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Printer Ink Refill KitReplacing printer ink cartridges with brand new ones can be expensive, especially for inkjet printers. The inkjet printer cartridges need replacing every so often, sometimes once a month or sooner, if you print a lot of paperwork. This can put a dent on your budget, since new ones are not cheap.
It is possible to just buy a printer ink refill kit that is available in stores such as Costco, Wal-Mart and Staples. Doing so provides significant savings--almost half the price of a new one. It is also possible to get refills through stores that will do the actual refilling of printer cartridges. Although the process is more expensive than doing it on your own, this process eliminates the mess the goes along refilling the printer ink cartridges. Most consumers prefer to buy the kit and do the refilling themselves to save more money and be able to refill without having to drive to the store to get it done. -
Be aware that different printer ink cartridges brands have specific instructions on how to go about refilling printer ink cartridges.
In general, you would need to locate the small holes, known as fill or refill holes, on top of the cartridge by feeling the top of the label to feel the depression. These holes is where the ink goes. You can use a sharp object like a needle or tip of a pencil to pierce or puncture through the holes. The black printer cartridge should only have one hole, while the color printer cartridge may have up to three, depending on the brand.
Insert the needle through each hole with the corresponding colors. For the color printer ink cartridge, there are three holes, one for cyan, one for magenta and one for yellow. Read the kit carefully on which hole to fill in. To be sure, remove the label on the color printer cartridge and match the color on each hole. Add the ink slowly, carefully watching to avoid any overflow. Stop when you see the ink starts to ooze out of the hole, and then slowly release the air to suck out the excess ink back into the cartridge. Then remove the needle. Dab the holes with paper towel to remove any ink that smeared on top of the cartridge and place a sticker that comes from the kit or a piece of clear adhesive tape on it to cover the holes.
Replace the newly refilled printer ink cartridge onto the printer, making sure that it is dry and not leaking. Print test pages in order to test the quality of printing and to get the printer ink going. -
Avoid overfilling the print cartridge, as this will cause the cartridge to quit prematurely. Avoid letting your printer cartridge run completely dry before the next refill. At first sign of a low ink level, refill the cartridge right away. If you do not use your printer often, make sure to print at least once a week to ensure that it will keep the ink moving.
Avoid touching the metal parts located at the bottom front of the printer ink cartridge to prevent any disruption from contact with the printer due to oil or smudge deposits. Wear gloves when refilling your printer ink cartridges to avoid contact with ink, which can be difficult to remove. Wear gloves before attempting to do any refilling. Wear an apron or place a big plastic bag (like the black garbage bag) on top of your table to catch any accidental ink drippings.
Avoid re-using a leaky cartridge to prevent damaging your printer.
