Save Money On Ink By Learning How To Refill Ink Cartridges

Inkjet printers are pretty affordable if you learn how to refill ink cartridges instead of replacing them. You don't need to buy them every time you run out? Refilling the cartridges is what you will have to learn how to do, which is what this article is all about. Actually by learning how to refill ink cartridges rather than throwing them away, you will save yourself hundreds of dollars and so it really is well worth investing the time to learn how to do it.

Before you get started to learn how to refill ink cartridges you will need to make sure that you have everything that you will need and so here is the list. You will need an empty refillable ink cartridge, ink refill kit, paper towels, scotch tape, gloves, rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs.

Refilling ink cartridges is not hard and an ink refill kit can easily be purchased from an office supply store or even online on the web. They should cost you about 50 per cent of what you would ordinarily pay for an inkjet cartridge.

Look for a flat working surface and make sure that you have protected it from any spillage that may occur while you are refilling ink cartridges. Also make sure that you wear the plastic gloves to protect yourself from the messy ink. Get your kit, roll of paper towels, and scotch tape. Now remove the used up refillable ink cartridge from your printer and place it on the paper towel already folded twice.

Examine your cartridge carefully looking for the tiny fill holes on top. You will be able to feel them by rubbing your finger across the label. Be careful here because some types of cartridges tend to have many holes. Holes that lead to where the ink is stored will usually have sponges on them. Once you are sure that you have the correct hole, use a sharp pencil to pierce it open. Alternatively you can take off the top label with a sharp object like a knife or screwdriver.

Next take a small toothpick and push them into the holes to identify which colors are required. Apart from black the other colors are magenta, cyan and yellow. Do not rely on markings on the cartridge because sometimes they are put there to mislead you into putting the wrong colors into the wrong ink chambers. Naturally manufacturers don't really like you knowing how to refill ink cartridges because it means lost business to them.

Once you are sure of which color goes into which chamber, insert the long needle deeply into the hole of the cartridge breaking through the foam and inject the ink carefully. Be careful not to inject air pockets because this will cause the cartridge not to print as the air will block the ink from reaching the print head of your printer. Also be careful not to overfill and so you should stop as soon as you see ink starting to ooze out of the hole.

Now daub the cartridge contacts on your paper towel slowly to clean it. You should be able to see a little ink remain on the paper towel. This confirms that you have refilled correctly. Next cover the hole you used to refill the cartridge with clear scotch tape.

After you have refilled all the three holes with the different colors carefully blot the cartridge print head on your paper towel several times until it stops "bleeding" ink. Make sure that your cartridge is not leaking. Repeat the same process with the black ink cartridge.

Install the ink cartridges in the printer and print out something to test and confirm that the cartridges are working fine. It is important to remember that after refilling ink cartridges about six times the print head will eventually wear out and you will then need purchase a new print cartridge. Also be careful not to overfill a cartridge because this will cause it to wear out much faster.

To keep your refillable ink cartridge in good condition and make it last longer, try your best to avoid letting your cartridge run completely dry. Check it frequently and try not to leave your printer unused for too long. You should print something at least once a week.

That is how to refill ink cartridges and save yourself a lot of money by avoiding to buy a new one every time you run out.

Denise M. cover topics such as learning how to refill ink cartridges. Save money on ink by using refillable inkjet cartridges.