If the nozzle becomes clogged from exposure to air, you can soak the nozzle area in warm water for a few minutes to dissolve the dried ink. To do this, place the cartridge in a white Styrofoam cup (Styrofoam is soft and will not damage the cartridge nozzle) and fill with water until the cartridge is halfway submerged. Blot the cartridge dry and try printing again.
Refill your cartridge as soon as you see signs that the ink is getting low (such as light prints or white streaking). You never want to let a cartridge completely run out because it may damage the print head. If you are going to be printing a large number of pages, run a test print first and check the level of your ink to ensure that you do not run out in the middle of your print job.
Never place a leaking cartridge back into the printer. Minor leaking after a refill is normal and will stop when the air pressure inside the cartridge is balanced. If the cartridge is leaking heavily, place it on a folded piece of paper or in a disposable cup and let the excess ink run out. When the leaking stops, wipe the cartridge clean and put it back into the printer.
If you do not use your printer often, clean the print head before printing.