10 Tips To Extend The Life Of Your Inkjet Printer Cartridges And 5 Myths Which Will Not
Replacing your Inkjet print Cartridges is not cheap. For this reason people are always looking for solid tips and tricks on how to make them least longer and so are we. Here are 10 tips to extend the life of your print cartridges and 5 myths which are less likely to help. The goal is simple, ensuring you are spending less replacing your print Cartridges, getting more for your money and enjoying your printing jobs more.
10 tips to extend the life of your print cartridges:
1. Click 'preview' before you click 'print' - Using the page preview function in your word processor editor (normally found under file > page preview) view the page before its printed to ensure the page is set-up just the way you want it.
2. Only print the absolute bare minimum - If you are able to use the information in its digital format then avoid printing it. Other than the huge savings to be made, printing less can help the environment.
3. Print test pages wisely - Using the page preview function you should not really need to print test pages at all, however if you do need to then print only 1 pages and 1 copy not the entire document which may consist of a few pages.
4. Print in draft mode - You will find the draft mode under the printer system preferences. This setting will print in slightly lower resolution and could always be reversed for when high quality is needed.
5. Avoid printing large image and pictures - Many of us are used to printing images, especially pictures to share with others. Instead you should consider uploading your pictures online to share with your friends and family.
6. Use the Cartridges well - Before the ink completely runs-out, it will normally run-out shade by shade from the most used color combination to the least used. If for example you are printing text and a specific color has run out consider printing the page in another closely related color. Do not let the Cartridge completely run-out from all its shades.
7. Buy cartridges refilled with more Ink - Remanufactured and compatible Inkjet Ink Cartridges cost normally 30% to 60% less than the price of the original Ink Cartridges and many times the remanufactured cartridges are refilled with more ink than the originals.
8. Turn off the printer when not in use - The heat generated from the printer can dry the ink more quickly therefore if you rarely use the printer consider switching it off.
9. Use the right paper - Using the right type of paper compatible with your printer and suitable for the printing job is essential. Using the wrong paper will result in paper waste and quicker depletion of the ink.
10. Look at the expiration date - If you are buying from a high street store look at the expiration date to ensure it hasn't expired. As with many other consumables an expiration date is there for a reason.
5 myths which sound good but will not really help:
1. Shaking the Cartridge - Not only will shacking the Cartridge not really extend its life, it might actually damage the printer because the Cartridge might get damaged in the process.
2. Turning off your computer at night helps - When you switch your computer on / off it seems as if your printer comes to life as well, in reality it was always switched on. Switching off the printer itself not the computer is another story.
3. The room temperature myth - If you read the small print which came with the print Cartridges keeping them in room temperature can help their longevity. While this might be true it is extremely hard to enforce.
4. Original Inkjet Print Cartridges are better - Remanufactured Cartridges and compatible Cartridges have made a huge step forward in recent years and are now an excellent alternative to the original Ink Cartridges.
5. It is cheaper to buy a new printer - While it seems that the price of printer Cartridges is getting closer and closer to the price of the printer, in truth good deals on low cost printer Cartridges are out there provided you do a bit of digging around.
