Lament of the White Clinical Pants

stefanyjoy · Mar 9, 2011

Sorry if this is TMI, but I am dreading the white pants. I have heavy periods, and I really, really, really, don't want to worry about white pants along with clinical stress during that time. ugh.

April, RN, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2011

I had to wear white pants in school. I actually like wearing white and even wear white pants to work sometimes with a colored top or vice versa (never both white though!). It's not practical though, I admit that. Hydrogen peroxide gets blood out of white scrubs/ shirts/ sheets. Just dump it right on there and it disappears. I've only done this with fresh blood stains though, and not old stains or other types of stains but just wanted to share the tip!

mercuryrawks · Mar 9, 2011

The sun is the BEST stain remover. I refuse to use chlorine bleach. I often wash my laundry, and before I had a clothes line--I would just lay the stained item on the patio table. The sun would knock out any stain. Even baby pooper blow outs. Hydrogen peroxide is awesome as well. Soak soak soak Don't dryer dry until the stains are out. It sets the stains.

Despareux · Mar 9, 2011

All I know is that when I graduate, I'm GIVING away all my white scrubs, and if nobody will take them, then they're becoming window cleaning rags.

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2011

Ughhh, I know we have to wear all white!!!! I don't understand it I think it is just another form of cruelty lol

Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN · Mar 9, 2011

We get to wear blue pants now! The story goes that too many people were wearing colored thongs. Notice that I said "people" and not "women".

j/k we get to wear blue scrubs now but I have no idea why they changed their minds.

Jonathank · Mar 9, 2011

The white is so your clinical instructor can spot you from a distance. But I refuse to eat foods with tomato-based sauces while wearing a white shirt. We had to wear all whites for CNA clinical, but our ADN program did away with white pants in favor of green so that the female students wouldn't be giving a "thong show"...

Jonathank · Mar 9, 2011

We get to wear blue pants now! The story goes that too many people were wearing colored thongs. Notice that I said "people" and not "women".
j/k we get to wear blue scrubs now but I have no idea why they changed their minds.

I missed your post before mine. Similar stories. :jester:

CrazierThanYou · Mar 9, 2011

We wear blue pants and white tops. The tops are totally transparent so we all have to wear undershirts. I hate wearing layers but its either that or a peep show...

allnurses Guide · Mar 9, 2011

It might help to know that at least half of you won't show blood and guts stains because down through the mists of time we had to wear all white!! :eek:

But since our uniforms were a bit sturdier (read spongey polyester) and not cut to look like jammies it was OK. All white scrubs should be banned.

The best strategy is to have more than one pair but a couple ideas - you can soak them in an oxygen-based bleach like Clorox II - those don't require hot water. If your pants are about to die you can use a weak dilution of chlorine bleach on stubborn stains. That eats away at the fibers though so it can be considered heroic measures.

My scrubs last longer if I don't fry them in the dryer, take out damp or drip dry then iron. Yes I know that's nuts. :)

Bblessing2u · Mar 9, 2011

We wear all white at school and the NH I work at. I use cheap hairspray for all the ink stains. Let it sit for a bit before washing. I also use BIZ to soak with for stains non blood related, peroxide for blood. And to make them whiter I use bluing...you find it with the dyes in the laundry soap section. And.. horror of horrors, I wear granny panties because we will be asked to leave if we are caught with any other decent underwear on. :-)