5 Practical Ways to Store Your Gel Pens
Raise your hand if you have a collection of pens outgrowing your pen cups or pen pouches? If that sounds right, this post is written just for you! There are fun, pretty, and creative ways to store your pens, gel pens, and markers that will extend the life of your pens and keep them working their best.
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In this post, I will answer these questions:
What is the best way to store gel pens?
Is it better to store pens up or down?
How do you care for gel pens?
How do you store a lot of pens?
I will cover some essential tips to help you care for your pens and gel pens. Taking care of your pens will help you get full use of the pen from when you open the package, until the ink is gone. I don’t know about you, but having to throw away a pen half-filled with ink because it stops working is not fun!
If you agree, then I hope you enjoy this post. Let’s get to the fun stuff!
What is the Best Way to Store Gel Pens?
The best way to store gel pens is horizontal. This keeps the ink distributed evenly inside the pen shaft. If you store a gel pen with the tip pointing up, gravity pushes the ink away from the tip of the pen, causing air bubbles that disrupt the flow of the gel. Suppose you store them straight up with the tip pointing down. In that case, it can cause the ink to push down into the ballpoint, and you will experience an overflow effect of the gel coming out, also known as pooling.
That is why horizontal is the best way to store your gel pens.
Is it Better to Store Pens Up or Down?
Gel pens can be stored at a slight angle with the tip pointing down, and they will do just fine. I recommend avoiding straight up and down storage for your pens to get the most out of the ink/gel. Storing horizontally or slightly angled will help you avoid air bubbles inside the ink and pooling at the ballpoint.
How Do You Care for Gel Pens?
If you are familiar with using gel pens, then you know they can dry quickly as you are using them. The dried gel can get stuck inside the ballpoint and ruin the flow of your ink. Here is what I do to keep that from happening.
I always have a tissue or paper towel close by using gel pens. In between uses or switching to a new color, I will wipe the tip of my pen off thoroughly before putting the cap back on. I do make sure to re-cap my pens after using them to avoid the ballpoint from drying out.
As I mentioned above, I store my gel pens horizontally or slightly angled.
Tip: Store your pens at a stable room temperature. Extreme heat or cold will ruin the gel/ink inside any pen.
How Do You Store a Lot of Pens?
If your pen collection is growing and you are looking for ways to store an abundance of pens, here are five of my favorite ideas I’ve found I hope will help.
Acrylic Makeup Drawers
Believe it or not, one of my favorite ways to store a lot of pens is in an acrylic makeup stand with drawers! The drawers are transparent and allow me to see through when I’m looking for specific pens. The drawers are also removable, so I can take out an entire collection and keep them together in one flat spot.
Wine Bottle Rack
I love the look of wine bottle holders on a shelf. They are clean looking and easy to access your pens. They allow the pens to lay horizontal and still be accessible from the front or back of the stand.
I’ve even seen people put open jars inside each slot, so they have the option of taking out a single jar if they need to.
Stationery Organizers
There are countless options for stationery organizers online. I have one from Amazon that I love, and it looks cute on my desk!
There are many places you can find organizers online to fit any budget or collection size. I recommend looking around to see what will fit you the best and look great in the space you have.
Gel Pen Holder - Zipper Case
If you like to take your gel pens on the go, I’ve found some great options to protect your pens while you are out and about!
Finding a pen/pencil holder bag that simultaneously holds multiple pens is so convenient. These allow you to take your pens literally anywhere! They come in different sizes, and there are so many patterns/covers to choose from!
My favorite thing about this option is you can set it nicely on your bookshelf, at your art desk, or in your backpack. It will keep the pens in place and organized. This grab-and-go option is the most practical idea for artists on the go!
Drawer Organizer Bins
Suppose you like to keep your pen collection neatly tucked away. In that case, desk organizer bins are an excellent option for storing your pens. You can find these in office supply stores, Walmart, Target, and online. They come in various styles and sizes to fit your drawer space.
I hope you found some exciting new ideas that will help you store your gel pens in a fun and practical way! If you want to check out my Amazon Store, where I have put together a shoppable collection for you to browse, click HERE! (*Paid Link)
It was fun to share these ideas with you, and I would love to hear your ideas! Let me know what idea you’d be most likely to try in the comments.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
If you liked these ideas, please share the Pin below I created just for you!
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Blessings,
Holly
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