Patient Safety

How to Properly Wash and Disinfect Medical Scrubs

Washing Instructions

1. Choose the Right Water Temperature:

   • Cotton scrubs: Cold water
   • Cotton/polyester blends: Warm water
   • Avoid hot water, as it can set stains and damage fabrics.

2. Use Heavy-Duty Detergent:

   • Choose a detergent specifically designed for heavily soiled clothes, such as Persil or Tide.
   • White scrubs can be washed with chlorine bleach, while colored scrubs should be washed with a pine oil disinfectant or phenolic disinfectant.

3. Add White Vinegar:

   • Add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse water to soften fabrics and remove odors.

4. Dry on Low Heat:

   • Cotton scrubs: Dry on the lowest tumble-dry setting or line-dry to prevent shrinking and fading.
   • Cotton/polyester blends: Can be dried in a regular heat dryer or line-dried.

Disinfecting Instructions

1. Wear Gloves:

   • Wear disposable gloves while handling medical scrubs to prevent contamination.

2. Chlorine Bleach for White Cotton Scrubs:

   • Add chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) to the wash cycle.
   • Never pour bleach directly on clothing.

3. Pine Oil for Colored Scrubs:

   • Use a pine oil disinfectant that contains 80% pine oil.
   • Add the product at the beginning of the wash cycle.

4. Phenolic Disinfectant for Colored Scrubs:

   • Lysol brand disinfectant can be added to the wash or rinse water if the rinse water is warm.

Treating Stains

• Blood:

  • Soak in cold water and rub with heavy-duty detergent.

• Vomit, Urine, and Feces:

  • Remove solids and flush with cold water. Treat with heavy-duty detergent and baking soda.

• Ointments:

  • Remove solids and apply heavy-duty detergent. Flush with warm water.

• Liquid Medications:

  • Soak in a solution of oxygen-based bleach and cool water for at least one hour.

• Iodine:

  • Soak in warm water with an enzyme-based presoak or heavy-duty detergent for 20 minutes. Then, wash in warm water with oxygen-based bleach.

Recommended Practices

• Wash medical scrubs after every use.
• Turn scrubs inside out before washing to reduce pilling.
• Avoid getting lotion or perfume on scrubs, as they can discolor fabrics.
• Look for scrubs with a soil-release finish for easy care.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How to wash scrubs for the first time:

  • Wash new scrubs in cold water with white vinegar to set the color.

• Can I wash scrubs with regular clothes:

  • No, always wash dirty scrubs separately to prevent cross-contamination.

• How to stop scrubs from fading:

  • Prewash new scrubs with vinegar and turn them inside out before every wash to protect the finish.

• How often should medical scrubs be washed:

  • After every use.

Additional Tips

• Use oxygen-based bleach that has disinfectant qualities.
• Clean and disinfect your washer and dryer regularly.
• Store scrubs in a sterile environment, such as a plastic garment bag or designated drawer.
• Change into and out of scrubs at work to avoid cross-contamination.