Care of the microscope

• Hold a microscope firmly by the stand, only. Never grab it by the eyepiece holder, for example;

• Hold the plug (not the cable) when unplugging the illuminator;

• Since bulbs are expensive, and have a limited life, turn the illuminator off when you are done;

• Always make sure the stage and lenses are clean before putting away the microscope;

• Never use a paper towel, a kimwipe, your shirt, or any material other than good quality lens tissue or a cotton swab (must be 100% natural cotton) to clean an optical surface. Be gentle! You may use an appropriate lens cleaner or distilled water to help remove dried material. Organic solvents may separate or damage the lens elements or coatings;

• Cover the instrument with a dust jacket when not in use;

• Focus smoothly; don't try to speed through the focusing process or force anything.