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

2. Cleaning off ink stains can be done with soap and water. If that fails, consider using a more abrasive 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 allow them to sit. You will most likely receive precise with your ink refill kit.

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

5. Always observe all procedural instructions included with the refill kit. Don’t attempt to cut any corners or save time on any steps. Refilling ink is a very precise and step-based, so just follow 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 overflow 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 leaks a little bit after you finish refilling. The outlet holes have to be unblocked in order for the cartridge to work properly, so ink leaking from those holes just means they are clear and working. If it’s leaking up to a significant amount, you have an actual problem of course.

8. Some printer cartridges have switches on the outside that let the printer to detect the cartridge as full and try to use it. When the cartridge began to run dry, the chip was ‘tripped’ and the printer stopped using the ink cartridge. For some cartridges (Epson particularly) you will have to re-set this chip so the printer will recognize your ink cartridge as full again and be able to use it. These notices 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.