5 Useful tips to help you maintain your Epson cartridges from drying out

Epson Printer ink Cartridges are some of the finest cartridges on the market. Still, as we all know, as a student or a business owner, ink is expensive, so maintaining your cartridges is an important task. 

You want to be making sure that you use every last drop of ink in those tanks. You may not notice, but the ink does go to waste. There are numerous ways that your ink can dry or run out faster than expected, from improper storage to clogged nozzles. 

So here we will cover 5 areas that can be useful in avoiding waste:

Using your Printer Every Week

Proper Storage of your Cartridges

Room Temperature 

Keeping Cartridges Sealed

Keeping your Cartridges Moist

Tip 1: Using your Printer Every Week

Clogged nozzles are one of your worst enemies for ink waste. To prevent this from occurring, use your printer once a week. Even if you have nothing to print, print a test page. This will help clean the nozzle, keep the ink flowing in the cartridge, and helps reduce ink build-up.  

It's basically like changing the oil in your car; a little maintenance goes a long way.

Credits: freepik

Tip 2: Proper Storage of your Cartridges

It's always good to have a few spare cartridges lying around, especially over the holiday time when maybe you can finally get that assignment finished and printed. However, improper cartridge storage will lead to wasting ink. So bear these points in mind:

• Storage

Always look to store your cartridges in an upright position. Suppose they are stored upside down or sideways. In that case, the ink can congeal on one side and give you potential blockages or variable printing. This can block the nozzle almost immediately upon installation.

• Where to store your cartridges

Cartridges come with similar instructions to many foods and condiments. Look to store them in a safe, dry and dark environment and keep away from the sun. But always try to ensure they are stored at room temperature wherever this may be. So storing them in a cupboard close to your gas or electric cooker, although dark and dry, is likely not to be at room temperature many times throughout the week. 

Too much heat or cold can result in clogging and poor print results or render them unusable. 

The ink being a liquid, heat will likely evaporate it, and cold can cause clots that render your nozzle useless. 

Tip 3: Room Temparature 

Credits: Pixabay

Regulating your room temperature is also essential. In Australia, we get varying weather conditions depending on what state you live in.  

Regulating room temperature applies to the storage phase and when you are actively printing. So, this applies in the office the same as at home. Cartridges dry out quickly. If you look at around 20 to 22 degrees, you are in the ballpark of being OK.

Tip 4: Keeping Cartridges Sealed

If you think about a vase of water, left exposed for some time, the water will eventually evaporate. The same applies to Epson printer ink Cartridges. So in an ideal world, it's best to only instal the cartridge when in use and re-seal afterwards, but not all cartridges have that option. If you don't, here are some methods to help maintain the condition:

1. Place your cartridge nozzle side up using a plastic tub and seal it. And use the taping or its protective clip before placing it in the tub.
2. Use a damp cloth (that's clean) inside the plastic tub
3. Then, as mentioned above, store it in a dark, dry environment, check on the towel from time to time and ensure it's still damp

Tip 5: Keeping your Cartridges Moist

Another cartridge trick is to moisten your cartridges every so often. The good thing about this idea is it could save you from having to do the weekly print test, especially if you are going on holiday for two weeks or more. The added bonus is it saves you ink usage too. 

Follow these methods for the best results:

1. Remove your cartridge (use disposable or rubber gloves during the process)
2. Carefully clean the surface of the cartridge and get rid of any surface ink using a damp soft cloth or paper towel; this will prevent any clogging
3. Any leftover moisture remove by using a lint-free cloth before inserting them back into the printer

SUMMARY

Epson Printer Ink Cartridges have some of the industry's finest technology behind them. Still, like everything, they need care and attention. The amount of research and development and the cost to manufacture ink is why companies charge what they charge for these items. So it's in your best interests to take care of them. My advice is to buy from a company that does more than just sell printers and computers. Look for a company that offers excellent after-sales service and has outlets around the country where parts can be sourced easily. Look up Hottoner in Australia. These are the go-to people for all your printing needs and advice pre and post-sales. Good luck in 2022!