GLASSWARE WASHER RESOURCE GUIDE

2018

GLASSWARE
WASHER
RESOURCE GUIDE

INTRODUCTION GET YOUR LABWARE

“CLEANER THAN
3 QUESTIONS TO ASK CLEAN”!
YOURSELF WHEN BUYING A by Angelo DePalma, PhD
LAB GLASSWARE WASHER
by Ryan Ackerman CAN YOU CLEAN
PLASTICS IN A
GLEAMING GLASSWARE: HOW GLASSWARE WASHER?
TO WASH IT RIGHT IN THE LAB by Lisa Choplo
by Mike May, PhD

Lab Manager 2017 1 LabManager.com

 Introduction
Whether to employ central washing stations or
point-of-use washers located under a lab bench or
in a corner is something that has to be addressed
with regards to laboratory glassware washers. The
former provide an economy of scale and are popular
with lab workers who, almost universally, hate to
“wash the dishes.” The downside for central washing
stations is that glassware tends to disappear over
time, due to breakage and operator error.

Lab Manager 2017 2 LabManager.com

GLASSWARE WASHER RESOURCE GUIDE

3 Questions to Ask Yourself When

Buying a Lab Glassware Washer
Glassware washers come in a variety of configurations and sizes

by Ryan Ackerman

EXPERT TIP:
Just keeping the inside of your lab glassware washer clean
is an important part of keeping it working properly. That
includes cleaning the filter screen for any debris that’s
collected, as not doing so will cause pump problems,
and the tank itself should also be cleaned. Users should
be careful with how they load the washer, for example,
making sure they load the washer in such a way that the
spray arm isn’t blocked.

How will sample throughput volume How does the speed glassware is required to be
influence which type of glassware washer is back in service affect which glassware washer is
needed? best?

Glassware washers come in a variety of configurations
and sizes. For instance, if the amount of glassware to be
washed is minimal, then an under-counter standard capacity
washer is ideal and will also free up valuable floor space.
Alternatively, if sample throughput is high, bringing with it
an increased amount of glassware to be washed, then a large
capacity floor-standing washer may be needed.
How will the sensitivity of the analysis equipment influence
which type of glassware washer is required?
Depending on the process and deadlines of the laboratory,
different drying methods can be utilized to ensure quick
turnaround of  glassware. Traditionally, gravity convection
drying elements are used in glassware washing systems,
which can consume more energy to heat the elements
than current models. Newer models come equipped to
use HEPA filtered forced air to dry glassware. On top of
increasing throughput, HEPA filtered forced air will also
ensure no airborne contaminants compromise glassware
cleanliness.

If the glassware is going to be used for preparation of

samples which will be run on highly sensitive equipment
(such as mass spectrometers), then some additions may be
required in order to ensure contamination does not occur.
Many companies now make glassware washers tailored to
such processes. These systems involve high purity water,
high temperatures, and forced air drying using HEPA filters
to ensure airborne particles do not cause an issue. Many of
these systems also include the ability to print out the settings
used to wash the glassware, ensuring the proper settings were
used for the process.

Lab Manager 2017 3 LabManager.com

GLASSWARE WASHER RESOURCE GUIDE
Gleaming Glassware: How to
Wash It Right in the Lab
The right detergent makes all the difference in cleaning glassware
by Mike May, PhD
Years ago while helping a friend do the dishes by hand after
dinner, my friend said, “There’s something odd about how
you do dishes. You’re so careful.” She was right. I do wash
them thoroughly—I rinse them until there is no soap left
on them, and then I dry them completely. Before I could
reply about my technique, she said, “You do dishes like it’s
lab glassware!” She was right again. Despite washing plenty
of dinner dishes, I’ve washed far more glassware in the lab,
and that means following a key rule—for hand or machine
washing: Do it carefully and completely.
Given all the automation in today’s science, everyone uses
only a machine to wash lab glassware, right? Not necessarily.
Some scientists still wash some glassware—maybe not
tons of it, but some—by hand. When asked for their top
tips for hand washing glassware, it is agreed that when
cleaning manually, you should take advantage of higher-
foaming detergents and mechanical energy—elbow grease,
ultrasonics, etc.—which all greatly assist in residue removal.
Top tips
The right detergent makes all the difference in cleaning
glassware. Any nonabrasive glassware detergent can be used;
however, experts recommend ones designed for lab glassware
as they are preferable to those used at home. For machine
washing, the detergent should be low-foaming.
How glassware is loaded into the machine matters as well.
Lab Manager 2017
Glassware should be arranged to minimize trapping any
water from cycle to cycle. Often by appropriately tilting
vials, glassware, and equipment, they can be oriented to
drain completely and not trap dirty wash solution.
Clean and green
Some labs, especially industrial ones, clean lots of glassware.
In those cases, neglecting energy efficiency should be a
crime. In fact, any lab that washes glassware—and that is
almost every one of them—should keep efficiency in mind
in any lab process. Despite the fact that some political
leaders don’t believe in climate change, scientists should still
behave in ways that reduce our effect on it. When buying
a new glassware washer, get an efficient one. Price always
matters, but spend as much as necessary to get a machine
that is efficient.
Like other equipment in a lab, proper washing procedures
improve efficiency. Selecting the right detergent for the right
residue makes repeated washing unnecessary. Further, use
high-quality detergents that do not need high concentrations
or harsh chemicals to be effective.
So, better equipment ensures greener washing, and better
practices and cleaning products can too. Let’s do our part to
show that scientists walk the cleaner walk—in glassware and
environmental matters.
Get to it
Beyond what is used—hands or machine—and which
detergent, when the washing gets done matters too. Wash as
soon as possible after use, the longer glassware stands, the
harder it may be to clean.
Given that this article started by hand, it can end there. With
manual cleaning, glassware pros often use a brush, but it
should have soft bristles that don’t damage the surface of the
glassware.
That’s it for now. I’m heading back to the sink.
4 LabManager.com
GLASSWARE WASHER RESOURCE GUIDE
Get Your Labware “Cleaner than
Clean”!
Manufacturers share advice on ensuring contaminant-free glassware
by Angelo DePalma, PhD
“Cleaner than clean” sounds like a slogan for laundry
detergent, but analytical chemists know that even the
slightest contaminant can ruin an inorganic analysis.
Similarly, biochemists understand how trace metals
can knock out enzymes and oils can swamp liquid
chromatography signals.
Numerous websites offer tips on hand-cleaning glassware
as a stand-alone operation followed by autoclaving,
or as a prelude to automated washing and drying.
Additionally, Suggestions for Cleaning Glassware1, is a
resource that covers all the organic or inorganic residues one
is likely to encounter.
Some experts advise conditioning glassware before use
with a mild hydrochloric or nitric acid wash, followed by
a deionized water rinse. In addition, avoid long soaks in a
strong alkaline solution because a strong base eventually
etches glass. Greasy organic residues are removed either
with solvent or with a chromic acid bath. Users should
follow up with a standard automated washing cycle with
a suitable detergent to remove trace residues and ensure
complete drying.
Lab Manager 2017
 
Oily residues
“Procedures for removing oil vary, depending on the nature
of the oil,” says Lisa Choplo, applications specialist at
Miele (Princeton, NJ). Where petroleum products may be
aggressive to lab washer components, the rule of thumb is to
clean the glassware as well as possible before placing it into
the washer.
“It’s best to remove stuck-on material using a towel or wipe
before washing,” Choplo continues. “Consider using a wash
program with multiple prewashes and an emulsifier to get as
much oil off the glassware and down the drain as rapidly as
possible.”
For residue-free cleaning once the glassware is in the
machine, Choplo suggests a wash program consisting of
prewashes and multiple rinses of deionized water, including
a heated final rinse and high wash temperatures of 80°C to
85°C for both the wash and final rinse temperature. Once
glassware is removed, store it in a dust-free, dry environment
protected from the outside air. Flask and beaker openings
may be covered or capped for protection from dust and
laboratory fumes.
Once labware is ready for the washer, residual oils are
eliminated through judicious selection of detergent and
predefined cleaning protocols, which differ according to
how the glassware had been previously used and its future
intended use.
Purchase tips
• Energy Consumption: Lab washers can be energy hogs.
Consider running the cycle overnight when electricity
rates are lower. To conserve water and electricity, make
sure the washer is full before turning it on.
5 LabManager.com
GLASSWARE WASHER RESOURCE GUIDE

• Low-Residue Performance: If the cleanest possible

labware is your goal, look into EPA Methods 200.7,
524.2, 525.1 and 8270, which are used to test for the
most common postwashing residues. Then ask the
washer manufacturer for its unit’s standardized residue
data.

• Flexibility and Durability: Lab washers should

accommodate all your most-used labware, resist
possible contaminants, and last for years.

• Validatability: Laboratories may need to validate

their washer’s performance with respect to cycle
duration, wash temperature, and drying. The easiest
way to achieve this is through a direct RS232 port that
connects the washer to a computer logging system.

References

1. Sigma Aldrich, Suggestions for Cleaning

Glassware https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/
dam/sigmaaldrich/docs/Aldrich/Bulletin/al_techbull_
al228.pdf

Lab Manager 2017 6 LabManager.com

GLASSWARE WASHER RESOURCE GUIDE

Can You Clean Plastics in a

Glassware Washer?
Lab glassware washers offer an excellent solution for laboratories that need to clean dirty
labware including beakers, test tubes, Erlenmeyer flasks, cylinders, and BOD bottles.
Technicians may be unsure whether dirty plasticware can also be cleaned in a glassware
washer, leading them to hand wash the equipment which can be extremely time consuming.
Lisa Choplo, Application Specialist at Miele Professional, addresses the most common concerns
users have about cleaning plastics in a glassware washer.

by Lisa Choplo, Miele Professional Laboratory Applications Manager

the physical properties, such as the melting point and

deformation temperature. This information can be easily
found to determine the optimal wash temperature for the
polymer being cleaned. Most washers have the ability
to heat water up to 163° F (73° C) or 200° F (93° C) and
temperature settings can be adjusted as needed based on
what is being cleaned.

Users are encouraged to read the product literature and

1. Will plastic containers fall off the injectors
during the cleaning cycle?
Plastic containers typically will not fall off injectors during
a cleaning cycle as well-designed glassware washers have
water coming from multiple directions to balance out the
force. For example, water coming from the spray arms will
be moving downward while water in the injectors move
upwards. This ensures a proper balance to keep plastics in
place on the injectors and eliminate excess movement. If
in doubt, or when cleaning very small lightweight items, an
overlay can be placed on the items being cleaned to hold
them in place.
2. I’m worried about plastic containers melting
in the glassware washer. Are there temperature
guidelines?
The type of polymer that comprises the plastic determines
check the plasticware for temperature resistance (the
manufacturer can be contacted for this information)
before washing plastics for the first time to set the proper
temperature. In fact, many washers are pre-programmed
with a wash cycle to clean plasticware at lower wash
temperatures.
As a general rule of thumb, if the manufacturer’s
instructions state “unable to autoclave,” the washer should
be adjusted to a lower temperature setting to avoid plastics
melting. A glassware washer provider should be able to
provide application support and assist in the machine’s
programming to avoid melting or distortion.
3. Are there any drawbacks to washing plastics in
a glassware washer?
Yes. Plastics usually will not come out bone dry when
cleaned in a glassware washer, or any other automated
washing device, and users must tailor their expectations.
There is also a chance of plastics discoloring. However,
the benefits of having an automated process, specifically
a glassware washer to provide clean containers for testing,
analytics, and research, will, in most situations, outweigh the
drawbacks of discolored plastic.

Lab Manager 2017 7 LabManager.com

GLASSWARE WASHER RESOURCE GUIDE

4. What about disposable plastics?

Glassware washers also have the ability to clean plastic

disposables such as beakers, bottles, or vials. By washing
disposables just once, laboratories can cut waste by 50%,
resulting in less money spent on disposables and a better
environmental solution, all by turning disposable plasticware
into reusable material.

5. Are there any other benefits to using a

glassware washer?

By utilizing a glassware washer, laboratory staff will feel

confident knowing their plasticware is being cleaned
effectively, every single time, which is more difficult to
achieve with hand washing. Hand washing plastic can
be unreliable and staff won’t be able to determine if
plastics have achieved a validated clean. Washers can be
programmed to meet wash parameters for critically clean
results, whether cleaning glass or plastics, a factor that is
beyond human control.

Lab Manager 2017 8 LabManager.com

GLASSWARE WASHER RESOURCE GUIDE

Featured
Manufacturers

Miele Professional
Quality you can rely on Miele Professional appliances are developed by Miele engineers and the carefully selected
components are largely produced in our own competence centres in Germany and Europe. For us, German engineering
primarily means that we go into the every detail and that we make every effort to create even the smallest of improvements.
This means that we are able to guarantee the highest level of product service life and 100% quality in everything that we do,
which cannot be matched by anyone else in the sector.

www.miele.com

Lab Manager 2017 9 LabManager.com