Instructions for Using and Precautions for Bottle Washers

Using a bottle washer is actually quite simple, but it’s the details that make the difference between success and failure—let’s take it step by step.

I. Instructions for Use

Preparatory work

Sort and organize: Sort the glass bottles and containers to be washed, placing different types of bottles into separate bottle baskets for easy loading into the bottle washer.
Loading bottles: Place the neatly arranged bottle baskets into the bottle washer, ensuring that the bottles are positioned neatly and do not collide with each other.
Set the washing program: Select an appropriate washing program based on the material of the bottle and its degree of contamination. Typically, bottle washers offer a variety of preset washing programs, such as quick wash, intensive wash, rinse, and dry.
Add detergent: According to the instructions for using the bottle washer, add the appropriate detergent to the machine. Depending on the laboratory’s needs, you can choose from various types of detergents, such as deionized water or acidic and alkaline cleaning agents.
Start the bottle washer: Connect the power supply to the bottle washer and start the machine according to its operating instructions.
Wait for the wash cycle to complete: During the operation of the bottle washer, wait for the wash cycle to finish according to the selected wash program and the set duration.
Remove the bottles: After washing is complete, open the door of the bottle washer and take out the cleaned bottles from the bottle basket.
Perform subsequent processing: According to the experimental requirements, carry out relevant follow-up treatments on the washed bottles, such as drying, sterilization, and packaging.

Operating steps

Pre-operation Check: Inspect the bottle washer’s exterior for any damage and ensure the door seals are intact. Check whether the spray nozzles are blocked, bent, or detached. Clean the filter screen of the water inlet filter. Select an appropriate cleaning agent based on the type of bottle contamination and add it according to the prescribed dosage. Confirm that the water source connected to the bottle washer is deionized water or softened water. Finally, verify that all water pipe connections are secure.
Loading the bottles: Place the pre-treated bottles sequentially into the washing chamber of the bottle washer, following the principle of “lighter bottles on top, heavier ones below, and stable placement.” Maintain a certain spacing between each bottle, and be careful not to overload the machine.
Set up the cleaning program: Select an appropriate cleaning mode based on the actual condition of the bottles; adjust the water temperature according to the detergent requirements and bottle material; and set the cleaning duration in combination with the degree of contamination and the chosen cleaning mode. To ensure that any residual detergent is thoroughly rinsed away, configure 2–3 rinse cycles. After carefully verifying all parameters of the selected cleaning program, close the door of the bottle washer.
II. Precautions

Safe operation

Protective Equipment: When using the bottle washer, be sure to wear lab coats, gloves, and other appropriate protective equipment to avoid contact with the machine's moving parts.
Power supply check: Confirm that the power supply is suitable for this device, ensure proper grounding, and verify that the power supply is equipped with leakage protection.
Operational Training: Operations must be performed by designated personnel using specific equipment. Only specially trained personnel are authorized to operate the equipment; other personnel are not permitted to handle the equipment at will.

Equipment maintenance

Regular Cleaning: After use, make sure to thoroughly clean the equipment. Open the machine’s quick-drain valve to drain the water and clean the filter screen thoroughly. At the same time, open the butterfly valve on the laboratory bottle washer to drain the pre-soaking solution, then open the cleaning port cover on the pre-soaking tank and flush the glass fragment channels with high-pressure water. Additionally, open the shut-off valve on the laboratory bottle washer, and flush the warm-water tank and hot-water tank separately with clean water. Once thoroughly rinsed, close both the shut-off valve and the main clean-water valve.
Frost Protection: In winter, when rain and snow are frequent, users should pay attention to the placement of laboratory bottle washers, keeping them as far away from windows as possible to avoid erosion by rain and snow. At the same time, users need to use insulating materials such as thermal blankets or plastic foam to protect parts of the laboratory bottle washer that are susceptible to freezing. Additionally, a dedicated person should be assigned to regularly check whether the insulation materials remain intact. Furthermore, in winter, water that is too cold can affect cleaning performance; therefore, users should first run the laboratory bottle washer empty for a period of time to allow it to preheat before starting the main washing cycle.
Nozzle Inspection: Regularly check whether the nozzles are positioned at the center of the bottle openings. If they are off-center, adjust them promptly to ensure they are aligned properly. Pay attention to maintaining adequate water pressure—generally, the water pressure should exceed 0.12 MPa; insufficient pressure may compromise the rinsing effectiveness. If you notice that a particular nozzle is not spraying water, immediately stop the operation, remove the nozzle, clear any debris from the nozzle’s internal passage, and then resume work.

Operating Procedures

Strictly follow the SOP: Personnel must operate equipment strictly in accordance with the equipment operation and management procedures and must not engage in unauthorized operations.
Water and cleaning solution dosage: The water and cleaning solution用量 for laboratory bottle washers should be appropriate and strictly determined based on the number of reagent bottles and the degree of contamination of those bottles.
Cabinet Door Management: During operation of the laboratory bottle washer, do not open the cabinet door at random to prevent heat loss and ensure effective drying performance.