For any artist or professional, tools are more important than anything else. If you want your work to be exact, you’ll also have to be careful while handling your writing instruments. However, we often neglect our belongings and they end up getting wasted at the end. Among such things that need some care and gentleness are marker pens.
If you like creating art and taking notes, the color flow and smooth writing of marker pens can be a lifesaver. But what when the marker pen dries out due to negligence? Everyone has faced this issue at some point in their life. You’ll be happy to know that certain highly effective ways can push up the lifespan of marker pens. Let’s talk about them.
- Capping
We often get careless while organising our art and writing essentials. Sometimes we forget to cap our markers or even lose them to begin with. What you must know is that losing the cap means losing the marker as well. If we ignore this simple process, the nib eventually dries out.
Consequences? You’ll either have to experience uneven ink flow or your marker might go to waste. This isn’t economical at all. Since almost all markers are either alcohol-based or water-based; substances that evaporate quickly, it is highly important to keep your markers capped as much as possible, even between your tasks.
- Horizontal Storing
If you are somebody who likes to store their pens and markers on a vertical pen stand, you need to immediately reconsider your choices. Storing your markers vertically can lead to uneven distribution of the ink and will ultimately cause issues. So, if you seek to boost the performance and productivity of your marker, store it horizontally.
Another added benefit of doing so is that it prevents the tip from drying out sooner than it should. Also, if it’s a dual-tip marker, then horizontal storing is practically mandatory to ensure equal flow on both ends. If you are worried about how to store your markers horizontally, then simply opt for a horizontal pencil box.
- Keep away from heat
We tend to ignore the information that is provided on the labels of our belongings. You must not make the same mistake. Since we are required to store markers in a cool, dry place, we should try our best to do so.
Exposing our markers to high temperatures can lead to troublesome issues. The ink either evaporates or expands. If it evaporates, your marker will dry out. If the ink expands, you can face leakage problems. So, always make sure to keep the marker pen away from direct sunlight or room heaters to preserve its ink quality.
- Don’t throw away dried-out markers
Throwing away dried-out markers is of no use to anybody. It only leads to more waste generation. Instead, you can choose to revive your dried-out markers. The process of revival is different for water-based and alcohol-based markers.
If it’s water-based, just dip the time in some water and close the cap. If it’s alcohol-based, all you need to do is rub a few drops of alcohol on the tip and keep it away for a couple of hours after closing the cap. This way, you can save both money and the markers.
- Right paper
Again, this is not a highly known fact, but it can work wonders. If you select the right paper, it can not only offer you better color contrast and results, but it also allows you to extend the lifespan of your marker pens.
While smooth and non-porous papers can boost the durability of marker pens, coarse or extra-absorbent papers will do just the opposite. Since they suck up more ink, they will cause faster depletion and you’ll run out of ink sooner than you should.
- Don’t press too hard
If you’re trying your best to increase the longevity of your marker pens, pressing the pen too hard can ruin all your efforts. This is because doing so damages the nib. As a consequence, the nib will either fray or flatten and a damaged ink flow means that your marker’s lining and ink flow will be compromised. Hence, always remember to handle your marker pens as gently and lightly as possible.
- Avoid using it for a long time at a stretch
Using your marker pen continuously for hours at a stretch and without any breaks can damage it forever. You will either end up drying out the nib or you can also cause so much friction that your pen eventually gets heated.
The latter will in turn lead to quicker evaporation. So, if you are hoping to use your marker pen for at least a while, then try your best to take short breaks in between your writing/drawing sessions. This way, you can allow the ink inside the barrel to redistribute again.
- Refillable markers
If you are an eco-conscious marker user and wish to leave a positive impact on the planet, you should ideally switch to refillable markers. Refillable markers are a must for those who use markers too frequently.
By doing so, you’ll not be throwing out a large number of marker pens anymore. This will help since it can reduce waste generation and lower the overall environmental footprint. You’ll also end up saving money. All you have to do is replace the ink cartridges and nibs.
- Rotate your collection
We all have our favourite markers. The rest, we barely use. But this can cause issues like uneven ink flow, clogged nibs and dried-out tips in the markers that we leave unused. So, even if it’s just for a minute, you should try out all your marker pens every once in a while. This way, you cause no waste and ensure smoother flow.
- Quality over Quantity
Quality matters more. Quality can help you save big time. If you prefer high-quality marker pens over their cheaper counterparts, you can enjoy multiple benefits like better colors, consistent results and boosted lifespan.
Conclusion
As we just discussed, following these simple steps can help us push up the durability and functionality of our marker pens. All we have to do is follow some simple storage and handling measures to make the most out of what we have and save money in the long run.
