Glass and plastic labware can be cleaned manually, in an immersion bath, or in a laboratory washing machine. Labware should be cleaned immediately after use – at low temperatures, with brief soaking times, and low alkaline detergents. Labware which has come into contact with infectious substances should first be cleaned and, if necessary, autoclaved.

This is the only way to prevent baking-on the substance, and subsequent damage to the labware by any adhering chemical residues.

Note:
Carefully disinfect labware before cleaning when there is a risk of injury during cleaning procedure.

Information

At 70 °C, a 1N sodium hydroxide solution will corrode a layer of approx. 0.14 μm off the surface of DURAN® (borosilicate glass 3.3) within 1 hour. However, at 100 °C, a layer of 1.4 μm, or tenfold, will be removed. Therefore, cleaning temperatures above 70 °C should be avoided and low alkaline cleaning agents are preferrable.

Wiping and scrubbing method
The generally accepted wiping and scrubbing method with a cloth or sponge soaked in cleaning solution is the most popular cleaning method. Labware must never be treated with abrasive scouring agents or pads which might damage the surface.

Immersion method
For the immersion method, labware is soaked in the cleaning solution for 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature, then rinsed with tap water, and finally with distilled water. Only for stubborn residues should the soaking time be extended and the temperature increased.

Ultrasonic bath
Both glass and plastic labware may be cleaned in an ultrasonic bath. However, direct contact with the sonic membranes must be avoided.

Machine cleaning
Machine cleaning with a laboratory washing machine is more gentle to labware than cleaning in an immersion bath. The labware is only exposed to the cleaning solution for the relatively short flushing periods when sprayed by the jet or injector nozzles.

-  Lightweight objects will not be tossed and damaged
   by the jet if they are secured in washing nets.
-  Labware is protected against scratching when the wire 
   baskets in the washing machine are plastic coated.

Glass labware
With glass labware, prolonged immersion times in alkaline media above 70 °C should be avoided. Such treatment, particularly with volumetric instruments, might cause volume changes through glass corrosion, and destruction of graduations.

Plastic labware
Plastic items generally have smooth, non-wetting surfaces and can usually be cleaned effortlessly under low alkalinity conditions. Polystyrene or polycarbonate labware, e.g., centrifuge tubes, must only be cleaned manually with neutral detergents. Prolonged exposure even to low alkaline detergents will impair their strength. The chemical resistance of these plastics should be verified in each case.

Cleaning in trace analysis
To minimize metal traces, immerse labware in 1N hydrochloric acid. For extreme demands, boil glass labware in 1N nitric acid for approximately 1 hour as a second step. Plastic labware should not be boiled but may be immersed in nitric acid at room temperature. The maximum immersion time should not exceed 6 hours.
- Nitric acid is a strong oxidation agent and can 
  cause brittleness in many plastics.
Finally, rinse thoroughly with distilled water. To minimize organic traces, clean labware with alkalis or solvents (e.g., alcohol). Subsequently, immerse in 1N hydrochloric acid, then rinse thoroughly with distilled water.