Printer cartridge doesn’t last forever, before you purchase any cartridge make sure you read all the information correctly. Through this article, I will break down factors that influence life of your print cartridge, including expiration dates so you can fully utilize the ink from your printer.

Ink printer can dry out, if your cartridge sitting in your machine for an extended period, eventually they will dry out and become unusable. To ensure your printer running smoothly, we recommend once a week to do printing job to make sure the ink printer in good condition. A printhead cleaning can usually get an idle cartridge up and running again. If dried up ink is causing a clog, the cleaning function works to prime your cartridges.

Meanwhile, toner cartridges are a slightly different story…

Toner cartridges will not dry out the same way an ink cartridge would due to the toner that is inside the cartridge.  Unlike, ink, which is liquid-based, toner is a dry powder composed of plastic components so it will not dry out.  You can leave a toner cartridge in your printer for weeks untouched, and it should still print.

What is my cartridge’s shelf life?

The shelf life of a printer cartridge is the approximate amount of time a cartridge will last in its sealed package.  The shelf life for a Jadi compatible cartridge is 36 months.

Why do some cartridges have expiration dates?

Expiration dates are included on cartridges to encourage users to print before their printer ink becomes vulnerable to clogs or print quality issues.  Dates can be found on the side of the cartridge or on the cartridge box.  Many factors, not just the expiration date, contribute to the eventual deterioration of a printer cartridge, including how it’s stored, the temperature of the storage and whether it’s in a sealed package or not.

Can I still use the cartridge after the expiration date?

Most of the compatible cartridge last for 3 years after the purchase date if they remain intact in their sealed package. Even after 3 years, your cartridge might be usable, so it could be worth trying. Cartridge last longer when stored properly in the correct environment without exposing to extreme room temperature. Bear in mind, an expired cartridge could potentially clog or damage your printhead, which can be costly to fix depends on you what printer model you have.

Once cartridge is installed, be sure that you run a print job at least once every couple of weeks to keep the cartridge in great condition.  We hope this guide was helpful.  If you have any questions about caring for your cartridge, let us know!