Dos And Don'ts Of Caring For Medical Scrubs

From dental hygienists and nurses to surgeons and medical receptionists, a wide variety of medical professionals wear medical scrubs to work. In addition to being a sanitary option, medical scrubs are comfortable, functional, and provide a healthcare worker with a way to stand out, which is helpful for patients. Here are a few simple dos and don'ts to help you properly clean and care for your medical scrubs.

Do Follow the Label's Directions

Each manufacturer will have specific instructions on how to wash their product. Check the label before you pretreat, launder, and store your scrubs. For example, some manufacturers will recommend ironing the scrubs, while another might tell you not to iron the scrubs. If you are not sure, test a small portion of the fabric with your pretreatment and detergent to ensure there is no damage.

Do Pre-Treat Any Stains

There is no getting around the fact that your scrubs will get stained. Pretreating these stains before tossing the scrubs in the wash will help prevent the stains from setting in, extending the life of your scrubs. You can use an all-purpose laundry pretreatment product, or you can pretreat the stains with a DIY solution.

For example, white vinegar, ammonia, cornstarch, and saltwater are all great treatments for blood stains. A mixture of laundry detergent and ammonia is a simple way to remove vomit stains from your scrubs, as well.

Don't Wash Your Scrubs with Your Other Laundry

It is not uncommon for scrubs to be covered with bodily fluids and several other stains that should not be transferred to your everyday clothing. Also, your medical scrubs require more thorough cleaning than your regular clothes. This is why it is essential that you always launder your scrubs separately.

Don't Forget to Wash Your Scrubs Twice

Finally, many manufacturers will recommend laundering your scrubs twice to ensure that the scrubs are thoroughly cleaned and all the stains are removed. First, pretreat any stains on the scrubs according to the pretreatment's directions. Next, turn the scrubs inside out and launder the scrubs in cold water.

The cold water will help eliminate any tough stains. Put your scrubs back into the washing machine and turn the dial to the hottest setting. This will help further remove any stains and deep clean the scrubs.

Finally, turn the dryer onto the highest heat setting and dry your scrubs thoroughly. You can either fold your scrubs or hang the scrubs up in your closet.

Caring for your medical scrubs will help remove any tough stains and extend the garment's life. For more information, contact a local company, like Uniforms PRN.