Slide Box, Plastic

Quick Answer: The Slide Box, Plastic is a moulded plastic storage box with separate slots that hold microscope slides on edge. A plastic slide box is light, washable and unaffected by damp, which suits busy teaching labs and humid storage rooms.

Why Plastic Suits Slide Storage

Plastic boxes do not absorb moisture, warp or harbour mould the way untreated wood or card can in humid weather, and they can be wiped or washed with detergent. They are light enough for pupils to carry, and the slot dividers are usually moulded in one piece, so the slots stay evenly spaced. These points make plastic a practical choice for a prep room in a humid climate or for collections handled every day.

Plastic has limits too. Most plastics used for slide boxes soften at oven temperatures and can be attacked by solvents such as xylene or acetone used in slide preparation, so keep freshly mounted slides out of the box until the mountant has set and the solvent has evaporated. Dry new permanent mounts flat on a slide tray first.

The listing does not state the capacity, so tell us how many slides each box should hold when you enquire. The general Slide Box is listed separately.

Care & Handling

• Clean the plastic slide box with water and mild detergent only; solvents such as xylene or acetone can craze or soften it.
• Keep the box away from hot plates, ovens and sunny windowsills.
• Make sure slides are dry and free of oil before storing them.
• Do not force thick mounts into the slots, as that can crack the dividers.

Applications

• Storing prepared slide collections in humid prep rooms
• Class sets of slides handled by pupils every lesson
• Keeping stained student preparations from histology and microbiology courses
• Organising slides by topic in labelled or colour-coded boxes

Specifications

Why Choose LabEquip

Schools and colleges replacing worn card or wooden boxes, and labs in humid regions, often choose plastic for slide storage. The box is listed in the Microscope & Optics range; send the number of boxes and slides per box through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is plastic or wood more suitable for a slide box?

Plastic resists damp, is easy to wash and is light. Wooden boxes are rigid and traditional but can absorb moisture and grow mould in humid storage. For most teaching labs, plastic is the lower-maintenance option.

Can I put slides with fresh mountant in a plastic box?

Wait until the mountant has hardened and the solvent has evaporated. Solvent vapour trapped in a closed box can soften some plastics and let cover glasses slip.

Can the plastic slide box be autoclaved?

Not unless the plastic is stated to be autoclavable, and the listing does not say so. Clean it with detergent and, where needed, wipe it with 70 percent alcohol after testing a small area first.

How do I keep slides from rattling when the box is carried?

Fill empty slots with blank slides or a strip of foam, and carry the box flat. Rattling slides chip at the edges and can loosen cover glasses.

Can boxes be colour-coded for different courses?

Yes. Labelling boxes with coloured tape or labels by topic or year group makes returns quicker. Keep an index inside each box listing its slides by slot.

How should broken slides be removed?

Wear gloves, lift the pieces out with forceps and put them in a broken-glass container. Check neighbouring slots for fragments, then update the index.

Last Updated: September 2026