Just when you think your work is done, you have soiled scrub suits to deal with after your shift. And it’s a job you can’t put off since keeping your uniform in mint condition is important in working as a nurse. You can’t just go through your shift with stains on your scrub suit.
If you’re up for new scrubs, consider investing in scrubs with anti-splash technology, like Scrubs Tailored. They can actually repel fluids so your uniform is less likely to end up with stains even after a busy shift. See it in action in this video.
Otherwise, here’s a handy stain removal guide for nurses you can use.
Blood stains
For fresh bloodstains, soak your uniform in cold water and rub the stained part before you wash it. Be sure to use cold water only as using hot water can cook the protein in the blood, making it harder to remove.
If you can still see the stain after that, take a quart of warm water and add in a teaspoon of ammonia and a half teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent. You can use liquid laundry detergent as an alternative. Get your uniform and soak it in the mixture for about 15 minutes.
Then, brush down the area with light strokes. Blot the stain once in a while with an absorbent pad until the stain is completely removed. Rinse your uniform and launder it as usual.
In case the blood has already dried, soak your uniform in vinegar first. Wait until the stain disappears completely before rinsing it off.
Sweat stains
Moving constantly can cause you to sweat while wearing your scrub suits and that won’t make your uniform look good. You see, sweat stains, particularly in the collar area and armpits, can turn yellow.
To solve that, simply take a cup of vinegar and mix it with a half cup of baking soda, a tablespoon of salt, and the same amount of hydrogen peroxide.
Start off by washing your uniform with vinegar and water. Then, put in on a surface covered with cloth. Take the baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and salt and mix them together until you get a paste-like consistency.
Vomit stains
Vomit is usually made of solid and acidic contents. With that, you need to scrape the solid parts off of the surface of your scrubs first. After that, you can soak your uniform in warm water to loosen the stain.
Once you are done soaking, prepare a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. With either a toothbrush or your fingers, use the paste to scrub the stains off.
To eliminate the smell, you can mix your regular detergent with a laundry booster.
Gum stains
If you happen to get gum stuck to your clothes, don’t pull it off right away. Doing that will only tear the fabric. Instead, use hot vinegar to loosen the gum and remove its stain.
Now, before you do that, it’s important for you to test for colorfastness first. For that, you need to apply hot vinegar to an inconspicuous part of your uniform using a Q-tip. Wait for about 1 to 3 minutes before applying a piece of paper towel to the affected area.
If no color comes off, you can soak your uniform in hot vinegar for about 1 to 3 minutes. Gently lift off the loose gum from your scrubs. Repeat the steps until you are able to completely remove the stain. Then, proceed with your usual routine in washing your scrubs.
Urine stains
Getting urine stains on your uniform is pretty common if you work in the pediatric ward. While you can easily remove such stains with hydrogen peroxide, you need to be extra careful as it often causes discolorations.
If you worry about creating a bigger problem, you can use a mixture of vinegar, detergent, and baking soda as an alternative.
Tea stains
Tea stains aren’t that difficult to remove compared with the other kinds of stains on this list. Simply soaking your scrubs in warm water with detergent for a few minutes should be enough to remove them.
Chocolate stain
Get your dishwashing liquid and apply a few drops of it to the stain. Then, take an absorbent cloth and use it to blot the area. Put it under running water to flush out the remaining stain and wash as usual.
Coffee stain
Coffee stains are the most common type of stains for nurses. After all, most nurses rely on a good cup of coffee to keep them awake and alert.
If you happen to spill coffee on your uniform, the first thing you need to do is blot the affected area with a paper towel. This is to prevent the beverage from staining your uniform further. After blotting, you can run your scrubs under cold water. Apart from paper towels, baby wipes work, too.
Soda stains
For this type of stain, you’ll need to pour shampoo onto the stained area. If that’s not possible, you can mix white vinegar with warm water and dishwashing detergent.
Milk stain
Don’t let the milk dry up on your uniform before you treat it. As soon as you spill milk on your scrubs, sponge the area with a dishwashing liquid. Rinse it off with cool water after.
Another alternative is to mix one part of alcohol with two parts of water. Use an old toothbrush to work the mixture into the stain. Rinse after.
Takeaway
Keeping your uniform fresh and clean all the time can be challenging, particularly when you’re working as a nurse. As you’re always exposed to bodily fluids, coffee, chocolates, and medications, you should expect to get some stains here and there on a daily basis. If you have the budget, invest in scrubs with material that has some repellent qualities.
