Plastic Draining Rack For Washed Glassware

Quick Answer: A plastic draining rack is a pegboard-style drying stand for the wash area: washed flasks, beakers, measuring cylinders and test tubes are hung mouth-down on its pegs so rinse water runs out and the items air-dry.

How the Draining Rack Works at the Sink

The Draining Rack, Plastic is a moulded board carrying rows of pegs that point upward at a slight angle. Each washed vessel is inverted over a peg, so water drains out through the neck instead of collecting in the bottom, and air circulates inside while it dries. Racks of this type are either fixed to the wall above a sink or stood on the draining board, and many designs lead the drips into a trough at the base.

A draining rack is not the same as a draining basket. A basket is a perforated container for loose small items such as stoppers, caps and short tubes. The rack keeps vessels apart on individual pegs so each drains through its own mouth, which matters for volumetric flasks and measuring cylinders that hold water in the neck when laid on their side. Most wash rooms use the two together.

Because the board and pegs are plastic, the rack does not rust or rot from constant contact with water, detergent residue and dilute acid rinses, and glass meets a softer surface on a plastic peg than on a metal one.

Specifications

Product type	Laboratory draining and drying rack (pegboard style)
Material	Plastic; the title does not name the polymer, and racks of this type are commonly moulded in polypropylene or polystyrene
Holding method	Upward-angled pegs; vessels hang inverted, mouth-down
Typical items	Conical and volumetric flasks, beakers, measuring cylinders, test tubes, bottles and funnels
Placement	Wall-mounted above a sink or free-standing on a draining board, depending on the model
Board size and peg count	To be confirmed at enquiry

Applications

Air-drying glassware after manual washing in school and college chemistry and biology labs.
Draining volumetric flasks and measuring cylinders, which trap water in the neck if laid flat.
Drying plastic beakers, bottles and funnels after a final distilled-water rinse.
Holding clean, drained items before they go into a drying oven or back to the shelf.

Care & Handling

Hang tall or top-heavy pieces, such as large measuring cylinders, on the lower pegs and leave space between items so they do not knock together.
Keep the rack away from burners, hot plates and oven interiors; it is meant for air-drying at room temperature.
If the rack is wall-mounted, check the fixings from time to time, because a full load of wet glassware is heavy.

Why Choose LabEquip

LabEquip supplies the Draining Rack, Plastic to schools, colleges and testing labs that are setting up or refitting a wash area. For stoppers and small parts that cannot hang on a peg, pair it with a draining basket, or browse the Lab Glassware range for the vessels it will hold. If you are planning drying space for several sinks, send your requirement to LabEquip.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a draining rack and a draining basket?

A draining rack holds each vessel upside down on its own peg so water drains out through the mouth. A draining basket is a perforated container for small loose items such as stoppers, caps and short tubes that are too small to hang.

Can a plastic draining rack go into a drying oven?

It should not be assumed. Plastic draining racks are made for air-drying at room temperature, and many rack plastics soften at glassware-oven temperatures. Drain items on the rack, then move them to a metal tray if oven drying is needed.

How should volumetric flasks and measuring cylinders be placed on the pegs?

Hang them neck-down over a peg that reaches well inside the neck so the item cannot tip off. Never force a narrow neck over a peg that is too thick, as this can chip or crack the rim.

Should glassware be rinsed with distilled water before it goes on the rack?

Yes. A final rinse with distilled or deionised water removes tap-water minerals that would otherwise dry as spots or a film, which matters for glassware used in titrations and solution preparation.

How do I keep the rack itself clean?

Wipe the pegs and board with a mild detergent solution, rinse and let the rack dry. If it has a drip trough, empty and rinse it regularly so standing water does not leave deposits or encourage mould.

Is a plastic rack strong enough for heavy wet glassware?

It carries normal laboratory glassware, but load it evenly, put the heaviest pieces on the lower pegs and never hang several large items from one peg. For a wall-mounted rack, use fixings that suit the wall.

Last Updated: September 2026