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HP Ink Cartridges

With ink cartridges as expensive as they are, the best way to save money on costly replacements is to take proper care of the ones that you already have. To get the best performance and longevity from your HP ink cartridges, please follow the steps below.

1. Use your HP Printer's Cleaning Software on a Regular Basis.

One of the most effective ways to

extend the life of HP ink cartridge

is a self-cleaning command that can be used to keep your cartridge and printer functioning properly.

2. Buy Refill kits for your HP Ink Cartridges.

Ink refill kits are an economical solution to replacing costly HP ink cartridges because you only have to buy the ink and not the plastic case or delicate electronic portion of the cartridge. These kits can be found in any office supply store or even cheaper online and are fairly easy to use if you read the instructions carefully.

3. Manually Clean HP Ink Cartridges.

Every once in a while, all ink cartridges may become clogged and not perform properly for a variety of reasons. If your print jobs come out streaked, blotchy, faint, or with portions of text missing, remove your ink cartridge and clean the contacts with a soft cloth slightly moistened with some rubbing alcohol.

4. Refill your HP Ink Cartridges Each time you get a Low Ink Warning.

The ink in HP ink cartridge are somewhat like

the water in most car engines in that the ink cools the electronic portion of the cartridge. Each time that you print, the resistor in the HP ink cartridges rapidly heat the ink to facilitate even distribution on the page.

If you top off your HP ink cartridges each time that you get a Low Ink pop-up on your computer screen, it will help to ensure that the cartridge does not run dry and burn up the delicate electronic portion of the cartridge.

5. Keep your HP Ink Cartridge in a Sealed Container.

If you seldom need to print documents, your best bet to extend the life of HP ink cartridges is to remove them from the printer and store them in an airtight container for future use. That way, ink will have less of a chance to clog the nozzles and dramatically shorten the useful life of the HP ink cartridges.

9/7/2008 1:47:00 AM