Scrub Care
How to Wash Scrubs So They Last, Keep Their Color, and Stay Hygienic
A complete guide to washing scrubs: water temperature, detergent, removing blood and iodine stains, drying, and ironing so your scrubs last.
By LiniScrb TeamPublished 2 min read
Scrubs are worn 8–12 hours a day, exposed to sweat, bodily fluids, and disinfectants — then washed almost daily. How you wash them decides whether they still look sharp after two years or are faded and stretched within three months. Here's the complete guide we put together from repeated wash testing on LiniScrb fabrics.
Before washing: separate and check
- Keep scrubs apart from household laundry. It's the simplest way to reduce cross-contamination from the hospital to your home.
- Separate darks from lights. Navy, black, and maroon scrubs can release a little dye in the first few washes.
- Empty every pocket. A pen left in a pocket is the number-one cause of ink stains.
- Turn them inside out. The outer face of the fabric won't rub against the drum, so colors last longer and the fabric doesn't pill.
The right water temperature and detergent
For polyester-rayon-spandex blends like our Essential and Flex collections, use cold to warm water, max 40°C. Hot water may feel "cleaner", but it fades colors faster and damages the spandex fibers that keep scrubs stretchy.
Use a regular liquid detergent at the recommended dose. Too much detergent leaves residue that makes fabric stiff and itchy. Go easy on fabric softener: it coats the fibers and reduces their ability to wick away sweat.
Removing the most common stains
Blood
Rinse right away with cold water from the back of the fabric. Apply bar soap or an enzyme detergent, leave it for 15–30 minutes, then wash as usual. Never use hot water on blood — the proteins "cook" and set permanently.
Iodine (povidone-iodine)
Rinse with cold water, then soak in water with a little vinegar or dissolved vitamin C. The brown color usually fades within minutes. Then wash as usual.
Ink
Dab (don't rub) the stain with cotton soaked in 70% alcohol — which you'll definitely have at work. Put a tissue under the fabric so the ink is absorbed instead of spreading.
Bleach: when it's OK and when it isn't
Never use chlorine bleach on colored scrubs. It causes blotchy fading and weakens fibers. For white lab coats, use a non-chlorine (oxygen-based) bleach to keep them white without yellowing.
Drying
Dry in a shady, breezy spot. Harsh direct sunlight is the main reason scrubs fade quickly in tropical climates. Poly-rayon-spandex dries fast, so direct sun isn't necessary.
If you use a dryer, choose low heat and remove scrubs while still slightly damp to reduce wrinkles.
Ironing
Most LiniScrb scrubs are designed to be wrinkle-resistant, so a shake and a hanger is often enough. If you do iron, use low–medium heat and iron from the inside. High heat can make the fabric shiny and melt seams.
How long do scrubs last?
With the care above, good-quality scrubs last 1–2 years of regular use. Owning 3–5 sets to rotate means each set is washed less often — and lasts longer. That's why many healthcare workers buy scrub sets in several colors at once.
FAQ
What water temperature is safe for washing scrubs?
For polyester-rayon-spandex scrubs, use cold to warm water up to 40°C. Hotter water fades colors faster and damages spandex fibers.
Can I bleach my scrubs?
Don't use chlorine bleach on colored scrubs — it causes blotchy fading. For white lab coats, use a non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach.
Should scrubs be washed separately?
Yes. Wash scrubs separately from household laundry to reduce cross-contamination, and separate dark scrubs from light ones.
How do I remove blood stains from scrubs?
Rinse right away with cold water from the back of the fabric, then apply an enzyme detergent and let it sit 15–30 minutes before washing. Never use hot water — it sets protein stains permanently.