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Managing and maintaining the testing instruments and equipment in the laboratory ensures the reliability and accuracy of the test data, while keeping the instruments in optimal working condition and extending their service life. Anyone with laboratory work experience knows that instruments and equipment, especially those used for precision analysis, require routine and periodic maintenance, which is beyond doubt. Firstly, there are mandatory requirements: the environmental conditions must meet the following – (1) The instrumentation and equipment need to be cleaned of dust from time to time to prevent a decline in their precision. (2) The temperature and humidity of the environment have a significant impact on the instrument; to ensure its accuracy and service life, it is necessary to keep the instrument in an environment that meets the required conditions. (3) Carry out proper cleaning and maintenance to prevent chemical residues on the instrument from causing corrosion. (4) The sample must be cleaned up immediately after use; it cannot be left in the instrument testing room for an extended period of time. (5) Regular power on: When the instrument is not in use for extended periods of time, it is necessary to turn it on 1 to 2 times per week. This helps to prevent moisture buildup and keeps the instrument in working condition, thus avoiding any decline in its performance due to prolonged disuse. It is necessary to ensure that various precision instruments are placed in dedicated instrument rooms free from environmental interference, while taking precautions against vibration, moisture, direct sunlight, corrosion, and the effects of high-temperature heat sources. It must be washed clean after use; no corrosive or toxic substances such as oils, acids, or alkalis should remain in the container. When instruments with ground glass stoppers are not in use for an extended period, a piece of paper should be placed under the stopper. Lab safety precautions before the holiday – Safety awareness must be maintained. Before the holiday, our excitement is understandable, but safety awareness also needs to be given top priority. This includes not only safety in laboratory operations but also personal safety on the way home; financial matters, transportation, and other aspects must also be kept in mind. Equipment cleaning requires even more attention; now that we have time off, the devices that work hard also deserve a proper break. But we can’t just let it rest in a dirty, messy, and poor environment! General cleaning is the best maintenance for equipment. The level of cleanliness is generally determined by the nature of the equipment; it involves not only cleaning the outer surfaces, but also the components inside the equipment and its “innards”. Fire-fighting equipment must be available. The period before holidays is an opportunity for maintaining such equipment, allowing us to conduct a thorough inspection of it, especially the fire-fighting equipment. (This is a guardian of laboratory safety.) Basic common sense must be remembered: water and electricity should be turned off in the laboratory before holidays – this is basic common sense. Ordinary people should turn off all sources of water and electricity before leaving to prevent any accidents. At the same time, fire and theft prevention is a crucial aspect in laboratories; generally, during holidays we should close the doors and windows, lock them or disable the access control systems to ensure absolute safety. Analyze specific problems individually—what should be done if instruments are not used for a long time? 1. Instruments that are rarely used after being purchased tend to age and develop frequent malfunctions due to long periods of idleness. So, how should such rarely used instruments be maintained? Since it has been purchased, maintenance is still necessary even if it isn’t used. Equipment that is not used frequently needs to be kept clean to prevent dust, moisture, and corrosion. It needs to be dust-proof and kept clean. The most important thing is to power the instrument on regularly; for example, make it run every Friday by using quality control samples or something similar, in order to check its performance. Don’t keep it on hold; I’ve encountered instruments that had been without power for a long time and then malfunctioned when used suddenly. 2. The gas chromatograph wasn’t used for a long time; the column wasn’t removed, and the nitrogen flow wasn’t turned off. I wonder if this has any negative effects? If the instrument is not used for a long time, it doesn’t matter whether the column is removed or not. It’s okay not to remove the columns; blowing nitrogen can protect them, and the impact is not significant. It seems that without nitrogen, the columns and detector can still be protected from contamination, though there will be some waste gas. If you blow for a long time, you need a lot of air, which is a bit wasteful. Suggestion: After blowing it down, turn off the nitrogen. Next time you conduct the experiment, just age the column first. They are all solenoid valves now; it seems that when the power is cut off, the gas can’t flow anymore. It doesn’t seem to matter whether nitrogen is turned off or not. It’s better to turn the instrument on from time to time! 3. A liquid chromatograph and spectrophotometer in the laboratory may remain unused for an extended period of time; how should they be maintained and stored? The maintenance of the liquid phase mainly involves the care of the chromatography column; when the instrument is not in use, it is best to store the column sealed with methanol or acetonitrile. Currently, people mainly use two methods for storage: one is to fill the chromatography column with methanol or acetonitrile and then remove it for sealed storage (by sealing both ends of the column with plugs); the other is to fill the chromatography column as well as the connecting tubing with methanol or acetonitrile, and seal the tubes at both ends of the column using plugs or sealing elements. In simple terms, it’s about preventing the liquid in the chromatography column from leaking out; as long as it doesn’t leak, everything is fine. It is best to first rinse all the pipes thoroughly, then seal them with organic solvents to prevent the growth of microorganisms; in addition, dust prevention measures should be taken. For spectrophotometers, it is important to protect them from dust and moisture. Optical instruments come equipped with silica gel desiccants, which are usually placed in the compartment where the cuvettes are held; these desiccants need to be taken out and replaced regularly. 4. How to maintain the liquid chromatograph when it is not in use for long periods of time: Apart from during extended breaks, the instrument should remain turned on at all times, whether there are samples present or not. Nitrogen and argon should also be supplied continuously, and vacuum pumping must also be carried out ； If the instrument is not used for an extended period of time while in standby mode, it is still necessary to run the pump from time to time to flush it with methanol/water. Another important point is to maintain a constant temperature and humidity in the laboratory to prevent moisture buildup. The maintenance of instruments varies in complexity depending on the level of precision required by each instrument. It is important to get to know the instruments well and carry out regular maintenance in accordance with the laboratory’s SOPs – for example, after sample insertion, before turning the machine off, when it is not used for extended periods, or before holidays. By taking these maintenance steps regularly, even during long holidays, no extensive maintenance is needed, allowing the instruments to function properly throughout the break. This way, there will be no issues when the instruments are turned back on after the holiday. Therefore, proper maintenance of the equipment is something that must be given due attention!