1. When refilling an ink cartridge, make sure to do it over some old newspapers or a rag like an old washcloth. Cloth is preferred because it efficiently picks up excess ink.

2. Cleaning off ink stains ought to be done with soap and water. If that doesn’t work, try using a stronger cleaner like nail polish remover or a bleach mixture. Hairspray may also work.

3. Ensure that the cartridge has time to re-stabilize its internal pressure before you try to use it. Some cartridges require the use of a plastic squeeze bottle to blow air into the fill hole and raise the air pressure. Other cartridges will self-stabilize after a short while if you just let them sit. You should receive precise with your ink refill kit.

4. Don’t delay too long to refill your ink cartridge after it goes dry. The dried out cartridge will get clogged at the micro-holes near the printer head outlet. This will disallow the ink from getting out, and disallow your ink cartridge from functioning. If you refill a cartridge before you need it, keep it in a plastic bag like a Ziploc to stop atmospheric conditions from affecting it. As little as 20 minutes out can cause an ink cartridge to dry out and its outlet holes to jam, so plan accordingly.

5. Always observe all procedural instructions that come with with the refill kit. Don’t try to cut any corners or save time on any steps. Refilling ink is a very precise and step-based, so just go through with the instructions to the letter.

6. When refilling multi-color cartridges, it should be your biggest concern to not allow any of the reservoirs to run over or mix. This will cause dirty looking or muddy colored prints to be produced when you try to use the printer.

7. Don’t be worried if the ink dribbles out a little bit after you finish refilling. The outlet holes have to be clear in order for the cartridge to function, so ink leaking from those holes just means they are clear and working. If it’s leaking quite significant amount, you have an actual problem of course.

8. Some printer cartridges have switches on the outside that allow the printer to detect the cartridge as full and try to use it. When the cartridge ran low on ink, the switch was ‘tripped’ and the printer stopped using the ink cartridge. For some cartridges (Epson particularly) you will have to re-set this switch so the printer will recognize your ink cartridge as full again and be able to use it. These tips should make sure your next ink re-filling attempts go smoothly and without a hitch. Good luck!

Tony Fliven is a blogging and printer enthusiast from Atlanta, GA. In his spare time, he likes to start websites, cook and blog about ink refills for printers.