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Discussion

Scrubs Question

I am entering nursing school in a few months and have a question for you that are already nurses. I was wondering if you have to wash your scrubs at home or if the hospital you work in provides a laundry service for employees. I was getting worried about washing scrubs at home considering that they might have patients' infectious fluids on them - I was afraid that washing them at home could spread the infection to my family. Any help on this topic would be appreciated. Sorry if it's a silly question, but I'm new to the healthcare field! Thanks!

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I would guess that hospital policies vary widely on this. The hospital I'm at issues scrubs to certain areas (LD, OR, & PACU), and they are washed by the hospital. Everyone else wears and washes their own. I just always wash my uniforms separate from any other clothing in HOT water. The heat from the dryer should also help to kill any bacteria. If I feel like I've been in contact with more gross stuff than usual, after I wash my uniforms, I'll run the washer through a cycle with bleach water before I wash another load in it. Maybe that's a bit much, but it can't hurt!

Also, soap effectively kills bacteria and viruses. Laundry detergent! To be really careful, you could keep your scrubs separated from the rest of your laundry, and just wash your hands after touching them.

on the subject of scrubs. Do not forget that the purchase and maintenance (laundering) of uniforms (scrubs) is a legitimate tax deduction if you happen to itemize. I use 50 cents per set of scrubs for laundering deduction.

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Haji

We live in an age that if you order a pizza delivered to your house and call 911 at the same time to report a life or death situation....my money is on the pizza arriving first! Learn to protect yourself, become a wolf among the sheep!

I am a traveling nurse and all the hospitals I have been to all provide scurbs for the OR personel and provide laundry also.The hospital I am currently at has issued me scrubs and I am responsible for laudring my own.I looked at the AORN website and it is not remcommended as safe practice in the OR for home laundry.I also wash my scrubs seperate from my other clothes in hot water and an hour in the dryer.I dont really know if that is enough. I think your question was great and hopefully someone out there has recommended standards for washing scrubs. If I get "nasty"stuff on my scrubs I put them in the laundry at the hospital and just get a new pair..I think the hospitals think it saves money but in the long run I think it is just poor judgment on there part.My opinion.

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