How to Clean Microscope Slides

When you are finished viewing your sample through a microscope, you must clean the microscope slides. Microscope slides are made of specially coated glass and are designed to be reused. Prompt and proper cleaning will help maintain slides used to view basic organic material in common elementary and secondary microscope exercises.

Things You'll Need

• Liquid dish soap
• Running water
• Paper towels
• Rubbing alcohol (optional)
• Plastic container with lid (optional)
• Drain

Instructions

1. Squeeze a drop of dish washing liquid onto the surface of the slide.

2. Rub the liquid soap over the entire surface (both sides) of the slide with your finger tip. The skin of your finger will not scratch the coating on the glass of the slide, as a sponge or towel might.

3. Rinse the slide under lukewarm running water (while continuing to rub the surface with your finger) until the glass "squeaks" when you rub it.

4. Pat the slide dry between two paper towels. Do not rub the slide dry--the paper towel can scratch the glass.

Tips & Warnings

• The best way to store clean glass slides and prevent dust and other contaminants from attaching to them is to place the clean slides in a plastic container and pour in enough rubbing alcohol to cover the slides. Seal the container with an airtight lid until you are ready to use the slides again.

• Clean your slides with a cleaner appropriate to the material viewed on the slide. If you are viewing genetic material, metals or any other complex compounds, consult your laboratory protocols for the proper materials and procedures to be used to clean your microscope slides. Some materials must be incubated, reacted and dissolved to be removed.

References

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Leiden Genome Technology Centre
• Science Education Project

Resources

• Microbus