You can save money by refilling your own printer cartridges.If you want to refill your printer ink, you can find companies that sell refill kits that work just as well as replacement ink.
Step 1: Purchase an ink refill kit for your printer.
Many office supply, discount, and department stores carry these kits for a fraction of the cost of a replacement.The kits usually come with everything you need to refill an existing cartridge, including ink, a syringe, seal covers, manual, and a screw tool.Universal ink refill kits are intended to work for all inkjet printer brands.Others are either manufacturer or model specific.You should not refill your own printer ink.They recommend that you buy the new ones directly from them.Your ability to receive tech support from the printer manufacturer may be at risk if you refill at your own risk.
Step 2: Prepare your workspace.
It's a good idea to put some newspaper or paper towels on a flat working surface.Get your ink kit, more paper towels, a pair of gloves, and some clear tape.There are permanent stains on clothing and surfaces from printer ink.Gloves will protect your hands.Though ink stains on your skin won't be permanent, they can stick around for a long time.
Step 3: The printer should be removed.
The steps to do this vary by printer, but they are usually easy to remove.The printer may need to be turned on to make the move.Check your printer's manual for the exact location of the cartridges and the steps to remove them.
Step 4: The paper towel has an empty cartridge on it.
Make a spill guard by folding the paper towel in half.
Step 5: The refill kit has an instruction manual.
Instructions specific to the kit will be contained in the manual.Stick to the manual's instructions if they are different from this one.
Step 6: The ink fill hole is on the cartridge.
Some HP cartridges have a fill hole that doesn't require you to puncture them.To find potential fill holes, remove the label from the top of the cartridge.Each of the colors in a single unit will have their own fill hole.Only one hole leads to the ink.The fill hole is where you should inspect each hole.You can try to remove the existing ink with the kit.To expose the fill hole, some manufacturers place a twist-off cap on each cartridges.You don't need to break the seal to fill the hole if it's sealed.
Step 7: In the absence of one, create a fill hole.
If there is no fill hole on the cartridge, you will need to puncture the plastic to create one yourself.The best way to pierce the top side of the cartridge is to use the screw tool or drill bit that came with your kit.If you didn't get a puncture tool in your kit, try a pen, toothpick, knife, or screwdriver.You'll need to do this for each color if you're filling a multicolor cartridge.Follow the instructions in the kit for proper hole-making and placement.
Step 8: Use ink to fill the syringe.
Press the needle's plunger all the way in.Pull the bottle away from the chamber and insert the long end into it.
Step 9: Slowly add the ink to the printer.
If you want to hit the bottom, you have to put the long end of the needle into the fill hole.Push the plunger down to add ink.They can break the cartridge if they add air bubbles.
Step 10: When there is a little oozing out of the hole, stop adding ink.
You have reached the top.If you want to suck out some of the excess ink, pull the plunger out just a bit, then remove the needle from the fill hole.The fill hole needs to be cleaned with a paper towel.Before you plug it up, make sure the area is free of ink and dry.
Step 11: Put a small piece of tape over the hole.
If your kit has a seal that fits into the hole, you can put it there now.It is possible that tape creates a better seal.Remove excess ink from the folded paper towel by blotting the top of the cartridge.
Step 12: There are more colors to fill.
If your kit came with more than one, you should use a different one for each color.If you don't, wash and dry your needle.Before putting the ink back into the printer, be sure to wipe the excess ink off each one.
Step 13: Go to the store and buy a test page.
To get the ink flowing, print something.Print something in both full-color and black-and-white if you refill multiple colors.To get everything flowing, you may need to print several test pages.