The solution used to clean a pH electrode depends on the possible contaminants. Use the guide below to choose the appropriate solution:
1. For general cleaning soak the electrode in 0.1 M HCl or 0.1 M HNO3 for 30 minutes.
2. For removing stubborn deposits and bacterial growth, soak the electrode in a 1:10 dilution of household laundry bleach for 15 minutes.
3. For removal of protein deposits soak the electrode in 1% pepsin in 0.1 M HCl for 15 minutes.
4. For removal of inorganic deposits soak the electrode in 0.1 M tetra sodium EDTA for 15 minutes.
5. For removal of oil and grease rinse the electrode with mild detergent or methanol. After any of the cleaning procedures, thoroughly rinse the electrode with deionized water, drain and refill the reference chamber, and soak the electrode in storage solution for at least 1 hour.