Silicone lubricants and greases, which receive diverse laboratory use, must frequently be totally removed from used glassware including stopcocks. Removal by the solvent action of chloroform requires one or two days. It has now been found that silicone greases and lubricants may be removed fully and expeditiously from glassware by rinsing with acetone, airdrying (to remove moisture), and then quick-washing at room temperature three or four times with trichloroethylene. By such treatment, the glass is restored to its original hydrophilic condition.