Australia's Science Forum

Hi guys,

Could you please tell me what are you going to use for washing pipette and burette and also how do you clean 3-way filler bulb when some liquid get stock in that?

Thanks

It depends on what they have been used for. Mostly you can rinse well in clean water then final rinse with distilled water. If I need to, I soak in detergent and water then rinse. The bulbs are tricky. You can fill them up with water and push the water out a few times to rinse all the valves, then squeezing to get most of the water out then let them dry, shaking them every now and then. Hopefully the metal ball in the valved doesn't corrode.

Thanks Sunray18

A squish of acetone after rinsing helps dry burettes and pipettes.

If you use acetone wouldn't there be a chemical residue of some description left on the interior of the glassware? Just asking.

We have the other pumps (The red ones) which all come apart to be washed. We have had them for over 15 years and they are still great. The filler bulb would not last as long.

"If you use acetone wouldn't there be a chemical residue of some description left on the interior of the glassware?"
Not unless you re-using before its all evaporated off.

Hi Labbie ,

Could you please tell me what type of pump you are using ?
Thanks

They are called Pipette pumps 25ml Red in OfficeMax page $9.54 each, as of 2015.

Once you take the little wheel in white off, via a small plastic pin, the rest comes out easier. Unscrew the top and wash in warm water, when dry put back together again. Some times a little light grease on the part that is pumping it up. And that is all I ever do. But I do wash them every time, they are used.

Thank you so much Labbie , it seems really easy to use for students as well

My red ones, like this, seem to keep going after we've stopped them (leaking?), can they be repaired?

I do not think so, they are all plastic. But they can be kept for spare parts. A little LIGHT grease on the rank inside may help.