Trying to make use of the maximum from the ink cartridges? But are several factors affecting the printer ink to dry out? Not to worry anymore, this article can help you in understanding how to keep printer ink from drying out.
As the printer inks are expensive, it’s important to focus on saving ink from drying out. Here is our effort to try making use of the ink till the last drop.
How to keep printer ink from drying out
Here we will discuss about how to keep printer ink from drying out
What are the main reasons for printer ink to dry out?
The three main reasons are
- Temperature
- Storage
- Refilling
Temperature
As the ink is a liquid, extremely high temperatures can make it evaporate from the cartridge. Also, extremely low temperatures will make clogs inside. Exposure of direct sunlight and heat objects to printer ink will make it dry out easily and also affects printing quality.
Storage
The alignment and place of the printer ink cartridges are significant. Because they may create leakages. The atmospheric conditions and surroundings will have a serious impact on the ink. Air is the most important element that processes all the chemical reactions within a short period and causes the ink to dry.
Refilling
The process of refilling is difficult and critical. It also should be done by professionals. In the process of refilling, if the cartridges are exposed to air for a long time, then air pockets could be formed. That can dry out the ink later after refilling.
Also, there is a huge difference between when the printer ink is regularly used and when it is used in random conditions. The random usage may develop clogs inside and the ink may stick over the surface or upper parts of the cartridges.
What are the tips to follow to keep printer ink from drying out?
There are 6 main tips to follow to keep printer ink from drying out.
- Using regularly
- Adjust room temperature
- Ensure the ink cartridges are sealed
- Moisten the ink cartridges
- Proper storage
- Check if the ink cartridge is expired
1. Using Regularly
The main problem of printer ink drying out exists with not using the printer ink regularly. The room temperature and exposure to air when leaving without usage develop chemical reactions and make the printer ink dry slowly. It is always advisable to print something regularly.
Even if you don’t have anything to print, try to keep it engaging by printing some random pages to avoid refilling the ink or buying a new one. Also, you should check the printer head too sometimes to ensure it’s in good condition.
2. Adjust room temperature
Along with maintaining normal temperature in the storage, adjust the room temperature at the required level. Higher room temperature will heat the ink cartridges and cause the ink to evaporate without notice.
Ensure the printer and ink cartridges should stay in a cool place. Avoid direct exposure to the sunlight on printers and ink cartridges. The temperature should not exceed 35 degrees and should not fall below -15 degrees.
3. Ensure the ink cartridges are sealed
It is known that when the ink cartridges are kept sealed, the ink would remain for months and even years. So when you don’t have major projects in a line, it’s recommended to keep the ink cartridges in packaging. However, if it doesn’t have any seal you can follow the below steps for maintenance.
- Place the cartridge in a plastic tub carefully after sealing it completely by using a clip or handlers.
- Keep a clean towel or cloth or paper beside the ink cartridge.
- Remember to keep the cloth or paper to be in wet condition. Try to check it from time to time and keep it wet.
Even if you have removed sealing, try to keep the ink cartridges in a bag at least and wrap it up with a tight package. The tight package will block the air from entering inside and avoid drying out.
4. Moisture to the ink cartridges
Moisture is always one of the important components in preventing clogging problems. So you just need to provide an accurate amount of moisture to the ink cartridges. The procedure is very simple.
Take out the cartridges carefully by wearing hand gloves. Clean all the ink cartridge surfaces and edges using a cloth or paper carefully. If there is any excess moisture, you can just remove it by using a dry cloth.
5. Proper storage
If you print regularly, it’s important to focus more on the storage of ink cartridges. Improper storage leads to leakage issues and affects printing quality.
- Always keep the cartridges in an upright position. Otherwise, with the sideways or reverse alignment, the ink will flow and may create leakage problems.
- Don’t keep ink cartridges in extremely hot or cold places. Keep in dry, dark, and normal temperature places.
6. Check if the ink cartridge is expired
It is advisable to check the expiry date of the ink cartridge. You should not store that for more than 12 months to avoid drying out problems and quality issues in printing.
Also, don’t keep the same old ink in the same cartridge for a longer time to avoid clogging issues. Try replacing with high-quality ink cartridges because investing some extra amount on cartridges will help you so much.
FAQ
How long does it take for the ink cartridges to dry out?
It depends on multiple issues. If it’s exposed to a very high temperature, it will dry out within a short period depending on the temperature.
But with normal temperature and humidity, it will dry out in 2 to 3 weeks completely.
Can you fix the ink cartridges that have dried out?
Yes, you can fix the ink cartridges that have dried out, but not all the time. You can fix it by following several methods. You can use cleaning alcohol for fixing the dried-out ink cartridges.
You can also soak the ink cartridges in warm water to fix that issue.
How to store ink cartridges when not in use?
The efficient storage of ink cartridges when you are not using them will save you money so much. Because after finishing your work, you need to keep them safe to use them again. This is the time when small mistakes can make the ink dry out.
- Always keep the cartridges in an upright position when not in use.
- Store in a cool, dark place at a normal temperature.
- Keep it sealed for the maximum time if possible.
- Provide sufficient moisture to the ink cartridges.
- Avoid directly touching ink cartridges with bare hands, use gloves all the time.
Conclusion
These are the 6 main effective ideas that absolutely help you in keeping printer ink from drying out.
Keeping the printer ink from drying out is a difficult process as it’s interlinked with many things. Hope our article can help you in saving your ink and money. If you still have any doubts, do not worry, you can comment for clarification.
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