Refillable ink cartridges refer to cartridges that can be recycled manually when the ink content is low. Refilling is good for the environment and can save you from spending a lot on new cartridges. Although you can usually refill your cartridge about 8 to 10 times, the number of times you can refill varies from cartridge to cartridge. On the long run, this can mean a lot of saved money.
Always, refilling a cartridge should be done before it runs dry. If the cartridge does run dry, it should be refilled immediately. Otherwise, inks may dry out and could eventually block the print head. Just in case your printer ink cartridge goes dry, there are sellers who sell refurbished cartridges. These could be refilled up to 8-10 times. While taking prints, streaking often indicate that the cartridge is running out of ink. You can make out which colors are running low and need to be refilled by taking a test printout.
Many people fear that refilling an inkjet printer cartridge would nullify the warranty on the printer. This is totally wrong and baseless. According to federal law, using a refill ink cartridge or a remanufactured cartridge does not invalidate a warranty.
You should always handle an inkjet cartridge with care. The nozzles of the inkjet cartridge should not be touched with your hands. If you must remove a cartridge from a printer and shelve it for a period of time, carefully seal it in an air tight container to avoid ink drying in the nozzles.
The ink quality makes a big difference. The print head on your cartridge may get clogged by inks that do not match the original printer manufacturer's specifications. Most refillable ink cartridges use inks that are formulated and tested under strict laboratory conditions to ensure the highest output quality at all times.
