How to Wash Scrubs and Lab Coats Like a Pro
It may seem like a mundane task, but washing your scrubs is actually an important part of reducing the spread of germs at work. Since scrubs see far more wear and tear than everyday clothes, and are worn in environments where germs are common, they need a bit of special care.
For the most polished, professional look, a little extra attention keeps your lab coats crisp and your scrubs true to color. Taking good care of your scrubs also helps them last longer, no matter how much stress and sweat they go through.
Washing your scrubs doesn't have to be a chore. Once a few small habits become routine, it'll feel as automatic as washing your everyday clothes.
What to Know Before Washing Scrubs
Clean, well-maintained scrubs matter for every healthcare professional. Before getting into the how-to, here are a few things to avoid. As with most rules, there are exceptions for particularly tough stains.
Don't wash your scrubs with the rest of your laundry. Clean scrubs won't contaminate your other clothes, but it's still best practice to store and wash dirty scrubs separately from your everyday clothing.
Don't add extra disinfectant in most cases. Standard detergent and a normal wash cycle are typically enough unless someone in your household is immunocompromised. Keep in mind that oxygen-based products like OxiClean, Clorox 2, or OxiBrite aren't registered disinfectants and won't add antimicrobial benefit on their own. If you do need a true disinfectant, a pine oil or phenolic disinfectant used with warm water is a better choice.
Don't use bleach on your whole lab coat. A bleach pen can help with a stubborn spot, but bleaching the entire coat can yellow the buttons and fade any custom logos or embroidery, and it's rarely necessary. Pretreating stains from bodily fluids or blood the right way makes a much bigger difference than reaching for bleach.
Avoiding these common mistakes goes a long way toward keeping your scrubs vibrant, clean, and long-lasting.
How to Wash Scrubs and Lab Coats
Now that you know what to avoid, here are some tried-and-true best practices for keeping your scrubs and lab coats in great shape.
Start with high-quality scrubs. Good fabric holds its color, fit, and shape better from the start, which makes ongoing care easier.
Use half a cup of vinegar on the first wash. Adding distilled white vinegar to the rinse water on a brand-new garment's first wash can help set the color before regular wear and washing begin.
Wash your scrubs promptly after your shift, or store them separately from the rest of your laundry in the meantime. This helps limit the spread of microbes or fluids picked up during your shift.
Treat tough stains before the regular wash cycle. You'll have much better luck pretreating certain stains rather than relying on a standard wash alone. See our stain guide below for specifics.
Wear gloves when handling dirty scrubs. Disposable gloves help reduce the risk of transferring anything picked up during your shift.
Turn scrubs inside out before washing. This helps prevent abrasion and pilling, which matters even more for scrubs with custom embroidery.
Check for stains before drying. Heat can permanently set a stain into the fabric, so it's worth a quick inspection before scrubs go in the dryer.
Choose your dryer heat based on your priority. According to CDC guidance for healthcare laundry, hot water around 160°F for at least 25 minutes during the wash cycle is the benchmark for meaningfully reducing pathogens, more than dryer heat alone can achieve, since most home dryers don't reach hospital-grade temperatures. A full high-heat dryer cycle afterward can offer some additional benefit, but heat also contributes to shrinkage and fabric wear over time. If a shift involved significant exposure to fluids or contaminants, prioritizing a proper hot wash matters more than maxing out your dryer heat. For routine day-to-day laundry, a moderate heat setting helps protect the life of your scrubs.
What About Tough Stains on Medical Uniforms?
Unlike everyday clothes, scrubs are likely to come into contact with all sorts of stains on the job. Here's a quick guide to spot-cleaning common ones. Always start by scraping off any solid residue with a tongue depressor, spoon, or dull knife rather than a cloth, since a cloth can press the stain further into the fabric.
Ointment: Oil-based stains respond best to warm or hot water. Apply a heavy-duty detergent, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then wash in hot water.
Blood: Soak first in cold water, then rinse under a steady stream of cold water to flush out particles. Avoid hot water, which can set the stain. Rub in a heavy-duty detergent, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then wash as usual.
Liquid Medication: Many medications contain dye. Soak in cold water with an oxygen-based bleach for one to eight hours, then wash normally.
Vomit, Urine, and Feces: These protein-based stains respond best to cold water. Flush with cold water and a heavy-duty detergent, then add half a cup of baking soda to the wash.
Iodine: Soak in warm water with a heavy-duty detergent for about 20 minutes, then wash as normal.
Special Considerations for Different Scrub Materials
Handling Delicate vs. Durable Fabrics
Delicate fabrics need gentler care than more durable blends. Skip fabric softener on microfiber or moisture-wicking scrubs, since it can interfere with how those fabrics perform.
Choosing the Right Laundry Detergent
Look for a detergent that's color-safe and gentle on delicate fabrics. Color-safe bleach can help treat tougher stains without damaging fabric integrity, but it's a different product from regular chlorine bleach, and full-strength bleach should still be avoided on lab coats specifically, as noted above.
Machine Washing vs. Hand Washing
Knowing when to use warm versus cold water matters for protecting your scrubs. Hand washing delicate items like scrub caps can help extend their lifespan, while machine washing works well for everyday scrub pants and tops.
Drying and Ironing Scrubs
A moderate heat setting helps prevent shrinkage during routine drying, while a full high-heat cycle can offer extra benefit after a particularly demanding or contaminated shift. If you iron your scrubs, do so cautiously to avoid heat damage and keep your uniform looking sharp.
Storage Tips to Keep Scrubs in Optimal Condition
Store clean scrubs in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight to help prevent fading and fabric breakdown over time. Proper folding or hanging also helps prevent wrinkles and keeps your scrubs ready to wear.
Maintaining Your Medical Professional Attire
Avoiding a few common mistakes goes a long way toward extending the life of your scrubs and lab coats. Treating tough stains the right way, and being thoughtful about heat and detergent choices, will help keep your uniform looking crisp and professional, shift after shift. For more on fabric care, see our ultimate scrub fabric guide.