How do you wash your scrubs?

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I start nursing school in August and just bought my scrubs. This is probably silly, but I noticed on the tags that they are machine wash cold. Is this the standard for scrubs or is it the particular brand that I bought? Washing in hot water would kill any bacteria brought home from the hospital, but I don't want to ruin my scrubs by washing in hot. My scrubs are navy, so I can't add bleach, either. How do you wash your scrubs?

...as long as its compatible with your washer, mine only uses He soap...

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
...as long as its compatible with your washer, mine only uses He soap...

I have a front-loading "He only" washer and I've never had any trouble using regular laundry detergent. I just use WAY LESS detergent and my clothes still get clean and I don't have over-sudsing issues. Been doing this for almost ten years now, never had a problem.

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i have whites so i bleach the heck out of them and wash in hot water with a second rinse cycle.

ct pixie i have never had actual fecal matter on my hands or hair however i have had it on my scrubs, that goes with a lot of other body fluids as well so ill continue to use bleach on my scrubs

glad to hear your story; as it's nice to hear people realize scrubs need to be taken off immediately upon getting home and thrown into the hamper. i see so.....many people who work in the hospital/ltc etc that do patient care and come into the grocery store or meet family/friends and go eat in restaurant. that is just disgusting to say the least. it does not matter whether you work directly with the patient or in a facility with patients. go home change and then come back out. please do not go into a grocery store or restaurant when you have been in a facility all day working. i do realize that we all have needed to stop and pick up milk or something directly from work; that's why i take a change of clothes with me.:yawn:

so, glad to hear you clean your scrubs well as some nurses/techs come to work looking like they slept in theirs' and they are way too tight also.....

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I washed my scrubs in cold water since I dont work in the hospital, I worked in a long term care facility and I only give medications.So I'm not really concerned about the germs in my scrubs. And I wanna preserve the color of my scrubs, so I washed it in cold water.

You should still be proactive by changing before leaving or entering your home. It's just good practice.

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GREAT RESPONSE!! HOW DOES ANYONE KNOW THESE DAYS? JUST REMOVE YOUR SCRUBS BEFORE ENTERING THE HOME YOU SHARE WITH FAMILY/FRIENDS. WE ALL KNOW HOW WE JUST WANT TO RUN OUT THE DOOR WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO HOME FROM WORK; JUST STOP, AND CHANGE CLOTHES, OR CHANGE IN YOUR GARAGE BEFORE ENTERING YOUR HOME. I KNOW IT GIVES ME PEACE OF MIND TO KNOW I AM DOING THE BEST BY MY FAMILY JUST IN CASE "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE MIGHT BE BRING HOME TO OUR FAMILIES".:yeah::yeah:

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Great responses everyone! I have more inquiry though... I am a nursing student and had the privilege of witnessing and cleaning up a blood spill at my clinical today. No biggie right? Well, the blood was from an active Hep C client... It splattered on my shoes and scrub pants. (Of course the floors and equipment were cleaned properly) but I have questions regarding my shoes and scrubs: I wiped down my shoes with the bleach wipes used at the facility, but I don't feel that they are "decontaminated" and how do I clean my scrubs? (they are burgundy so straight bleach is out of the question). I would greatly appreciate any advice! Thank you!

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

I love peroxide for blood stains.

If it's not stains but "decontamination" that concerns you, just wash and dry them on hot. No virus or bacteria is going to live through a hot water wash and hot dryer cycle.

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I see multiple comments mentioning various disinfectants and bactericidal solutions, what do you use if you live in a rural area? These things will kill the beneficial bacteria in my septic system. Would lots of warm water, hot dryer and iron be enough? Please only respond if you actually have septic and not sewer.

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I see multiple comments mentioning various disinfectants and bactericidal solutions, what do you use if you live in a rural area? These things will kill the beneficial bacteria in my septic system. Would lots of warm water, hot dryer and iron be enough? Please only respond if you actually have septic and not sewer.

Regular soap, hot water.

I wash both my scrubs and my fiance's like that and there's no issue~

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Thanks Wiggly Litchi!!!

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I'm naughty (and cheap). I am trying to preserve the same uniform for all 4 semesters. I typically just wash in warm water with regular detergent. My scrubs are royal blue and I'm finishing up my 2nd semester. So far no fading or other issues.

Another way to help save your scrubs (especially if you want to use hot water) is do hang them to dry. I do this and the color hasn't faded, while fellow classmates' scrubs are starting to look faded. Good luck

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