Itchy Scratchy Scrubs

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Help! My scrubs that are required for clinicals are "itchy & scratchy" and they BUG me :(. They are Crest-brand 65 poly/35 cotton and they drive me insane! Any ideas out there on how to soften them up. I've washed them twice already and no luck! Maybe soaking them for a few hours in fabric softener?:confused: We are not allowed to wear a t-shirt or anything under them other than the "required" underwear (yes my student nurse manual addressed this issue :chuckle).

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

you could call a store that sells or know a lot about fabric to ask them.

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Do slips qualify as underware...you can even buy pant's slips.

The Penney's catalog also has things called pant liners, they fit tight, like girdle underware, but go all the way past the knee...

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You might try soaking them in Biz, but you're probably stuck because of the fabric content. You could add a camisole (there are soft cotton ones) -- it won't show so no one could really object to that. You could wear footless tights (end at the ankle) under your scrub pants (you can get 'em at dance stores in flesh color) or a light long leg girdle. Or cut the lower legs off panty hose. You might be hotter, but nothing's worse than itchy, scratchy clothing. EUWWWW!

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Tell 'em you are allergic to their cheapo scrubs and they need to get you a pair thats more user friendly! You could try soaking them in hot water with a cup of white vinegar in it then wash and dry?

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

"you could add a camisole " they are soft! great idea.

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Hi, do you have soft water or hard water? it might make a difference. Maybe try using a fabric softener, just a cheap one should do. Sometimes no matter what you do it doesn't help.. I noticed that my uniforms are also kind of "stiff"

I'm going to try a fabric softener, mine are still in the package waiting to be washed.

Hope that helps;)

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My absolute favorite scrubs are the ones I steal from the hospital that are completely broken in!

When I buy scrubs, I notice they take alot of washing to break in. Maybe it does have something to do with he fabric content, but I'm not domestic enough to know the difference. I usually just throw them in every possible load of laundry I can for the first couple of weeks. Don't dry them every time though, or they'll shrink to small before you ever put them on! And I ALWAYS use fabric softener!

Heather

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Fabric softener has always worked for me.. but I also agree with OBNURSEHEATHER... Wash them in every load in the house!! It's not the stiffness that bothers me as much as the nasty smell that new scrubs have!:eek:

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I used lots of fabric softener and I wash them about 5-6 times before I put them on. If they are the same color, I suggest using hot water...that helps soften the fabric some too. I have found that it usually isn't the fabric content that is itchy, it's what the fabric has been dyed and/or treated with.

Hope this helps.

Heather

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i finally took mine out of the packages..lol... the pants are really stiff, everything else seems ok. i'm definately using softener and i think i have some leftover dryer softener sheets, might throw one of those in.. i agree washing many times before wearing is a good idea !!

:nurse:

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