5 Practical Ways to Store Your Gel Pens — Joyful Journaler (2024)

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.

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.

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.

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!

5 Practical Ways to Store Your Gel Pens — Joyful Journaler (2024)

FAQs

5 Practical Ways to Store Your Gel Pens — Joyful Journaler? ›

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.

What is the best way to store gel pens? ›

Therefore, horizontal is the perfect way to store gel pens. This prevents the creation of air bubbles in the ink shaft and leaking at the ballpoint.

Which way should pens be stored? ›

Should pens be stored flat or upright? Certain types of pens should be stored horizontally, while others should be stored vertically. Fountain pens (when inkless) and brush pens should be stored horizontally, while other types of pens should be stored vertically with the tip facing down.

How do you extend the life of a gel pen? ›

Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or extreme temperature fluctuations. Storing them horizontally is recommended to prevent the ink from settling at one end, ensuring a smooth flow when you start writing. Cap Your Gel Pens When Not in Use: Always cap your gel pens when you're not using them.

Can you store gel pens upside down? ›

In theory, gel pens should be stored vertically with the nib facing upwards to prevent leaks. However, they are commonly stored horizontally in pencil cases without much issue. If you use your gel pens frequently, a pencil case is probably fine, but otherwise, we'd recommend vertical storage to avoid issues.

How to make gel pens last longer? ›

One of the simplest yet most effective maintenance practices is capping your gel pen when not in use. The cap prevents the gel ink from drying out and ensures that the pen is ready for smooth writing whenever you need it. It also helps prevent accidental staining and protects the pen's tip.

Do gel pen refills dry out? ›

Gel pens use water-based ink that writes wonderfully but is prone to drying out. This means a refill that looks full might not write.

How do you store pens for a long time? ›

Storage tips: Similar to fountain pens, roller pens are best stored tip-up. This position helps prevent ink from leaking out when the pen is not in use. Because their ink is more fluid, storing roller pens upright ensures that any excess ink collects at the base of the reservoir, reducing the risk of leaks and spills.

How do you store expensive pens? ›

Storing Collectible and Antique Pens

All fountain pens should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, with the nib facing up or sideways.

Why do gel pens dry out so fast? ›

Gel pens have water-based ink, which can sometimes get clogged or dry out, especially when you don't use them for long.

What is the shelf life of a gel pen? ›

Gel ink has an even shorter expiration date, and most last between two and four years.

Do gel pens run out faster? ›

Gel pens will run out of ink at some point — especially as they put the ink down on the page faster than other pen types. When this happens, you'll need to buy a gel pen refill.

How to store gel pens properly? ›

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.

What are the disadvantages of gel pens? ›

What are the disadvantages of gel pens? The main disadvantage is that they need a bit longer to dry, which can cause accidental smudges. Moreover, since they use thicker ink, they're a bit more prone to skipping compared to rollerball pens, even when applying just very light pressure.

Why do gel pens run out so quickly? ›

Gel pens also have longer drying times, so they may smudge when writing without periodic breaks. Given their highly viscous ink, there's a chance that you may run out of ink much quicker than any other pen type.

Can gel pens go bad? ›

Gel pens come in many unconventional colors and textures, such as fluorescent, shimmery, glittery, etc, and typically expire after a year.

Do gel pens fade over time? ›

Cheaper, lower quality gel pens with thinner ink may fade more quickly, particularly if they are exposed to light or stored improperly. In addition, gel pens with water-resistant ink tend to be more resistant to fading over time than those without this feature.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6076

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.