Test Tube Cleaner Brushes?

[maisy12345]

Hi ,whenever i test my water i clean the test tube out but overtime it becomes discoloured,does anyone know where i could buy test tube brushes from ,as the results are becoming distorted,and what does everyone else use?

 

[KittyKat]

Discoloured? Do you mean you're getting limescale? If that is all it is, soak the tubes in some vinegar and water, then rinse well under tap water and from then on dry them by hand, instead of letting them drip dry/however you normally dry them.

 

[willowstwin]

I was just about to suggest the above. If you want a brush however, look in the baby aisle of your supermarket and look for bottle teat cleaning brushes. these will do the trick

 

[maisy12345]

Hi,Kittykat,no not limescale,discolured with the use of the chemicals,i`ve tried cotton wool buds,but theyre not long enough.

 

[Mowbz]

Hi,Kittykat,no not limescale,discolured with the use of the chemicals,i`ve tried cotton wool buds,but theyre not long enough.

Are they plastic tubes by any chance?

If it helps, i use a old small baby bottle steriliser to clean mine out, its designed to clean two baby bottles. I rinse them and throw them in, takes 10 mins to steam clean them.

I cant see how, unless used for decades, that the glass would have a porous enough surface to take on the reagents colour?

EDIT: Spelling

 

[fluttermoth]

Get a piece of kitchen roll and twist it into a long thin roll

 

[maisy12345]

Thanks will try Futtermoth ,Mobz,no they`re glass.

 

[KittyKat]

Yes, I also wonder how they become discoloured.. do you rinse them well, a few times, as soon as you finish using them?

 

[maisy12345]

must admit ,not always.

 

[nicolaisam]

Bleach at full strength.

Make sure you rinse them very well.

 

[Louiseness]

Yes, I also wonder how they become discoloured.. do you rinse them well, a few times, as soon as you finish using them?

I'm guilty of letting my test tubes sit for a while and even though they're glass they do seem to be getting a bit of a 'tinge'. I guess not being lazy is the answer here

 

[StandbySetting]

Rinse with distilled water, part of your problem is more than likely not cleaning them straight after doing a test, use a squirt bottle with a fine nozzle, we use them in the labs at college for rinsing glassware.

 

[maisy12345]

Thanks all for all advice.