Washing scrubs?

[dd131]

So, maybe this is an embarrassing question, but....

I've noticed when ironing scrubs, that there seems to be a lingering odor of perspiration and deodorant in the armpit area. I don't seem to have this problem with any other of my clothes.

I always wash scrubs separately in hot water. Does anyone have any other tips on how to prevent this from happening? Thanks in advance!

[JensenMaries]

omg i love this thread. thank u so much for the help!

[Neats, BSN]

Wow some of my fellow workers go to great length to get their scrubs clean.

I never have any issues but when my scrubs are very dirty I always use

1. Lemon Juice in the arm pit area and it is cheap to use too just about a tablespoon per arm pit

2. Fells Naptha Soap (the old bar laundry soap) you can still get it at the grocery store. I just wet the area and rub on the stain. Comes clean each time.

Lastly you all put my laundry skills to shame for I just normally toss my clothes and come back later to put into the dryer, I really feel like I am missing out on something.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Look for Nathan Sport-Wash. A friend who is a triathlete recommended it for that funk that just won't wash out. :)

[3ringnursing, BSN]

How to Remove Deodorant Stains

There are a number of common household products that are effective in treating and removing deodorant stains on your clothing.

Check to see if you have any of these natural stain removers on your pantry shelves:

• Ammonia
• Aspirin
• Baking Soda
• Lemons
• Meat Tenderizer
• Salt
• Vinegar
• Oxi-Clean
• Borax

Acids, bases, minerals and enzymes ALL HELP to remove deodorant stains from fabric.

Chlorine bleach won't do a thing to remove sweat or deodorant stains, so don't even try it!

While common perspiration/sweat can leave a slight yellowish stain on fabrics (especially cotton), the stain is often temporary and can be easily washed away by rinsing with cool or cold water first, then tossing the garment into the washer and running it through a cycle at the hottest temperature recommended by the manufacturer.

Sweat stains that appear yellow or greenish (depending on your fabric color and type) need a little more effort.

General Deodorant Stain Removal Tips

• Try one cleaning solution at a time before moving to try the next stain remover.
• Rinse the cleaning solution completely before trying the next solution.
• Harder is not better when removing stains. Treat the fabric gently.
• Sweat and deodorant stains are mostly minerals bound to the fabric. Allow the stain remover time to dissolve the minerals and soak away the stains.
• The darker the stain, the harder it will be to remove it.
• Check the fabric label to be sure it does not need to be dry cleaned before trying these solutions.

Ammonia

1. Dilute 1/2 cup of ammonia with 1/2 cups of water.
2. Daub the solution on the stain repeatedly until it is lightened or removed entirely.
3. Launder as usual

Aspirin

1. Crush two aspirin.
2. Mix together with 1/4 cup of hot water.
3. Pour directly on the stain.
4. Allow it to sit for 2 hours.
5. Laundre as usual.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is very good for removing odors too. If the stain is really smelly, let the baking soda paste remain on the garment for an extra hour or more.

1. Mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with just enough water to form a runny paste.
2. Apply directly to the stain and work it in.
3. Let the baking soda work on the stain for 60 minutes
4. Rinse in cold water
5. launder as usual.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice also helps remove dark underarm stains on t-shirts and undershirts.

1. Use either fresh or concentrated lemon juice directly on the stain until it is quite wet
2. Add 1 tsp. table salt.
3. Rub between your fingers until the stain lifts.

If it is a bright sunny day, exposing the garment to the sun and allowing it to dry will enhance the stain removing power of the lemon juice.

Meat Tenderizer

Meat tenderizer is another one for Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Meat tenderizer contains enzymes that help to dissolve the sweat stain.

1. Moisten the sweat/deodorant stain with warm water.
2. Sprinkle the stain liberally with meat tenderizer.
3. Work the meat tenderizer in the stain with your fingers.
4. Allow the stained garment to sit for 30-60 minutes.
5. Launder as usual.
6. Repeat if needed.

Salt & Vinegar

Salt and vinegar is a miraculous ingredient in removing stains too.

Mix until dissolved;

• 1 cup salt
• 2 cups vinegar
• 2 cups hot water
• 1 Tbs. dish washing liquid

Soak your stained garments for 1-2 hours then launder as usual.

Plain White Vinegar

Mix the following solution;

• 1 cup of white vinegar
• 1 cup warm water

Dip the stained garment in vinegar solution and scrub between your knuckles.

If the stain is persistent, you may soak the entire garment in the vinegar solution for a couple of hours before running through a normal wash cycle.

Oxy Clean

Oxi-Clean is a wonderful product for eliminating many clothing stains. Follow manufacturer's directions for garment type.

To remove sweat and deodorant stains;

1. Mix 1 Tbs. oxi-clean with 1 cup of hot water
2. Apply to the stained area.
3. Let the oxi-clean work on the stain for 30 minutes
4. Launder as usual

Borax

Borax is an old-time cleaning remedy that is still appropriate today - plus it's a whole lot cheaper than some of the costly products on the supermarket shelves.

1. Run warm water through the stain.
2. Sprinkle on a generous amount of Borax - don't go crazy, but use enough so that you can see it like a good shake of salt on the stain.
3. Rub it together with your fingers.
4. Launder as usual.

Sweaty deodorant stains? No problem!

Now you have expert cleaning tips to remove deodorant / antiperspirant stains from your fabric, just like a professional cleaner!

Good luck!

* One thing Mrs. Clean didn't include was Febreze In-Wash Odor Eliminator. I really like this stuff - great for removal of B.O., moldy, or musty smells set into fabrics (like wet towels). Happy stain removal! 3ringnursing, BSN.

[Ellekat2]

I vote you try the two aspirin. And call your doctor in the morning. Lol.

Good luck with this. I hang my scrubs on hangers while damp, with the two seams in the pants meeting so that a crease forms. Not as sharp a crease as when ironed, but it works for me. On a windy day, I can get a pretty sharp crease.

Please post what you find works for you. I remember the days of polyester everywhere and who knows? Those days may return.

[BedsideNurse]

Thanks for the suggestions! I have my scrub tops soaking in vinegar as we speak!

I'm thinking it's because I'm putting on too much deodorant.... I'm terrified of the dreaded sweat stains, and ceil blue isn't very forgiving!

And it's strange, I can sniff test the area right out of the dryer and smell nothing, but once the steam from the iron touches them, I get a big puff of deodorant/sweat smell.

Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I DO NOT want to be smelly.

If you haven't, try buying the deodorant labeled clinical strength and apply before bed (and a little extra after showering doesn't hurt). A few days in a row of applying=ZERO sweat marks, even with really rigorous things going on. Ceil blue is very unforgiving, lol. Years ago I remember I came in and before I could hardly put my purse down I was doing CPR, then assisting with a procedure, then getting my patient ready for emergency surgery and it was so hot in that room and the bright lights and I didn't have time to get in the right mind set before I started my shift and I swear I had sweat rings down to my waist. I didn't want to lift my arm up to hang the IV's. Then once I was self conscious about the sweating, I started sweating worse. It was horrible! My wonderful tech went and got me a new scrub top from OR. (that's how bad it was). Since then I have used the clinical strength and no problems with that ever. Probably not the healthiest deodorant, but work is stressful enough without having to worry about things like that.

[Ellie G]

I wear a t-shirt underneath. Pit problem solved.

Not in August in Oklahoma. An extra layer is not something I would ever want.

[dd131]

The vinegar worked quite well. No puff of sweaty steam while ironing!

But I also took another's advice and have been spraying the pits with Spray&Wash before placing in the hamper. If that works, I'll just put some vinegar in the wash instead of soaking!

I've never seen the Febreeze in-wash odor eliminator. I'll have to look for it!

[StarBrownRN]

I have had the same experience with scrubs and other clothing. In my dry clean only items, I use dress shields. In scrubs and other things, I spray the pit area with white vinegar right after I take them off. If you can, you may want to consider a looser sleeve style or size where the arm hole seam is further from the pit.

I also add borax to the wash and rotate between Persil and Tide laundry detergent. Also, stop ironing the scrubs--the direct heat drives the odor into the fabric. Just remove them promptly from the dryer, shake and hang (or just put them on).

[Barmherzigkeit]

Good question and good answers. I will be buying my first scrubs soon and will use all these tips to keep them clean and fresh. My husband is a triathlete and after training, his clothes can be really bad. I add baking soda to the wash cycle, add an extra rinse, and if they ever need an ironing, I lower the iron temp and use a thin cotton cover between the iron and garment to avoid that synthetic fabric funky smell. It works.

[amoLucia]

And y'all never thought that all that chemistry and biology science stuff would ever come to good use after graduation!!!

[dec2007]

The vinager works great. Also, because of all the antibiotic resistant bacteria in our unit I usually wash my scrubs in hot water with detergent and liquid Lysol. Then dry with strong smelling dryer sheets and they usually smell good. (Sometimes I can still smell the Lysol, but my co-workers swear they can't smell it.)