Washing Lab Glassware: Man vs. Machine

Lab glassware washing techniques vary from lab to lab.

Types of washing can depend on the soil type inside the glassware, types of glassware and technique required by the laboratory’s standard operating procedure. The three types of glassware washing this article will look at are hand washing, residential dishwashers and laboratory glassware washers.

Hand washing

Hand washing requires an acid or base wash, rinse or soak which can be performed in plastic tubs. This method requires appropriate disposal of both acids and bases after washing is complete. Hot, soapy water can also effectively clean soiled glassware. A final rinse in purified water or tap water usually completes the process. In most cases, hand-washing water will reach 120ºF maximum, requiring sanitization or sterilization to be done in an autoclave. For drying, the glassware can be hung on a drying rack, placed in an oven, or dried manually. This process is time-consuming and sometimes requires a dedicated person to hand wash the glassware.

Automatic residential dishwashers

Automatic residential dishwashers are another option sometimes employed when washing lab glassware. The initial investment is much less than an instrument designed for lab use and its features are not as durable or as flexible. The interior is generally plastic or stainless steel designed to handle basic food, soil and beverages, not chemicals and contaminants found in a laboratory. The baskets are designed for domestic plates, cups, bowls, glasses, pots, and pans, rather than narrow-neck glassware, culture tubes, flask, beakers, and other specialized glassware used daily in the laboratory. Basket inserts for lab utensils are also not available. Expect the manufacturer’s warranty to be void when used for purposes other than residential settings. These are not typically recommended for use in the lab.

Automatic laboratory glassware washers

Automatic laboratory glassware washers are designed to clean all types of lab soil, from light to heavy. They offer features and accessories for a broad range of lab glassware and contaminants. A washer with a high heat option is best for cleaning heavy and difficult to remove soil such as waxes, oil or agar. For more soluble soil, high heat is not required. If flasks, graduated cylinders and other narrow-neck glassware are to be washed, a spindle rack option should be considered.

The interior of a lab washer must be designed to prevent damage to the washer from residual exposure to basic laboratory chemicals. Stainless steel chambers withstand traces of the everyday chemicals used in a laboratory. Internal components, including the detergent cup, seals, pumps and other plastic and rubber components, have been carefully chosen to withstand chemicals as well as the high heat conditions inside the washer.

Read the complete article, Glassware Washing: Hand vs. Machine

Source

Published with permission from Labconco Corporation.

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1 Comment on "Washing Lab Glassware: Man vs. Machine"

  1. The Article is informative, I can some more good info about glasswares products. thanks for such a wonderfil article

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