Ink costs a lot. The prices of just about everything seem to keep going up. Why pay the outrageous prices for new brand-name ink cartridges when much cheaper remanufactured ink cartridges are available for your printer? Another way to save money is by using an ink refill kit, though these do it yourself kits can result in a large mess if you don't carefully follow the instructions. If you have a printer, and you use it at all, you know how quickly the ink supply can run out. You could buy three brand new printers for the same amount of money you're going to pay for new ink cartridges every time you need a replacement. Especially when compared to the very expensive brand new cartridges, remanufactured ink cartridges can be a very attractive option. Lots of people have claimed that their remanufactured ink cartridges work even better than the more expensive brand new ones. However, since some dealers sell very low quality products, you should always do some research into any remanufactured ink company to make sure they sell high quality products. Not all the companies out there will really make sure that their remanufactured ink cartridges are of the highest quality. Make sure the seller is willing to refund your purchase in the event that you aren't satisfied. Remanufactured ink cartridges should go through rigorous testing after they have been restored to their original condition, or as close to it as possible, all before they are sold to anyone. There should be no hesitation from the seller or the seller's representatives when they are asked to answer your questions. Make sure that the cartridges are actually professionally remanufactured. Using remanufactured ink cartridges also helps the environment, which is definitely a plus. It is farily obvious that using remanufactured cartridges keeps cartridges out of our landfills, but it also saves oil for each one sold and used. Some have said that, in addition to offering the most savings, ink refill kits offer the flexibility and convenience of being able to refill your ink cartridges at home whenever you need to. A good kit will come with all the required equipment and tools to aid your refill process. Each brand of printer has its own ink refill system available: Canon, Epson, Hewlett-Packard, and Lexmark, to name a few. There's a good reason for the instructions that are included in refill kits; to keep the inexperienced from doing their ink refills incorrectly. If you're not used to the process, it could prove to be both tricky and messy. Many have had to use 'dots' to help reseal any holes left by the refilling process. Failing to completely seal the hole can be very dangerous for the internal working parts of your printer. If ink gets into the working parts of your printer, it could cause permanent damage to it, so be careful while doing any refills. Available accessories also include rubber inkjet sealing plus, bottom fillers, foam extractors, and filler clips. To make it easier for you, some sites offer to refill your catridges for you, though the service usually comes with an additional fee. Both ink refills and remanufactured cartridges have been shown to be up to 50 percent less costly than a new ink cartridge. Another simple tip to extend the life of your cartridge is to clean the print head on your printer.