How to Keep Ink Pens From Drying Out

There are many different types of ink pens, such as fountain pens, ballpoint pens and gel pens. Ensuring that the pen staying in good working condition and the ink remains fresh requires only a few simple steps. Since most inks are water-based, keeping the ink away from air and moisture is the most important thing to do to keep the ink from drying out.

Keep all refills in their original packaging until they are ready to be used. Packages are air-sealed and will not let air dry out the refills. As soon as the package is opened, the vacuum seal is broken and air can dry out the refills. Some packages will place individual caps on the refills. This is popular when ink refills can be purchased in multi-packs.

Store pens in a drawer, box or other storage area, away from air. It is better to store the pens at room temperature. Cold air can dry out ink faster than warm air.

Keep pen caps on your pens when they are not in use. This will seal the point of the pen where the ink is exposed to the air. Keeping the pen sealed with the cap will keep the ink from drying out through the tip of the pen. Seal the caps as firmly as possible. If you have a fountain pen, also be sure to keep it clean to keep the ink moist. In addition, keep ink bottles sealed tightly.

Difficulty: Easy