A simplified method of obtaining purified nucleic acids uses a single buffer solution to both wash and elute nucleic acids bound to a binding phase. Use of a single buffer solution avoids the time-consuming aspect of using different wash and elution buffer solutions during multiple nucleic acid purification steps. The method for purifying nucleic acids using a single buffer solution includes steps of: exposing a sample comprising nucleic acids to a nucleic acid binding phase, where the nucleic acid binding phase may include magnetic particles, silica particles, or a mixture thereof; and allowing the nucleic acids to bind to the nucleic acid binding phase; washing the nucleic acids bound to the nucleic acid binding phase at least once with the single buffer solution at room temperature; and eluting the nucleic acids from the nucleic acid binding phase with ≤50 μl of the single buffer solution, at a temperature of ≥40° Celsius.