Exterior cleaning

Cleaning the outer surface of your pipette is quick and easy, and should be part of your daily routine. Wiping them with a lint-free cloth lightly soaked with 70 % ethanol should be sufficient, but do check the chemical compatibility of the pipettes beforehand.

Interior cleaning

Most manufacturers recommend that multichannel pipettes should be disassembled and cleaned by trained personnel. For single channel pipettes, however, you can and should clean them yourself regularly by following these simple steps:^1,2,3,4

1. Disassemble the pipette
   Check the operating instructions to learn how to disassemble your pipette. Most models require you to disconnect the upper and lower parts before removing the O-ring and piston.
2. Rinse with distilled water
   Clean the various components with distilled water and use a cotton swab to remove any clogs in the air passages.
3. Perform a maintenance check
   Once you’ve cleaned all the components, check them for visible damage and, when necessary, replace any damaged parts. It’s recommended that you replace the O-rings and seals each time.
4. Dry all components 
   Place all the components on a clean surface to air dry.
5. Grease the piston
   Check the operating instructions of your pipette to learn where to apply lubricant, and what type of lubricant you should use. If no recommendation is available, use a grease made especially for pipettes. Common lubricants have a variety of different compositions, and some may not be appropriate to use on your pipette.
6. Reassemble the pipette
   Ensure all the components are free of lint or dust particles before reassembling your pipette.
7. Test your pipette’s functionality
   To make sure that your pipette is working as intended after cleaning, you should perform a leak test.

Pipette storage

Proper pipetting techniques, combined with careful handling, deliver accurate results and prevent excessive wear and damage. But what about storage? Have you ever thought about what happens to your pipettes when you’re not using them? Appropriate storage can be just as important as careful handling, and implementing the tips below will only take you a few seconds a day.

Use a pipette stand

You should get into the habit of always storing your pipettes on a stand. Laying them down on the bench can lead to several problems:

• Piston lubricant may accumulate on one side, subjecting your pipette to excessive wear.
• The piston can get misaligned, compromising calibration.
• If there is any liquid inside, it can run up further into the pipette body and cause corrosion.

Not yet convinced? Pipette stands have even more advantages. They help protect your pipettes from spills and from getting knocked off the bench, as well as keeping your workspace organized. If you use a stand, you’ll also immediately notice when a colleague picks up one of your pipettes. Additionally, for electronic pipettes, stands can double up as charging stations, which means that you won’t need to remember to charge them.