How to Keep Your Scrubs in the Best Shape

Scrubs are comfortable, practical clothes that let you do your job while maintaining a professional appearance. You’ll probably wear them on a daily basis if you plan on becoming a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional. Once you’ve gotten past Googling “scrub stores near me,” the next thing you’ll have to do is learn how to take care of them properly.

Only Wear Them at Work

One of the most important things you can do is to only wear your scrubs when you’re at work. Wear another set of clothes to and from your job, and only wear your scrubs while you’re actually working. Not only does this prevent wear and tear, it also keeps contaminants from entering or leaving your job with you.

Don’t Spray Them with Perfume

While you may want to look and smell your best at work, don’t spray perfume or cologne directly onto your scrubs. They can cause stains and make your scrubs less clean. It’s best not to overdo your perfume anyway, since it may cause sensitivity in some of your patients.

How to Wash Your Scrubs

Properly cleaning your scrubs is the best way to kill harmful bacteria and other pathogens and prevent the spread of disease. Your job may have specific guidelines for how to clean used scrubs. If they don’t, follow these guidelines:

·         Wash your scrubs separately from all other clothes.

·         Treat any stains with a color-safe stain remover.

·         Wash your scrubs once with your washing machine set to a large load with cold water. Use your regular detergent. Even if you aren’t washing many scrubs, a larger load size gives them more room to move around and get clean.

·         Once any stains are removed, wash your scrubs again, this time with hot water and color-safe bleach. The heat and bleach are both effective at killing most pathogens.

·         Dry your scrubs on your dryer’s highest setting for at least 30 minutes to kill more bacteria.

Iron Your Scrubs

Once your scrubs are clean and dry, it’s important to iron them. Not only does this once again kill bacteria with heat, it’s the best way to keep your scrubs looking as professional as possible. If all of this cleaning sounds complicated, ask for help from your coworkers or search online: “How do I find scrub stores near me?” The staff will be able to tell you how to take the best care of your scrubs.