The Ink Mart » Shelf Life http://theinkmart.com A blog about printers and discount printer ink Wed, 26 Nov 2008 03:22:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Ink Shelf Life http://theinkmart.com/2008/10/ink-shelf-life/ http://theinkmart.com/2008/10/ink-shelf-life/#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:55:58 +0000 Ink Mart http://theinkmart.com/?p=39 Just a quick post here to answer a question that has come up a couple of times. What is the shelf life of an ink cartridge? First off, the term shelf life basically relates to the time period at which the chemical properties of ink remain stable and the ink is able to perform at its best. The shelf life is generally  dependent on the individual product/brand and its chemistry make-up. Many companies will list the shelf or expiration date on the box.

Shelf life is impacted by variables such as storage conditions. Exposure to heat and light can shorten the shelf life. Additionally the exposure to oxygen will also have detrimental effects on ink. The best way to store ink is in a cool and dry location.

With all that said, a typical shelf life for an ink cartridge is approximately 1 year from the date of manufacturing. Some companies have a 2 year shelf life on their ink cartridges. I have always tried to use an ink cartridge within 6 months of its purchase.

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