Proper Lab Glassware Cleaning Techniques

Dirty glassware ruins experiments and most chemists learn this the hard way.

Here is how to properly clean lab glassware so your chemistry actually works. First,

clean immediately after use. Disassemble your apparatus right away because ground

glass joints freeze in place if you wait. Remove all stopcocks and stoppers,

then rinse everything with acetone into the waste container. For simple equipment like beakers or

graduated cylinders, triple rinse with a compatible solvent, then tap water, then deionized water.

Air dry on a rack. For tougher jobs, start by wiping ground glass joints with a solvent soaked

paper towel to remove grease. Spray the pink cleaner provided in your lab on all surfaces.