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Contact Carlos Baca, Stockroom Manager 

Email: crb149@txstate.edu; Office: Chem 249; Phone: (512) 245-3118

How to Clean Glassware

  1. To remove organic residues, rinse glasware briefly with an organic solvent (acetone or ethanol). The used rinse will then be discarded into the organic waste.
  2. Use warm tap water and a brush with soapy water to scrub the inside of curved glassware. This waste water can go down the sink.
  3. Remove soapsuds with deionized water to avoid harsh water stains. The DI water rinse should form a smooth sheet when poured through clean glassware. If this sheeting action is not seen, more aggressive cleaning is needed. To expedite the glass-drying process, rinse again with acetone to remove water. The residual acetone will go into the organic waste container.
A person wearing a lab coat, blue gloves, a face mask, and safety goggles holds a large, clear glass flask. Another person in similar lab attire is blurred in the background.

Cleaning Pipets and Volumetric Flasks

  1. Clean pipets and volumetric flasks using warm soapy water
  2. Rinse with tap water followed by three to four rinses with deionized water. This water rinse should form a smooth sheet when poured through clean glassware. If this sheeting action is not seen, more aggressive cleaning may be needed.
  3. Dry using acetone to remove water. This acetone rinse will be disposed of in the organic waste container.

Additional tips:

  • If water will affect the final solution, you can rinse with the solution you're using to remove the water. Then, triple rinse with the solution you're using to remove the alcohol or acetone.
  • Remove stoppers and stopcocks when they are not in use. Otherwise, they may "freeze" in place.
  • You can de-grease ground glass joints by wiping them with a kimwipe soaked with hexane or acetone. Do this in the hood vent to prevent you from breathing in the chemicals.
  • Do NOT dry glassware with a paper towel or forced air. This can introduce fibers or impurities. Normally, you can allow glassware to air dry on the shelf. Otherwise, if you need to turn in glassware to the stockroom you can use a solvent as described above.

How to Avoid Lab Fee Charges

Students are financially responsible for the items in their assigned bin. Only use the bin/station that is assigned to you and do not let anyone else use your assigned bin.

It is the student's responsibility to thoroughly inspect that their bin contains the items listed. If any items are dirty or missing, immediately take the bin to the stockroom to receive a replacement. Any items not noticed or replaced at the beginning of lab will be your own financial responsibility.

Proper Glassware Cleaning and Return Guidelines

  • Clean your glassware. Remember, the glassware soap is special detergent that does NOT lather (make bubbles). Even though there are no bubbles, the soap is still working!
  • Test tubes and graduated cylinders take a little more care to dry. All items must be completely dry before returning to the bin. Any liquid left in the bin will be treated as a hazardous chemical. For this reason, any bins with remaining liquid will be considered "dirty" and you will be accessed a fee. Allow enough time at the end of the experiment to properly clean and dry all of the bin items. Some items, like test tubes, may need to be washed several times.
  • Remove markings from the glassware using acetone of ethanol on a paper towel before returning the item to the bin.
  • No extra items should be put in the bin. No pipets, paper towels, chemicals, etc.
  • All items should be clean and ready for the next person.

Stockroom Store and Prices

All of these items can be purchased in person at the Chemistry Stockroom, located in CHEM 249.

Items

Prices

Googles

- Rent for $1/day
- Buy new for $6

Dress Code Socks

- $2

Paper Scrubs

- Pants and Shirts $3

ACS Study Guides

- $30
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