5 ways to make inkjet cartridges last longer

Let’s face it, ink cartridges aren’t cheap! Buying ink cartridges is the biggest expense overall of having and using a printer. In order to save on costs, you can try to extend the life of your inkjet cartridge so that you have to buy less per year.

Refill: A normal ink cartridge does well with 3-4 refills. That will drastically increase the life of the inkjet cartridge! You can get inexpensive ink refills at office supply stores or online. This one step alone will improve the life of your inkjet cartridge rather than throwing it away after its initial uses.

Increase black/white printing: Since it is cheaper to refill, try to cut down on the amount of color used in your printing. This is especially true when printing documents or standard correspondence. If you do not need the color ink, do not use it. That way you will only have to replace the black ink, generally.

Cut down on printer use: Consider how many times you or an employee is copying and printing something that could be saved onto the computer. This is a huge waste of paper and ink. Give a small tutorial to your employees about organizing files on their computers and saving more documents than they print! This is simply a matter of changing habits. It may take a while, but with constant reinforcement, it can be done.

Keep it clean: Cleaning the print cartridge frequently can prevent ink and dust from building up which reduce the life of the cartridge. By doing this, you may also extend the refill capacity of your cartridges allowing you to get in an extra refill before you have to discard the cartridge. You may also want to run a cleaning program.

Check expiration dates: Avoid buying cartridges that are about to expire. It is not only the expiration date for the cartridge, but normally the date after which you should not try to refill. Give yourself as much time as possible with every cartridge you buy. Don’t buy too much bulk at one time if you have larger offices. Remember, don’t buy after the expiration date, and try not to refill after the expiration date; it does make a difference. By taking too many chances with the cartridge you could be taking a chance with your entire printer. That can really add up!