How to Utilize an Ink Refill Kit for Printers

1. When refilling an ink cartridge, be sure to do it over some old newspapers or a rag like an old washcloth. Cloth is preferred because it immediately soaks up excess ink.

2. Cleaning off ink stains ought to be done with soap and water. If that fails, consider using a harsher cleaner like nail polish remover or a bleach mixture. Hairspray might also work.

3. Allow for the cartridge to have time to re-stabilize its internal pressure before you try to use it. Some cartridges require the use of a plastic squeeze bottle to blow air into the fill hole and raise the air pressure. Other cartridges will self-stabilize after a short time if you just allow them to sit. You should receive precise with your ink refill kit.

4. Don’t hold off too long to refill your ink cartridge after it goes dry. The dried out cartridge will get clogged at the micro-holes near the printer head outlet. This will disallow the ink from escaping, and stop your ink cartridge from functioning. If you refill a cartridge before it is needed, store it in a plastic bag like a Ziploc to prevent atmospheric conditions from messing with it. As little as 20 minutes in the open may cause an ink cartridge to dry out and its outlet holes to block, so plan accordingly.

5. Always observe all procedural instructions that come with with the refill kit. Don’t attempt to cut any corners or save time on any steps. Refilling ink is a very precise and order-based, so just fulfill the instructions to the letter.

6. When refilling multi-color cartridges, it should be your biggest concern to not allow any of the reservoirs to run over or mix. This will cause dirty looking or muddy colored prints to come out when you try to use the printer.

7. Don’t be concerned if the ink leaks a little bit after you finish refilling. The outlet holes have to be clear in order for the cartridge to work properly, so ink leaking from those holes just confirms they are clear and working. If it’s leaking rather significant amount, you have an actual problem of course.

8. Some printer cartridges have switches on the outside that let the printer to detect the cartridge as full and try to use it. When the cartridge began to run dry, the switch was ‘tripped’ and the printer stopped using the ink cartridge. For some cartridges (Epson particularly) you will have to re-set this switch so the printer will recognize your ink cartridge as full again and be able to use it. These notices should make sure your next ink re-filling attempts go smoothly and without a hitch. Good luck!

Tony Fliven is a blogging and printer enthusiast from Atlanta, GA. In his spare time, he likes to start websites, cook and blog about ink refills for printers.