LABORATORY SKILLS TRAINING
TITLE:
PROPER WASHING OF LABORATORY GLASSWARE
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this Skills Training is to train the student in the
proper way to wash glassware for use in the laboratory and
develop good laboratory practices.
PREREQUISITES:
N/A
REFERENCES:
SAFETY EQUIPMENT:
Gloves and safety glasses
MATERIALS:
Washing vessels: can be large beakers (≥ 1000 ml) or plastic wash tubs
Sparkleen or equivalent laboratory approved soap
Hot tap water
Distilled water
Test tube brushes of various sizes
Drying rack
PROCEDURE:
Proper washing of laboratory glassware
1. PREPARE THE WASHING SOLUTION
 Make sure the sink and drain are void of waste so water can flow and drain freely.
 Place a large beaker or plastic wash tub in the main laboratory sink. (Do not wash
glassware in the small bench side sinks)
 In the wash vessel, make a 1% solution of Sparkleen (10ml of powdered soap per
liter) using hot tap water.
 Stir until all the soap is dissolved.
 Fill a second large beaker or plastic wash tub with warm tap water. This is the tap
water rinse bath.
2. PREPARE GLASSWARE FOR WASHING
All requirements for proper disposal of chemicals must be adhered to prior to washing:
 Dispose of any chemicals contained in the glassware properly.
o If the substance has a special disposal procedure, follow the instructions as
described by your instructor.
CCCLST0021
Approved: 21July2014
Revision:


o If the chemical can be disposed of down the drain, pour the chemical
down the drain with lots of tap water.
o If the chemical is a solid and can be disposed of in the trash, place the
waste in a paper towel and close completely and place in the trash.
Remove all labels from the glassware and dispose.
Rinse the glassware with hot tap water and place into the washing vessel.
3. WASHING GLASSWARE
 Using the appropriate size test tube brush and soapy water, carefully wash the
glassware removing all substances.
 Thoroughly rinse the glassware in the tap water rinse tub.
 Thoroughly rinse the glassware with distilled water, being careful not to turn the
distilled water on too fast as it will spray.
 Hang the glassware on the rack behind the sink to dry.
4. FINAL COMMENTS
 Any chipped or cracked glassware must be disposed of in the glass waste
container located in the lab. Notify your instructor.
 If the glassware item does not fit on the drying rack, put paper towel down on the
bench top and put the item open side down in either a test tube rack or large
beaker.
TRAINING ASSESSMENT:
The laboratory technician is considered skills trained in
washing glassware when they have successfully completed
the training assessment.
1. Receive 95% on all washing glassware assessments.
DOCUMENTATION:
Evaluations recorded in Skills Training Assessment Log
placed in the laboratory notebook.
DOCUMENTATION OF SKILLS TRAINING:
Student Name: ________________________
Date: __________________________
Approved By: _________________________
Date: __________________________
CCC Science Department Instructor
CCCLST0021
Approved: 21July2014
Revision: