’t want to waste your efforts in making a great presentation only to have it ruined by low-quality printing.
- Protects Against Light and Heat
Aside from dust and dirt, your ink cartridges are also sensitive to light and heat. Exposing it to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight can dry out the ink. You have to make sure not to store them by your office window to eliminate any issues with heat.
- Saves Money
Given that printer ink cartridges can be costly, it would be a waste if it’s suddenly unusable just because of poor maintenance or storage. By exerting a little extra effort to keep your cartridges safe from contaminants, you are already saving money from unnecessary fees like buying a new one, the cost of having to go out to buy, or the cost of having a new one delivered.
Learning about why you should keep your toner cartridges safe from contaminants is a small yet vital piece of information that can greatly affect your productivity in the long run. Just with a few thoughtful steps, you can relieve yourself of any printer-related frustrations you may encounter in the future.
Tips on How You Should Maintain Your Printer’s Ink Cartridges
So, now that you know why proper storage and maintenance are important for your toner cartridges, here are some tips on how you should store and maintain your ink cartridges:
- Store cartridges in their original packaging or a cool, dry place.
Ink cartridges are usually packaged in a specific way to prevent damage or drying out. This is why you should keep them in their original packaging until you’re ready to use them. But, in case you’ve already opened a cartridge, just make sure you keep it in a protective case to prevent it from contamination. Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat.
- Use the cartridges regularly.
When you don’t use a printer for an extended period, your ink cartridges can dry out or cause clogs. To prevent this, make sure to print regularly even if it’s just a test page. This will help keep the ink flowing and prevent it from drying out.
- Often clean the printhead.
The printhead of your printer is the part that applies ink to the paper. When you open your printer, it’s often the part that moves towards the middle where you snap your cartridge into or out of. Over time, the printhead can get clogged with dried ink or debris which can affect print quality.
To avoid this, you have to clean the printhead regularly using the cleaning function of your printer. If you have your printer’s program installed on your computer, you can find the cleaning function there. Doing this can keep your printhead in good working condition, ready for your next printing job.
- Use high-quality ink.
Since toner cartridges can be quite costly, you might think of buying a more budget-friendly alternative to use on your computer. Unfortunately, using low-quality ink can cause contamination, clogs, and a whole lot of issues that can lead to the failure of the cartridges. At times, it can even damage the printhead which might result in costly repairs or printer replacements.
Invest in high-quality ink from a reputable supplier to ensure the best results and safeguard your printer from cartridge-related damage. And if you’re unsure of which ink to buy for your computer, ask your supplier for recommendations to ensure that you get the best ink for your printer.
5. Handle cartridges with care.
Ink cartridges are delicate and can be easily damaged if you handle them improperly. So, when you’re installing or removing them, make sure to handle them gently and avoid touching the printhead or electrical contacts. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing and removing them to avoid damage.
Whether we notice or not, printers are an essential part of our day-to-day activities. Regardless of what you use it for, it’s important to take care of your equipment to stay productive and to lessen any printer issues you may get in the future.
And if you’re too busy to take care of your printer’s needs and its maintenance, there are always printer toner subscriptions you can avail of that will make sure your equipment is always up and running.
Worry Less About Dry-Outs with IFL Pro
Now that you know all about ink cartridges, consider partnering with us!
IFL Pro is a dedicated printing equipment company that will take care of your printing needs for you. With our packages, you will get a top-notch service that will make sure you never have any printer-related headaches again.
Our ink subscriptions come with a free printer you can use so you won’t have to worry about buying a new one. And aside from getting frequent toner deliveries to make sure you never run out of ink, we will also maintain your printer for you!
Visit our website today to learn more about our packages or get in touch with us to know how we can help you.
