It’s easiest to use stamp pad ink on solid-color ribbons. They’re not great for two-tone ribbons, though.

You can take the ribbon out using your hands, or you can use a tool like tweezers to keep your hands clean of ink. If you’ve never changed the typewriter’s ribbon before, be sure to note the way the ribbon is threaded, so you can thread it back in later. If one or both spools are stuck, don’t yank! It could damage the typewriter. Instead, gently rock the stuck spool from side to side until it loosens. [4] X Research source

Since the ribbon is wrapped around itself, the ink will “bleed” through the sections of ribbon underneath the surface. Don’t use more than 1 or 2 drops. A ribbon that’s sopping wet with ink isn’t usable. [7] X Research source

If you’re getting patches of dry text, you might have missed some spots when inking, or didn’t wind the ribbon tightly enough for the ink to soak through. A little bit of blotchy or “filled” text isn’t unusual, especially if the type itself is dirty. But lots of smeared, splotchy, or illegible text usually means you used too much ink. Unfortunately, there’s no way to fix this besides replacing the ribbon.

It’s fine to remove the ribbon with your hands. If you don’t want to get ink on your hands, though, tools like tweezers are also okay. If you’re not familiar with the typewriter model, make a mental note of how the ribbon is threaded, so you know how to put it back in. Be gentle when removing the spools—excessive force could break the spool holders. If a spool is stuck, lightly rock it from side to side until you can pull it out. [12] X Research source

Make sure your workspace is a safe distance away from the typewriter. Getting WD-40 on your typewriter can cause it to malfunction. [16] X Research source

Be incredibly gentle when wiping off the ribbon. You don’t want to wear it down.

Re-inking using WD-40 has varying levels of success, but it will likely last at least a few months. If you used too much WD-40, you’ll get incredibly wet or smeared text that doesn’t clear up after use, and you’ll need to wipe off the ribbon again (or replace it if it’s too saturated).