1. When refilling an ink cartridge, be sure to do it over some unneeded newspapers or a rag like an old towel. Cloth is preferred because it quickly picks up excess ink.
2. Washing off ink stains ought to be done with soap and water. If that doesn’t work, consider using a harsher cleaner like nail polish remover or a bleach mixture. Hairspray can also work.
3. Ensure that the cartridge has time to re-stabilize its internal pressure before you try to use it. Some cartridges require that you use a plastic squeeze bottle to blow air into the fill hole and raise the air pressure. Other cartridges will self-stabilize after a short while if you just let them sit. You will probably receive specific instructions with your ink refill kit.
4. Don’t wait too long to refill your ink cartridge after it runs out. The dried out cartridge will become clogged at the micro-holes near the printer head outlet. This will disallow the ink from escaping, and prevent your ink cartridge from functioning. If you refill a cartridge before there is use for it, keep it in a plastic bag like a Ziploc to stop atmospheric conditions from affecting it. As little as 20 minutes out of the bag can cause an ink cartridge to dry out and its outlet holes to stick, so plan accordingly.
5. Always regard all procedural instructions printed with the refill kit. Don’t try to cut any corners or save time on any steps. Refilling ink is a very precise and procedure-based process, 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 be produced when you try to use the printer.
7. Don’t be worried if the ink dribbles out a little bit after you finish refilling. The outlet holes have to be running open 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 allow the printer to detect the cartridge as full and try to use it. When the cartridge ran low on ink, the chip was ‘tripped’ and the printer stopped using the ink cartridge. For some cartridges (Epson particularly) you will have to re-set this chip so the printer will recognize your ink cartridge as full again and be able to use it. These notices should ensure 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.
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