A common problem with printers is the cartridges drying out and wasting all the leftover ink. We’re here to help you prevent that problem and get the full use out of every cartridge.
Don’t worry if some of your ink cartridges have already dried out, we can help with that too – just look a bit farther down in the article.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
Part 1: Why do printer cartridges dry out?
The main reason printer cartridges dry out is due to infrequent use. Printers need to use the cartridge on a regular basis to keep the ink moving in order to prevent drying out. They can also dry out from high heat, direct sunlight, or simply because the cartridge is expired.
Another reason your printer might not be working could be human error. If you incorrectly refill your cartridge, there’s a chance air will get into it. Air can clog the printer which then causes the ink to dry out.
Part 2: How to Keep Printer Ink Cartridges from Drying Out?
1. Use your printer at least once a week
The number one reason for printer cartridges drying out is not using them often enough. It’s an unfortunate truth for those looking to just print things here and there, but if you don’t print at least once a week, there’s a good chance the ink will dry out at some point.
The simplest way to do this is just to have a test page or two that you print out on weeks where you don’t have to print anything else. These pages should use all the colors of the printer, you can find test pages specifically for this purpose. You can also try sharing the printer with more people to give it more frequent use.
2. Turn off the printer when not in use
Surprisingly, while counterintuitive given the first bit of advice for frequent use, actually shutting down your printer completely can also help. When you shut off your printer, most of them will move the print head into a safer position where they have greater protection from drying out. This won’t be true of all printers, but can’t hurt to try.
Use the power button to do this, as simply pulling the plug will not give the machine the time to move the print head into the correct position.
3. Adjust Temperature
We also mentioned that ink can dry out from excessive heat. Try to keep your printer in rooms with a temperature of around 68 degrees Fahrenheit in order to extend its life as much as possible.
This goes for humidity levels too. If the air is too dry it can also dry out the printer faster. You can try running a humidifier in an especially dry environment.
4. Store Ink Cartridges Properly
If your printer isn’t going to be used for over a month, it can be helpful to store your cartridges outside the machine. You can use the protective caps the cartridges came with to reseal the cartridges for extra protection.
Alternatively, you can try sealing them in a plastic bag or plastic storage container. To maintain humidity, you might want to place a small damp cloth or paper towel inside the bag with the cartridge. Make sure it doesn’t touch the nozzle, as this can draw out the ink.
Then, place the sealed cartridge in a cool, dry area in an upright position. Like with the printer, it shouldn’t be too hot, cold, or dry, and it should avoid direct contact with sunlight.
5. Moisten Ink Cartridges
Finally, you can get manual and simply try to re-moisten your ink cartridges. Using a pair of latex gloves, remove the cartridges and gently wipe the top of each with a damp cloth or paper towel. This will remove the leftover ink on top and prevent clogs. Pat dry before re-installing the cartridges into your device.
This can be used as a regular form of maintenance for your cartridges.
Part 3: How to Fix Dried Cartridges
If you’ve already found your ink cartridges are dried out, there are still a few things you can try.
Use the Printer’s built-in Print Head Cleaning
First, try your printer’s built-in print head cleaning routine. You’ll have to look in your printer’s controls on your computer to find it, and it will be different for each printer. If your printer has a touch screen, you may be able to access it directly from there. Look for something like the ‘maintenance’ or ‘troubleshooting’ tab until you find the cleaning routine, then run it.
Alternatively, you can search online for your printer’s model to look up how its print head cleaning works.
After it’s finished cleaning, print a test page to see if it worked. You may need to run the cleaning a few times to get it to work. If there’s no improvement at all after a few tries, you may need to turn to different methods.
Clean with Hot Water or Rubbing Alcohol
A second option is to clean the cartridges directly. You can try cleaning them with hot water first, as this is the safer and easier option.
- Fill a bowl with hot water and submerge your cartridge in it for five to ten minutes.
- Then, remove the cartridge from the water and place it on damp paper towels, making sure the nozzles are touching them. Leave for at least two hours, if not overnight.
- Finally, dry off the cartridge, placing it back into the printer and run the print head cleaning process again.
If hot water didn’t work, you can try gently washing the nozzles with rubbing alcohol using a cotton swab. Again, once the cartridge is dry, try the print head cleaning process.
Once you’ve tried all these options and they didn’t work, you will have to simply replace the ink cartridge. Try using the tips and tricks explained above to keep the longevity of the next ink cartridge up and prevent it from drying out.
Summary
To prevent your ink cartridges from drying out, do the following:
- Make sure you use your printer at least once a week
- Keep it from getting too hot
- Keep it out of direct sunlight
- Keep some moisture in the air
- Shut down your printer when not in use
- And finally, you can take the cartridges out of the printer and store them safely when not in use.
If your printer ink has already dried out, you can try the following:
- Use the printer’s self-cleaning routine. Try this a few times.
- Submerge the cartridge in hot water.
- Clean the nozzle with rubbing alcohol
If all these have failed, you’ll have to get a new ink cartridge.