Employed in the medical field? Chances are you wear scrubs on a daily basis, and know exactly how dirty they get. The need for regular washing of your scrubs cannot be stressed enough, but for those who work in a hospital or medical setting cleaning scrubs daily is highly advised.The problem, however, is that scrubs pill and fade and, since your scrubs are your daily uniform, your patients look to you to be professionally dressed. It’s likely you don’t own enough scrubs to be able to change them on a daily basis, however, and because of the nature of your job your scrubs see more wear and tear than the rest of your wardrobe. We offer you these tips to keep your scrubs looking fresh for the long haul.
- Purchase scrubs that are made of high quality materials because they will stand up to washing and drying and daily wear. Additionally, high quality material will be less likely to wrinkle, stain or wear out as quick.
- Your scrubs should be washed in cold water and should be washed separately from your other items of clothing.
- Sort out scrubs by color, washing lights and darks separately to keep the colors from bleeding.
- If you have bright colored-scrubs you will want to put in a tablespoon of white vinegar once the machine is full of water and before you add your detergent. The vinegar disinfects and prevents the colors of the fabric from running.
- Run the washing machine on the delicate cycle to help prolong the life of your scrubs and make sure you always use a mild liquid detergent.
- Add your scrubs after the water is in and the detergent has been mixed up a bit.
- If your scrubs are white you can add bleach to the cycle to freshen them up.
- Don’t add fabric softener to the washing machine, but feel free to use dryer sheets to address potential static issues.
- If possible you should line, or flat dry, your uniforms.
A little extra care will keep your scrubs fresh-looking for the long haul.
