How to Protect an Ink Cartridge From Drying Out

Storing ink cartridges outside of the printer may prevent them from drying out prematurely.

Inkjet printers offer the benefit of color printing at a reasonable price, but premature cartridge dry out often plagues inkjet printer owners. Frequent printer usage is the best method of preventing ink cartridges from drying out, but not everyone prints on a regular basis. Protect infrequently used ink cartridges and possibly prevent them from drying out by storing the cartridges outside the printer when not in use.

Things You'll Need

• Resealable plastic bags
• Tape

Instructions

1. Remove the color and black ink cartridges from the printer. Follow the printer manufacturer instructions for the proper removal technique.

2. Cover the print heads, or holes in the cartridges, with clear tape.

3. Label resealable plastic bags with the current date and place each cartridge in a separate bag.

4. Store the cartridges at room temperature with the print heads facing down. Storing the cartridges in the refrigerator may prevent color degradation, but also may increase the risk of cartridge dry out.

References

• Ink Tec Zone: Tips for the Care and Feeding of Your Inkjet Cartridges

Resources

• PC World: Save Money on Ink Jet Printer Ink