Tips For Getting The Most Ink From Your Canon Inkjet Cartridges

Canon printers produce sharp prints that are reasonably priced, but the cost of replacing the cartridge can add up quickly. Some users attempt to save money by refilling used cartridges or buying less expensive generic brands. These methods, however, often result in less than satisfactory outcomes. Fortunately, there are a few tips to get the most ink from your Canon ink cartridge. All it takes is some information and a little trial and error.

Before I start, just let me say that I've discovered that my older Canon printers tend to use a lot more ink than my newer one. Also, I'm finding it harder and harder to find these cartridges. I believe that's because of two things. One is that there are a lot of people like me with old Canon printers that hate to get rid of them and two, I believe either the inkjet cartridge manufacturer or retailer is carrying less of them in order to justify carrying ink jet cartridges for the newer models. Whatever the reason, I've started hoarding inkjet cartridges for older Canon printers!

• Do not remove the cartridge from its packaging until you are ready to use it. Doing so may cause the ink to dry out and reduce its life.

• About half an hour (or longer) before using, place the cartridge upright. This will permit the ink to flow down toward the head of the cartridge and avoid air bubbles.

• Follow all directions for installation and be sure to remove the strip of plastic covering the cartridge before inserting and attempting to print.

• After inserting a new cartridge, run the cleaner at least one time before testing.

• Make sure the print heads are aligned. Most printers have software that automatically checks alignment. If not, check the manual for directions.

• Use the print preview to make adjustments before actually printing, and print only the necessary pages or text.

• Read the printer’s manual and learn to use the settings efficiently. When you accidentally print an extra copy of a document or print in color instead of black and white, you are wasting expensive ink. Not only does colored ink cost more, but also the cartridge usually prints fewer copies than cartridges with black ink.

• Avoid printing unnecessary graphics, especially with color cartridges. Select only the passages or images that are necessary.

• Use the “printer” version of the text, if one is provided. This will often make the document easier to read and eliminate unnecessary graphics and text for you without extra work.

• When possible, save text to a computer file and back it up instead of printing the document.

• Avoid extreme temperatures. Heat or cold can damage cartridges.

• Use the low resolution setting for documents that will not be used for presentations. You will use less ink and the print will work just as well.

• Never stop the printer while the cartridge is still moving. Not only will the print be incomplete, but it can cause the cartridge to link, as well.

• Do not turn off the printer until all documents are printed. The cartridge can dry out, and a small amount of ink must be used to restart the process.

• Download software online that reduces the consumption of ink when printing general or high-resolution documents.

• High quality cartridges usually last longer than many less expensive refills or generic versions.

• Continue to use the cartridge until it stops printing. There may be ink left when the “low ink” warning appears.

Observing these simple steps will make your cartridges last longer and produce high quality documents that last. Occasionally, cartridges dry out or they can become clogged. For those occasions when the printer cleaner is insufficient, getting your hands dirty may be the only solution. In this case, it is sometimes possible to remove the print head and soak it in warm water for approximately an hour to loosen the dried-out ink. If the head cannot be soaked, simply remove the ink cartridge and rub it gently with soft cloth to remove the clogs.

Follow with a few test prints to make sure the printer is now working properly.

These simple tips will lead to you getting the most ink from your Canon Inkjet printer cartridges, which leads to you saving money on inkjet cartridges. And everyone likes that!