Learning to Wash Clothes

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So I just got done with orientations a few days ago and saw the awful dove-apparel uniforms I have to wear. They cost more than anything in my wardrobe, breathe like a chain smoker, and feel like 3rd-world burlap.

Ok, enough ranting and onto my question.

My apt doesnt have a laundry room and I dont know if the manager is going to install one anytime soon, so I will likely have to wash my uniform by hand. Does anyone have advice on handwashing blood, vomit, ****, and any other strange chemicals that might get on me?

If I do decide to launder them, should I wash them separately or can I toss it in with my other whites?

How did you deal with washing your uniforms?

Should I post this in general discussions instead since there are more girls there? :D j/p

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm a girl and I regularly do a lot of laundry, so I guess you came to the right place :D.

I wouldn't wash my uniform by hand because there is a lot of icks that get on it, but if I did, I'd definitely wear thick gloves (the kind you can wear to wash dishes in) and iron them with a hot iron to hopefully get rid of some the bugs.

I always wash my scrubs separately, there's some things you don't want on your clothes--esp. whites...:eek:. If you need to go to a laundromat, it might be worth the money to get a couple of uniforms so you're not having to do a wash each time you wear them.

If your uniforms are white, definitely use chlorine bleach.

Hope this helps :).

BTW, your uniforms sound lovely...:rolleyes:.

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Thanks. Do I use bleach even if with a washing machine?

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Yes, bleach should be used with a washing machine. If you watch the washing machine info window, you should see when to add bleach and/or softener or else the instructions written inside the lid will tell you when to add.

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Thanks.

Even if I have more pairs of uniform tho (program recommends 2), shouldnt I wash one asap if it gets really dirty?

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Yeah. Especially if it is something out of the ordinary. Stains can set if you don't wash them right away. It depends on the type of fabric, 100% cotton; 65% polyester, 35% cotton; etc. as to how easy it will be to get rid of stains or odors. You might want to get a bottle of Resolve to spray on spills. Helps to get stuff out.

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Specializes in DOU.

You should read the washing instructions on the label - I had Dove scrubs, and my white tops were not supposed to be bleached because it would cause yellowing.

Also, I've got to say - the Dove pants aren't the prettiest, but they have lasted longer than anything else I've owned, and they are the only scrubs I've found that weren't too short for my legs, nor too low cut in the back. (I had the cargo style.) I am a little long-waisted, and I've had problems with my pants ever since nursing school was done.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Get some Spray 'n Wash or something similar, if you get something on your clothes, apply that stuff as soon as you can to prevent the stain from "setting" before you wash it.

If I were you, I'd find a Laundro-mat, and go there ~ once a week. I don't know how many clinicals/wk you'll have, but try to have a week's worth of clothes on hand. Laundromats are great to study in/at. You can do all your loads @ one time, separating them into different loads.

If you get blood on something, find a bottle of H2O2, put a fat wad of paper towels under the spot and pour the hydrogen peroxide on top. It'll bubble up, blot w/more paper towels, pour some more, etc. Dry as best as possible. If it's a colored item, test the H2O2 on the inside of a hem to make sure it can take it. Rinse it w/water when you came home.

Might try googling "laundry"--there's probably some website that will tell you everything you need to know, and a whole lot more!!

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Thanks for all the help.

Curious, if you did get into a nasty mess and need to change to your spare uniform, do you just bag the one you are wearing and wait till you get home to wash it?

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Specializes in ICU.

ZOUT fabric pretreat seems to work better than SHOUT for me. This is especially the case with oily/greasy stains (food, for example), on polyester or cotton/poly fabrics. ZOUT is good stuff!

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

personally, i learned NOT to bleach the dove uniforms, turns em yellow. I got some oxiclean, and when I went to the laundrymat learned to just toss that in when the water started running. worked GREAT! I would shout the stains, wash them in hot water, and dry completely....downy wrinkle reducer worked well also...feel free to ask your classmates for help.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Get some Spray 'n Wash or something similar, if you get something on your clothes, apply that stuff as soon as you can to prevent the stain from "setting" before you wash it.

If you get blood on something, find a bottle of H2O2, put a fat wad of paper towels under the spot and pour the hydrogen peroxide on top. It'll bubble up, blot w/more paper towels, pour some more, etc. Dry as best as possible. If it's a colored item, test the H2O2 on the inside of a hem to make sure it can take it. Rinse it w/water when you came home.

Agree with these. And when you get a bottle of peroxide for blood, also get hair spray for ink stains.

Hair spray used on small ink stains before they get washed and dried in the machine, often will take them out.

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