Working in the medical profession, your scrubs might get quite dirty on a regular basis. The good news is they’re meant to clean up easily. Whether you are dealing with blood spatter from a patient, ink from a leaky pen, deodorant from getting dressed too quickly or a variety of other stains, knowing how to remove stains from scrubs could be one of the best skills you learn outside of medical school.
How to Get Deodorant Stains Out of Scrubs
Doctors and nurses often have to get changed quickly. Though you want to remain sanitary, you have to quickly change your scrubs before moving on to the next patient. When throwing on your new set of scrubs, you might get deodorant on the hem as you pull the shirt down. Anyone who has ever done this before already knows the deodorant tends to stick around all day. If you know how to get deodorant stains out of scrubs, this doesn’t have to be an issue.
The greatest hack to get deodorant out of your scrubs is by rubbing at it with a clean rag. The deodorant is absorbed through the friction, and the stain will disappear. This is an easy and quick fix when you’re headed into surgery or another appointment. You can also use a dryer sheet to rub on the deodorant and it will help to lift off the deodorant marks.
If you have washed your scrubs and are now dealing with old antiperspirant or deodorant stains on scrubs, you have a few options:
- Option 1: Create a paste of baking soda and water with a 3:1 ratio. If you’re working on white scrubs, add some hydrogen peroxide. Using a toothbrush, scrub the deodorant stain with your baking soda solution and let it sit for a while before washing it as normal.
- Option 2: Soak your scrubs in one cup of hot water and two tablespoons of white vinegar before washing.
- Option 3: Soak your scrubs in an equal amount of lemon juice and water. Scrub it into the stain with a toothbrush and let it sit until washing with detergent.
How to Get Ink Out of Scrubs
If you get an ink stain and know how to get ink out of scrubs, you’ll run to the locker room and grab some hairspray. Hairspray contains a certain amount of alcohol and will help you eliminate the ink from your scrubs. You could also use rubbing alcohol, which should be in plenty of supply if you work in a medical office. Simply apply the hairspray or the rubbing alcohol to the ink stain and blot it out. Be sure you don’t let the stain dry, as drying and heat will set the stain.
If you’re at work and have access to it, Amodex is a good product that should help you get the ink out of your scrubs. As a stain remover, Amodex, also works on blood, coffee, grease and other stains you might encounter in a medical setting.
How to Get Blood Stains Out of Scrubs
You’re in the medical profession, so it’s only a matter of time before you get blood on your scrubs. What should you do when that happens? The longer you let the stain sit, the more likely it is going to remain there forever. Here are a few tricks you can try to get blood out of your scrubs:
- If your scrubs are white or another very light color, you could get away with using hydrogen peroxide. Scrub the peroxide into the blood stain, allowing it to soak in and bubble. When you’re able, put the scrubs through the wash. You might be able to use hydrogen peroxide on other colored scrubs, but you should test it in an inconspicuous spot firs
- Bath soap is another quick and easy way to get blood out of scrubs. If you don’t have another option, run to the bathroom and rinse the blood stain in cold water. Rub it with bath soap until the blood runs out of the fabric and rinse it until the stain is gone. Scrubs dry quickly, so you should be able to get back to work in no time.
- Soak your blood-stained scrubs in vinegar. You might notice the blood start to come off in the vinegar. Once it begins to come off, you can throw your scrubs into the washing machine as usual. For added sanitary measures, pour some vinegar directly into the machine as it washes.
How to Get Grease Out of Scrubs
Throughout the day it seems like grease finds a way to your scrubs no matter how careful you are. Whether you are working with oil-based medications, a deep-fried lunch or a piece of medical equipment that has oil, grease, or lubricants there is a strong chance you will end up with a grease stain on your scrubs at some point. If you know how to get grease out of scrubs, you can avoid having to throw them out due to an oil or grease stain. Some options include:
- Shout Advanced Formula for Greasy Stains – Simply spray the solution directly onto the grease stain from about 6 inches back. Let it saturate the greasy area, wait about five minutes, then wash the scrubs as you regularly would.
- Dawn Dish Soap – It’s said that Dawn dish soap is one of the best products to remove grease. Rub it directly into the grease stain and let it sit before washing your scrubs in hot water.
- Baby or Talcum Powder – These powders absorb grease. If the grease stain is fresh, baby or talcum powder will be most effective, but you can use them on old grease stains as long as you haven’t laundered the scrubs yet. If you’ve already laundered and dried the scrubs, the stain could be set and permanent.
Keeping Your Scrubs Clean and Fresh at All Times
It’s important your scrubs are always clean and fresh. Your employer probably requires it and your patients probably expect it. When you are in clean scrubs, you show you’re a professional and you add to the sanitary environment required of medical settings. The next time you’re in a jam and get a stain on your scrubs, take a few moments to clean it up so you can always remain clean and professional.
If you are unable to get the stain out due to not properly treating or waiting too long, check out women’s scrubs and men’s scrubs from Body Intelligence to replace the stained set. Our scrubs are created to help keep you looking tidy all day with their athletic fit and premium materials that hold their shape for your entire shift!
Have tried and true tips for getting stains out of your scrubs? Let us know by commenting on your favorite stain removal hacks!
