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How to Extend the Mileage on Compatible Ink Cartridges

By: Luke Wildman Click author's name for more of his/her articles

One of the big advantages that compatible ink cartridges have over original and branded printer ink cartridges is the fact that they are a lot cheaper. But before you cast doubts about the quality of compatible ink cartridges when compared to original printer ink cartridges, you should be aware of the fact that there is not much of a difference between them when it comes to quality.

Still, it does not pay to waste printer ink, even if it is ink from cheap compatible ink cartridges. So, how do you extend the mileage on your compatible printer ink cartridges and generate more savings on ink? Here is how.

1. Print only what you need. Do you really need to print the entirety of that 700-page document that you will send to your client? Or would it be better for both you and your client if you sent that document in an email or saved in a disk? Saving documents in a disk or sending them as an email attachment can generate a lot of savings for you. For one, you save on printer ink and paper. For another, you save on power.

2. Use the print preview function. Before you print out a document, it may be a good idea to see how it would look like printed using the print preview function of the software you are using. Not only would this allow you to check whatever mistakes you may have committed whilst working on the document, but it would also save you the effort and the expense of having to print another draft when you find an error on the printed document.

3. Skip the images. Do you really need to print the images included in the document? Unless these images are necessary, you can skip printing them by selecting the "print text only" option on the printing dialogue box. Graphic images use up more ink than text. So, skipping on the pictures in your document can also extend the mileage of your compatible ink cartridges.

4. Use draft print and greyscale. If the document is not important and you only need it for your personal use, you should consider printing the document in draft print mode. If it has pictures, use greyscale mode instead of coloured. Ink usage is not as heavy with draft print mode and greyscale makes use of only black ink instead of the more expensive coloured ink cartridges.

5. Turn off your printer when not in use. One of the wasteful follies a lot of us commit is that we leave our printers on even when we are not using it. Not only is this a waste of power, but it also uses up the contents of your compatible ink cartridges. Printer ink can dry up on the printer head whilst the printer is on. This can also cause your printer head to become clogged.

You may have bought your compatible ink cartridges for a song, but it does not mean that you should be wasteful with them. If you do, you will only waste whatever money you saved in buying your compatible ink cartridges.