Ink Cartridge Care Tips: Extending The Life Of Your Printer
Posted by Adrian Rigby on
Printers are an essential part of any home or office, and to ensure they run optimally it is key to look after the ink cartridges themselves. In this blog, we are going to delve into some top tips to help you maintain your ink cartridges to help extend the life of your printer.
1. Store your cartridges correctly
Ink cartridges can last for quite a long time when they are stored correctly - in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Storing them in a room that is too hot can cause the ink to dry out, and excess moisture can cause the ink to clog. Spare cartridges should always be stored in their original packaging where possible.
2. Run regular cleaning cycles
Most printers have a setting that allows you to clean the cartridges regularly, so run this if you start noticing a decline in the quality of your printing. Cleaning the nozzles will help to improve the print quality but remember this will use up ink, so use the feature sparingly.
3. Use high-quality print paper
Cheap print paper is often low-quality and can cause a build-up of dust within the printer itself, which can cause damage to both the cartridges and the printer. By investing in high-quality paper you will have better printing results, as well as a reduced likelihood of paper jams.
4. Turn off your printer properly
It can be so tempting to keep printers on standby mode rather than turning them off properly, but this actually shortens the life of your ink cartridges. Make sure you turn the printer off by using the power button as opposed to unplugging it directly as this ensures the ink cartridges return to their proper position and don’t become misaligned.
5. Don’t refill the cartridges
Although refilling cartridges can save money in the short term, it can often lead to more problems further down the line. It is not just a matter of squirting ink into a cartridge. So it is always best to use reputable ink cartridges from a reputable supplier to save problems.
6. Monitor ink levels
Ink level monitors are not very reliable so treat them as a guide only, often with compatible cartridges the level indicator does not work. The compatible cartridges work fine but do not show ink levels and save you a lot of money. You cannot have your cake and eat it.
7. Keep the print head clean
The print head is an essential part of any printer and needs looking after. Regular cleaning of the print head prevents the build-up of accumulated dried ink. There should be an option within your printer’s settings to clean the print head, so be sure to carry this out regularly to help extend the life of your ink cartridges. It is sometimes necessary to clean the print head after changing a cartridge. It makes no difference weather you are using printer manufacturers cartridges or compatibles. Thus can still happen.
Proper care of ink cartridges is essential to ensure your printer keeps performing optimally and you continue to print high-quality documents. By following these tips you can save money, help the environment and avoid common printer issues. For further help with ink cartridges, pick up the phone and call us on 01522 683460, or email us at admin@abcartridges.co.uk. We offer free, unbiased advice to help you get the best products for your printing needs.
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