What Is The Frequency And Method of Daily Cleaning for Fume Hoods?

Cleaning frequency

Daily cleaning: The fume hood should be simply cleaned once after each day's experiments. During the experiment, there may be some reagent powder, dust or splashed liquid remaining in the fume hood. If not cleaned up in time, these residues may accumulate, affecting the performance of the fume hood and even triggering chemical reactions or breeding bacteria. For instance, after conducting a weighing experiment of powdered chemicals using a fume hood, powder may adhere to the countertop and inner walls of the hood. Timely cleaning can prevent the powder from flying and affecting subsequent experiments.

Weekly deep cleaning: Arrange a relatively comprehensive deep cleaning once a week. In addition to the areas that need daily cleaning, the ventilation duct interfaces of the fume hood, the surfaces of lighting equipment, and the glass window tracks, which are usually difficult to clean, should be carefully cleaned. Dust and impurities may accumulate at the interfaces of ventilation ducts, affecting the ventilation effect. If the glass window track accumulates dust, it will cause the window to slide unsmoothly.

Monthly special cleaning: Conduct a special cleaning once a month, with a focus on the ventilation system filter devices of the fume hood. After long-term use, the filtration device will adsorb a large amount of dust and harmful substances, reducing the filtration efficiency and affecting the exhaust effect of the fume hood. Regular cleaning or replacement of the filter device can ensure the normal operation of the fume hood.

Cleaning method

Countertop cleaning

For general stains, such as a small amount of reagent or dust splashed during the experiment, a damp cloth dipped in an appropriate amount of neutral detergent can be used to wipe. When wiping, be sure to apply moderate force to avoid scratching the countertop. For example, when wiping the water-soluble reagent residue on the countertop, it can be removed by gently wiping with a damp cloth.

If there are stubborn stains on the countertop, such as dried chemical reagents, you can first apply a special chemical reagent cleaner (choose the appropriate cleaner according to the type of stain) to the stained area, let it stand for a while to allow the cleaner to fully dissolve the stain, and then wipe it clean with a damp cloth. When using chemical reagent cleaners, it is necessary to wear protective gloves and goggles to prevent the cleaner from causing harm to the skin and eyes.

The inner wall is clean

Use a long-handled sponge brush or a soft-bristled brush dipped in detergent to wipe the inner walls of the fume hood. For the higher inner walls, cleaning tools with telescopic rods can be used. When wiping, do it from top to bottom and from left to right in sequence to ensure that all parts of the inner wall can be cleaned.

If there is oil or stubborn stains on the inner wall, you can first apply a hot towel to the stained area to soften it, and then clean it with a cleaner and brush. After cleaning, rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry with a clean cloth.

Glass window cleaning

First, wipe the surface of the glass window with a clean damp cloth to remove the dust and stains on it. For some stubborn stains, such as fingerprint marks or chemical reagent residues, you can spray glass cleaner on the window and then wipe it with a clean soft cloth until the window is smooth and bright.

When cleaning the glass window tracks, you can use a small brush or cotton swab dipped in detergent to remove the dust and debris inside the tracks. After the cleaning is completed, apply a small amount of lubricant inside the track to ensure smooth sliding of the window.

The interfaces of the ventilation ducts are cleaned

Turn off the power of the fume hood to ensure safety. Use a vacuum cleaner or brush to clean the dust and impurities at the interfaces of the ventilation ducts. For some hard-to-clean corners, compressed air can be used for blowing.

Check whether the sealing strips at the interfaces of the ventilation ducts are in good condition. If any are damaged or aged, they should be replaced in time to ensure the sealing performance of the fume hood.

Cleaning of lighting equipment

First, turn off the power supply of the lighting. Wait for the lamps to cool down before cleaning. Wipe the surface of the lamp with a clean dry cloth to remove dust and stains. For some hard-to-clean areas, such as the heat dissipation holes of lamps, a small brush can be used for cleaning.

During the cleaning process, be careful to avoid water or other liquids from entering the interior of the lamp to prevent damage to it.

Cleaning of the filtration device

According to the user manual of the fume hood, locate the position of the filter device and remove it. For washable filter devices, they can be rinsed with clean water to remove dust and impurities on the surface. When rinsing, pay attention to the direction of the water flow to avoid damaging the structure of the filter device.

For non-washable filtration devices, such as activated carbon filter screens, they can be replaced according to the usage time and actual conditions. When replacing the filter device, make sure that the model and specification of the new filter device are consistent with those of the original one.