For best results, use distilled water that doesn’t contain any impurities that might inadvertently damage the microscope. Be sure to wipe down the microscope frame with a separate, dry paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
If your microscope is particularly oily or dirty, use a larger ratio of dish soap to water or add a small amount of 10% alcohol by volume to the solution. If your microscope isn’t very oily or hasn’t been used that much, you may be able to clean it with just warm water.
For best results, use a microfiber cloth. The stage is the platform where you put the slides you’re using the microscope to look at. The stage clips are the metal clips on either side of the stage that are used to hold the slides in place. The control knobs are the knobs on the side of the microscope that are used to change the position of the objective lenses and bring the slides into better focus. The eyepiece tube is the long tube that connects the eyepiece and ocular lens to the objective lens. The nosepiece is the revolving turret above the stage that holds 2 or more objective lenses. This is the piece that you rotate to switch between different lenses. The illuminator is the light source beneath the stage that illuminates the contents of the slide you’re looking at.
For best results, use another microfiber cloth. Make sure the microscope is completely dry before moving on.
You can buy this type of brush or vacuum at any store that sells microscopes and other laboratory equipment.
For example, use dry-nitrogen propelled compressed air instead of an ordinary compressed air product (e. g. , a keyboard cleaner).
You can buy these cleaning supplies at most stores that sell microscopes and other lab equipment. Avoid using a large cloth, if you can. Even if the cloth is lint-free, it will probably be too big to clean the lenses without spilling your cleaning liquid somewhere on the microscope.
Use a light hand in your scrubbing, since the lens is very easily damaged. Refrain from cleaning the lens by moving the cotton swab in straight lines. These may leave streaks or even scratches on the lens.
This is also very important if your microscope is being used by multiple people, since each person’s hands may pick up the bacteria left behind on the microscope by someone else. To keep your microscope as clean as possible, avoid eating with your hands immediately before you use the microscope and certainly don’t eat or drink while you’re using it.
For greater protection, use 2 plastic bags instead of just 1 if you don’t have the original dust cover. Place both of these bags over the microscope and tie the outer bag closed to prevent dust from getting inside. Refrain from putting your microscope in a dusty environment, such as a storage closet, since this will only make your microscope more likely to get dusty.
Fungus is almost impossible to remove from a microscope, so your best bet is to prevent it from getting on the microscope in the first place.
Acidic and alkaline vapors are often produced during lab experiments in high school and college chemistry courses. Make sure to keep your microscope in a different room during these experiments.
