How to Clean Scrubs

Doctors and nurses must always thoroughly clean their scrubs in order to prevent the spread of infection to patients, as infections and microorganisms can live on unclean scrubs for a month or more. The risk of hospital workers wearing unclean uniforms is more prevalent among nursing students as they often cannot afford to buy more than one set of scrubs. Doctors and nurses also often wear their scrubs to work or out on lunch breaks, resulting in the possibility of picking up more germs. Utilize heat when cleaning scrubs to reduce the spread of infection.

Things You'll Need

• Wash bin or washing machine access
• Laundry detergent
• Dryer access
• Iron
• White vinegar

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Instructions

• 1

  Rinse your scrubs in cold water to remove any solid debris such as caked-on dirt, blood or other material. This prevents such debris from circulating throughout the entire wash cycle.

• 2

  Wash scrubs in hot or warm water in a washing machine or wash bin with laundry detergent. Wash them for at least 10 minutes in water 130 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter. The hot water removes the stains and kills bacteria, such as staph infection bacteria.

• 3

  Tumble dry scrubs for at least 30 minutes to lower the amount of viable bacteria clinging to the uniform and to kill any microorganisms.

• 4

  Iron your scrubs. Like hot water and dryer heat, the heat from the iron helps lower the amount of pathogens present on your scrubs.

• 5

  Use a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of white vinegar when washing your scrubs if scrubs have developed an odor. Vinegar helps eliminate odor without damaging the fabric of the scrubs.