How to Store Glassware Apparatus in a Laboratory
Working with laboratory glassware apparatus can be complicated because it comes in many shapes and sizes. Certain glassware also requires specific types of storage. If you're working in a lab, you're handling beakers, bottles, flasks, graduated cylinders, pipettes, test tubes, vials and more. Some glassware is designed for storing solutions and others only for measurement. All must be kept clean and undamaged, and proper storage is a primary means of accomplishing this.
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Instructions
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Allow laboratory glassware to dry upside-down in a drain rack after it has been cleaned.
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Inspect all laboratory glassware before storing. Look for signs that it needs to have further cleaning and check for any damage such as cracks, chips or fissures. Set aside glassware needing more extensive cleaning and dispose of any items that are cracked or broken.
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Replace corks, caps, stoppers and other covers onto the glassware before storing.
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Store clean laboratory glassware in a closed cabinet or drawer to prevent the items from getting dusty.
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Store some types of glassware in specific cabinetry. A buret cabinet, for instance, has notches where the petcock valve is placed to prevent breakage.
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Disassemble any glass joints or stopcocks and store them as separate parts. Avoid storing glass where it is directly touching metal, which can etch the glass and weaken it. Also avoid glass-to-glass contact in drawers, as it can break. Add cushioning, such as soft foam, between tubes and other laboratory glassware in drawers.
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Tips & Warnings
Never touch broken laboratory glassware with your hands. Sweep it up and dispose in a specific container provided for broken glass.
