What many people fail to realise, in regards to the ink cartridges that are used in both domestic and industrial printers, is that if they are left untreated, they can easily dry out. When this occurs, the only solution available to you is to invest in replacements. For those of you that are committed to trying to get the most out of your existing units, Toner One’s insightful advice could prove to be invaluable.
Regularly use your printer
Though you might think that this sounds relatively simple, the fact of the matter is that one of the most effective ways in which to keep your ink cartridges moist is to routinely fire-up your printer. At the bare minimum, you should look to print a couple of pages a week, as this will help you to make the most of the ink cartridges that you have purchased. For those of you that own a high-end printer, you might also want to take advantage of the test-print function that it possesses, as this can achieve the same result.
Moisten the cartridges
If you are concerned that your printer’s supply of ink is beginning to get past its best, a shrewd move that you could take is to manually moisten them. This is an incredibly intricate process, and one that you should only attempt if you have a steady hand. With the help of a damp cloth and rubber gloves, you can dab the cartridges and allow them to retain a level of moisture that will allow them to remain usable in the weeks ahead; in the long-run, this can help to save you a significant amount of money.
Keep the temperature regulated
What many people fail to realise, in relation to top-tier ink cartridges, is that they can be adversely affected by the room temperature. Not only does this relate to if they become too hot; studies have shown that when things become too cool, the drying-out process is drastically sped-up. If you can take the necessary steps of trying to retain an ambient temperature throughout your building, particularly in the room that your printer resides in, it will not take you long to reap the rewards.
Remember to turn your printer off
Should you come to the realisation that it is going to be an extended period before you need to use your printer again, it is recommended that you switch it off until this point. Provided that you have a modern unit that originates from a premium manufacturer, doing this should force the printer heads into such a position which is designed to try and shelter your ink cartridges. A final point on this matter - unplugging your printer from the mains will not have the same effect, so you might wish to use your printer’s power button instead, as the results will be more to your liking.