What’s the difference between a laboratory glassware washer and a domestic dishwasher? 

I’ve been asked this many times myself, usually by management, in my previous role as a science technician – and it’s a reasonable question to ask, when considering departmental budget allocations for the academic year.

A domestic dishwasher is designed specifically for domestic use (cutlery, crockery, etc) and is NOT corrosive resistant.

As soon as you use a domestic dishwasher for scientific equipment you void the warranty – and reduce its life expectancy and efficiency (in my experience 1–2 years of life).

Aside from maintaining its warranty, there are other perks to having a laboratory glass washer in your science department:

. Saves you time – no pre-rinsing required, just load and go.

. Corrosive resistant – has a lifespan of 15–20 years.

. Quicker cycles – you can turn around a large volume of glassware and get it back into the class more quickly, ready to be used again.

. Designed for labware – such as beakers, test tubes, conical flasks, and graduated cylinders as opposed to plates, cups, and cutlery. This offers more effective use of space meaning fewer washes and more efficient removal of hazardous residues. Laboratory glasswashers have options for internal racking that may include specialised injectors, designed to clean the inside of test tubes, etc – which will also saves time spent scrubbing!

. Higher temperature - better sanitation, glassware washers will heat water to about 93°C. Domestic washers typically heat water to between 55–75°C, this temperature range is too low to adequately sanitise.

Before You Order Shelving Options: Unlike domestic washers, laboratory washers are not supplied with upper and lower baskets. This is due to the wider range of available options.

In the PDF attached you will see an example of an education setup which contains all you need to get you started and is suitable for most schools and colleges.

Check out our range of Laboratory Glass Washers