How often do you wash your scrubs? :)

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello, lovely nurses!

We have just moved to MI and I found a lovely job at EC observation unit. So I see a big difference between the hospital I worked at and this magnet hospital. Nurses are so much appreciated and protected from verbal or any abuse here. (Sorry for a long introduction)

So, I just wanted to share this with you. ? I had a little break and I missed my job soooo much! ?

I always wanted to ask other nurses how often you wash your scrubs. I usually throw it into laundry after each shift and its condition gets worn off fast.

So, do you, nurses, wash your scrubs after each shift or you think it is not necessary?

Thank you ?

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
On 8/25/2019 at 8:21 PM, Pepper The Cat said:

Yes, I am well aware of that. My point is this “strip at the door and don’t touch me until I have showered for one hour” is silly.

Sure, I change out of my scrubs when I get home but that is because I want to get into something more comfortable. My scrubs are washed alone but that is because I use warm water for my scrubs and cold for almost everything else.

I agree 100% on the silly factor. Unless you work in a confirmed Biohazard zone why are some nurses so worried about bringing home germs? We're probably exposed to just as much if not more crap in our daily lives than we are at work.

Now I wash my scrubs after every wearing also, but not because of the germs. It's simply because it's almost always warm in the building and I don't want to put on a pair of sweaty scrubs again even in they still look clean.

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I am a Psych NP, and don't wear scrubs, but I wash my clothes daily after wearing.

I did exactly the same as a teacher.

I think some of the stuff here borders on paranoia.

But daily I pray against whatever germ it might be that causes CHF and COPD. I truly hope it is identified soon. It would be such a big break through.

These conditions seem to be the most common cause of death in my parts.

Half of these people with bizarre clothes washing rituals are probably smokers and/or obese. They don't always wear a seat belt, either.

Bring on the complaints.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
45 minutes ago, Oldmahubbard said:

Bring on the complaints.

Complaints? No. Concerns about the inaccuracies and assumptions in your post? Yes. "Germs" are not the primary cause of CHF, and in fact would be a tiny percentage of causes. There is no correlation between scrub washing habits and any of the other habits you mentioned. I'm truly just confused by your post.

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10 minutes ago, Rose_Queen said:

Complaints? No. Concerns about the inaccuracies and assumptions in your post? Yes. "Germs" are not the primary cause of CHF, and in fact would be a tiny percentage of causes. There is no correlation between scrub washing habits and any of the other habits you mentioned. I'm truly just confused by your post.

OK it was sarcasm. Of course germs have nothing to do with the diseases that kill most people.

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I can't imagine not washing my work clothes after every wearing.

Of course, never say never.

I keep a change of underwear and a fresh shirt in my locker, just in case I have to work extra hours. The employer still provides scrubs in case of serious filth on one's own uniforms/scrubs.

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Specializes in ER..

The germophobe in me died a thousand deaths with the thought of not washing scrubs after wearing. My routine is to remove my scrubs in the garage, and throw my clogs into the woods. Not actually. They get thrown into the washer after each wear. On another note...how many of you Lysol/bleach wipe your badge, computer, phone at your workstation?

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no scrubs

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I’m in an office setting, so I have 5 sets of scrubs (two provided free and I bought the other 3 sets). I wash them all on the weekend, usually in their own load.

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Specializes in Family, primary care.

I have one set of scrubs for each shift, a total of 6. I wash my scrubs as soon as I get home. I use tide pods, plus baking soda, and 1/2 of white vinegar all to disinfect. I haven’t notice any fading so far. I wear figs (they are worth every penny).

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Specializes in Family, primary care.
On 9/4/2019 at 7:52 PM, Sdee said:

The germophobe in me died a thousand deaths with the thought of not washing scrubs after wearing. My routine is to remove my scrubs in the garage, and throw my clogs into the woods. Not actually. They get thrown into the washer after each wear. On another note...how many of you Lysol/bleach wipe your badge, computer, phone at your workstation?

I do! I clean my computer/workstation as soon as get to work; I wipe my phone and badge at the beginning and end of very shift. I even clean the sole of my shoes before I leave the hospital etc. I leave my work shoes in the hallway of my home, not garage because don’t want any kind of bug/spider to climb in. I remove my scrubs on the laundry area, and immediately wash them.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
7 hours ago, winkiebob said:

I wear figs (they are worth every penny).

Oooooh, I agree! Best brand ever. Even when I couldn't wear them due to color restrictions (?), I didn't get rid of them — I usually take my outdated scrubs to donation places, but not those!

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Specializes in Cardiac TCU /tele/SDU.

I wash them every after use

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