Procedures for cleaning chemical glassware to be used in ordinary laboratory work will be described. Successful and reproducible work in the chemistry laboratory depends on the consistent use of clean equipment. Chemical synthesis will generally not require as strict of an extreme adherence to cleaning protocols as that in chemical analysis. Hence, the use of chromic-sulfuric acid baths may usually be avoided and has become virtually unknown in organic synthetic laboratories.
A first step in cleaning glassware from previous use may consist in brushing with soap water, rinsing with water, then with organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, acetone, or any suitable solvent. Residues of grease on the glass joints may be wiped off with tissue paper that is wetted with acetone. This mode of action will oftentimes be quite satisfactory and end up after drying with clean, sparkly surfaces.