Easy Tips For Cleaning Your Laboratory Equipment

The first step to a successful experiment is to begin with clean, dry laboratory equipment. It is important to realize that cleaning laboratory instruments and glassware require more than the typical soap and water used at home for dishes.


In order to properly clean science lab equipment consideration of the chemicals solubility property will need to be utilized. Depending on the solubility of the chemical in the glassware, different techniques will need to be used to ensure the chemistry lab equipment becomes free of chemical residue and contaminants.

Chemistry lab equipment that contains chemicals or residue of water soluble chemicals can be cleaned the easiest. These would include salts, metal sulfates, chlorides, bromides, nitrates and acetates as well as many more. If in doubt, a materials safety data sheet will clarify solubility concerns. To clean glassware that has contained water soluble chemicals, rinse thoroughly with deionized water and allow to air dry.

Solutions that were in hexane, chloroform or other organic solvents are not water soluble. To clean these chemicals out, rinse the glassware three to four times through with ethanol or acetone to dissolve these chemicals. Follow this step by rinsing the laboratory instruments thoroughly with deionized water and setting aside to air dry.

For strong acids like concentrated hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, clean glassware in a fume hood and rinse with a very large amount of tap water. Follow this up by rinsing thoroughly with deionized water. Strong bases like concentrated sodium hydroxide can be cleaned in the same manner. As always set aside glassware and allow to air dry.

For weak acids and bases, rinse equipment thoroughly with deionized water and allow to air dry. For all chemical types, if glassware requires scrubbing do so with a brush designed for laboratory glassware and use hot soapy water to scrub off chemical residue. Follow this by rinsing with tap water to remove soap residue, ethanol or acetone should be used next if the chemical is not water soluble, the last step is to rinse with deionized water and allow to air dry.

Whenever possible, allow science lab equipment to dry naturally. Using a paper towel or blowing air into the glassware may cause bad chemicals to enter the equipment. If the equipment is needed immediately, rinsing with acetone will evaporate all water or using a vaucum tube can remove water. If the next experiment will be adversely affected by water, rinse glassware with solution three to four times for water removal before proceeding.