Laboratory well plate washing device and associated method

A method of for cleaning one or more items, each item to be cleaned defining a plurality of cavities, the method comprising:

• providing a cleaning device, the device comprising:
• an enclosure defining a wash chamber;
• a rotor positioned within the wash chamber and selectively rotatable about an axle, the rotor comprising a plurality of holders spaced about the axle, each holder adapted to selectively receive and hold a respective item to be cleaned such that the cavities of each item to be cleaned are facing away from the axle, the rotor being selectively rotatable into and stoppable at each of a plurality of different orientations, the number of different orientations being equal to or greater than the number of holders such that each of the plurality of holders is in a respective different position when the rotor is in each of the plurality of different orientations;
• a motor for selectively rotating the axle and thereby selectively rotating the rotor;
• a dispenser comprising at least one liquid input and at least one liquid output, the dispenser positioned such that the at least one liquid output are adapted to operably direct cleaning fluid to contact a different one of the items to be cleaned to clean material out of the cavities when the rotor is in a respective different orientation;
• and
• a drain for draining the cleaning fluid out of the chamber;
• wherein the rotor is selectively rotatable at a predefined rotational speed for a predefined amount of time, such that the rotation of the rotor is adapted to expel cleaning fluid from the cavities of each item to be cleaned;
• receiving each item to be cleaned in sequence by a respective holder when the rotor is in a respective orientation;
• rotating, in between the receiving of each item to be cleaned, the rotor to a subsequent orientation in which a respective holder is open;
• spraying cleaning fluid at each item to be cleaned in sequence, rotating the rotor in between spraying each item to be cleaned to move each successive item to be cleaned into position to be cleaned, until all items to be cleaned have been sprayed with cleaning fluid;
• and
• rotating the rotor at the predefined rotational speed for the predefined amount of time to expel cleaning fluid from the cavities of each item to be cleaned.