DIY Autoclaves

People in the medical and scientific fields use an autoclave to sterilize equipment. They place lab tools such as beakers and surgical equipment into the high-temperature, high-pressure autoclave to kill any bacteria that remain on the equipment after traditional washing. These devices are highly technical and very expensive. But in a pinch, the function they provide can be duplicated using simple home cookware

Things You'll Need

• Home pressure cooker.
• Wire rack
• Water and stove
• Equipment to be cleaned
• Sterile metal tongs
• Rubber surgical gloves

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash any equipment by hand before attempting to sterilize it. The autoclave isn't designed to clean, only sterilize.

• 2

  Place a wire rack in the bottom of a home pressure cooker. Fill the cooker with a few inches of water, so that the water is at least an inch below the top of the wire rack.

• 3

  Place the items that need to be sterilized on the wire rack. Place them in the pot so that they do not touch one another and so that they are not at risk of falling into the water.

• 4

  Put the top on the pressure cooker and heat the pot until the water begins to boil. You will know that the water is boiling when the weight on the top of the pressure cooker pot begins to jiggle.

• 5

  Heat the items for five to 10 minutes, then turn the heat source off. Take the weight off the top of the pressure cooker, allow the pot to depressurize, then remove the top.

• 6

  While wearing sterile surgical gloves, remove the sterilized items with metal tongs and place them on a clean, sterile surface. Allow the items to cool before using them.