Wash Bottles

Wash bottles are squeeze bottles with a nozzle which are used to clean and rinse out laboratory glassware such as test tubes and round bottom flasks. They are usually sealed with a screw-top lid. Hand pressure is applied to the bottle so that the liquid is forced out of the bottle into a narrow stream. They are made of polyethylene, which is a flexible, solvent-resistant petroleum-based plastic and contain internal dip tubes which means they are ideal for upright use. Wash bottles are filled with a common laboratory solvent or reagent. One of these is deionised water which is purified through a mechanical process to remove impurities. Most of the mineral ions, such as sodium, calcium, iron and copper, are removed. Other bottles contain detergent solutions, which are similar to soap but more soluble in water and with foaming agents. Rinse solvents like acetone, isopropanol or ethanol might be used. The two former are colourless compounds whilst ethanol is the principle type of alcohol. Sodium hypo-chlorite, also known as bleach, is another commonly used disinfecting agent. Wash bottles are crucial for any laboratory where hygienic conditions mean there is less chance of cross contamination and results of procedures adversely affected.