The generally recognized method is to wipe and rub the glass with a cloth or sponge soaked in cleaning solution. Abrasive cleaners and abrasive sponges should not be used on laboratory glassware as these can damage the surface of the glass. Surface damage can affect the glass properties and limit further use of the product. When soaking glassware it should generally be left in the cleaning solution for 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature, then rinsed with tap water followed by distilled water. To clean the glass as gently as possible, and thus extend its service life, a prolonged soaking time and higher temperature should only be used for stubborn soiling. Laboratory glassware should not be soaked for long periods in strongly alkaline media at more than 70 °C since this can have an adverse effect on the ceramic printing and may cause glass corrosion. Also to be avoided is severe mechanical action,e.g. scraping using a metal spoon.