You don’t want your oil mixing with the sample or water, and you certainly don’t want to get your sample or water on (or in!) How to clean an objective Very small amounts of dust/dirt can make images substantially worse It is important to remove the oil after use (Oil traps dirt and actually slowly dissolves the glue in objectives) Be careful cleaning as the process could damage the objectives if done badly - remember they cost $500 to $12,000 each - be gentle and don't use too much of any cleaning : When you have finished for the day, wipe the 100x oil immersion objective carefully with lens paper to remove all oil. Then, wick away the remaining water and finally, wipe the lens clean with lens tissue. Tip 4: Clean immediately after using immersion oil. 6. 4. 7. Lower the stage and then remove the slide when you are done. Immersion Oil Oil i mmersion microscopy is a major culprit in that the improper cleaning and use of the immersion oil leads to debris that attaches to the residual oil as it accumulates. Use a Kimwipe or lens paper and the alcohol in the labeled jars. Wipe oil from the slide thoroughly with a Kimwipe. Ask your oil or lens supplier which solvent to use. When you reach the 100x objective, raise the objective up, and place a drop of immersion oil on top of the cover slip. 3. Cleanse stage should any oil have spilled on it. Be sure you have a cover slip on your sample. 7. Clean up! Both the objective lens and sample are immersed in a transparent oil of high refractive index so that high magnifications can be achieved while still maintaining good resolution (for more detail, please click here).. Not every lens can be used for oil immersion. All areas on the instrument, such as portions of the base or stand, should be routinely checked for any traces of immersion oil, which if found, may be removed with laboratory towels or soft cotton cloth. Occasionally dust may build up on the lightly oiled surface so if you wish to completely remove the oil then you must use an oil soluble solvent. ALWAYS clean the microscope when you are done. the objective lens. Learn more: https://www.ibiology.org/talks/clean-objective-lenses/Dirt and residue on the surface objective lenses and filters can degrade image quality. The front lens of an immersion objective should be cleaned to remove residue both after use and, additionally, before fresh immersion liquid is applied. Natural oils can harden on the lens otherwise. For oil immersion lenses, wipe off oil with a lens tissue. If you are using a 100x objective with immersion oil, just simply wipe the excess oil off the lens with a kimwipe after use. Irrepa rable damage can occur to the optics and mechanical components with its misuse and improper clean-up. Use immersion oil only with the 100X objective (oil immersion lens) in place. If oil has already built up, use a lens tissue soaked in the correct solvent for the oil being used. 8. Use only ONE drop of oil. [The 4x objective can be used because it is high enough to be above the oil.] 5. Oil immersion is a technique used to increase the resolving power of a microscope. When you desire to remove oil from a slide and an immersion lens after using, for example, cedar oil, you would use Xylene to remove the oil. The mixing of different immersion media or different batches of the same medium (e.g., the immersion oil IMMERSOL F™) may result in … Following cleaning of the optics, immersion oil should be cleaned from both surfaces of the specimen slide using laboratory tissues.