Scrubs Survival!

Scrubs that are Polyester/Cotton Blend are designed for warm temperatures.
Many Polyester scrubs require cold water.

What are the best ways to make my scrubs last?

1. Scrubs made with cotton mix; it is recommended 30-40 degree wash. Many Polyester Scrubs you wash in cold water. But the problem is that these washes do not kill all the bacteria.


2. Make sure you read the wash instructions before you wash your scrubs.


3. Keep your scrubs separate to your dirty laundry.


4. Wash with like colours.


5. Use white vinegar, add 1 cup of it to the rinse cycle to help kill bacteria. It will also help to deodorize laundry (which is a good sign that odour-causing bacteria has been killed). It is also an effective fabric softener and helps to keep colours bright. [1] Vinegar, be it white or malt or rosemary-infused, is about 5 per cent acetic acid. The acid kills bacteria and viruses, by chemically changing the proteins and fats that make up these nasties and destroying their cell structures. [2]


6. An alternative to white vinegar is Pine-O-Clean. For a Front Loader Washing Machine add 2 capfuls to the fabric softener drawer. For a top loader add 4 capfuls to the drum of the washing machine during the rinses cycle. [3]


7. Turn your scrubs inside out and hang in the shade. Don’t leave your scrubs in the sunlight for excessive periods. Dry colours in the shade. As soon as they are dry bring them in.


8. Try not to use dryers too often. The heat of the dryers can cause dark scrubs to fade.


9. Treat stains before washing and disinfect your scrubs pre wash. You might want to wash your scrubs in cold water to initially remove stains, before washing them a second time in warm water with disinfectant. Warmer water is likely to set the stains.

If you have elitecare scrubs, they are all a Polyester/Cotton mix. We recommend a warm wash with Pine-O-Cleen or white Vinegar to kill bacteria. This ensures your scrubs will last a long time.   

Koi scrubs are mostly polyester and we recommend a cold wash with Pine-O-Cleen or white Vinegar. For the Cotton/Polyester blend wash the same as elitecare.

Currently many scrubs in the marketplace are not designed for 60% temperatures. Even though you can wash these scrubs in this temperature, they will fade quicker and not last as long as they were designed to. So how do you choose the right scrub, and what can you do to ensure you keep your scrubs looking good and lasting the distance?