Why Toner Can Go Bad And How You Can Protect It

2011-05-09

Buying printer ink online is a smart move when there is a need to get toner cartridges in bulk. However, keeping stacks of ink lying around can lead to the it going bad. Can the ink and toner cartridges be protected to last forever, or do they just go bad after so long? Toner and ink are nothing but very fine and expensive substances that gets blasted onto paper by the printer. Keeping that in mind, treat those substances with some care so they won't lose their delicate balance.

First, remember every manufacturer puts their toner in protective packaging for a reason. That protective packaging is meant to keep the toner from being exposed to air and moisture. Leave the packaging on the ink or toner cartridges. It may be tempting to unpack it all and stack it neatly on a shelf, but that will lead to clumping inside the package.

Also, the ink can't be exposed to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight. Imagine treating it like a candy bar. If a candy bar is left out in the sun it will melt. When it cools, it will form back into little clumps. This is exactly what happens to the ink when it comes into contact with heat and sunlight.

Storing it in a cool, dry place like a pantry or storage room will keep the ink from experiencing the ups and downs of the outside world.

Printer ink bought online in bulk is a great way to go, but if it has to sit in a printer that is seldom used, it could go bad, so keep that in mind when refilling rarely used printers. While it might sound like a good idea to have a remote printer on the other side of the building, the ink in the printer is exposed everyday it is not used. The best of intentions may be thwarted when a co-worker finally walks down to the remote end of the office to find that the printer won't print because the toner inside has been left dormant for too long.

If toner is found to have gone bad, the next step should be to clean the cartridge and refill it. In fact, any refill kit will help with unclogging or clumping.

At the end of the day, it's smart to make bulk purchases of printer ink online. However, there needs to be care in the handling of the ink and toner cartridges. Allowing new toner to come into contact with extreme temperatures and the elements only serves to make it deteriorate faster. Storing it prudently in a cool, dry place will preserve the ink, to last as long as needed.