[DIYbio] Re: Start up

S. Almo,

You received some good replies, but I think the first question has to be, what techniques are you performing with the tips and tubes?  If your experiments are microbiological, the labware would need washing or rinsing, and then sterilization is key.  If you are doing DNA extraction, and then PCR or enzymatic techniques with DNA, then washing and rinsing will likely be fine--things don't really *need* to be sterile, more important is removing bulk contaminants and DNA, and a bleach treatment will destroy DNA.  If you are working with RNA, then more strenuous steps are needed, etc.  So think about what you are doing, and what type(s) of dirt or contaminant you need to remove.  In some cases, dishwasher or equivalant washing is enough. 

It was common to use glass pipets before plastic became cheap, and they would be cleaned with a bleach treatment followed by several rinses in water / deionized water.  You may find instructions in general lab practice books or try googling around.  Plastic will not hold up for as many cycles as glass.

Cheers,

Jim Lund