If your printer is connected to a power strip, turning off the power strip can actually cause a greater power usage in the long run, plus a waste of ink.


Technology and productivity blog MakeUseOf takes a look at a number of printer efficiency tips and has found that you end up wasting more power and ink when you cut off electricity to the printer. Instead, you're better off using the power off button on the printer. Here's why:

[I]f you completely disconnect your inkjet printer from electricity, for example by using a power strip that can be switched off, the printer will go through a cleaning cycle once electricity is back. If repeated on a daily basis, this procedure not only costs energy, but also tons of ink.


Instead, MakeUseOf suggests using the manual on/off button on the printer because it activates a program that will "park" the printer's ink cartridges. This better protects the ink from drying out and keeps your printer from going through a full power cycle.

How To Save Printer Ink & Make It Last Longer [MakeUseOf]