# How to Wash Scrubs (and Keep Whites White)

*2026-08-28 · by qwebmaster · https://affordablescrubs.com/how-to-wash-and-whiten-scrubs/*

**The short answer:** wash scrubs separately from home laundry, cold to warm, inside out, with regular detergent. Whiten whites with an oxygen-based whitener, not chlorine bleach, which yellows polyester blends over time.

## The routine that makes scrubs last

1. **Pre-treat stains the same shift.** Cold water and a dab of detergent on the spot before it sets.
2. **Wash inside out, cold to warm.** Hot water fades colour and sets protein stains.
3. **Skip fabric softener.** It coats fibres and traps odour. White vinegar in the rinse does the softening without the film.
4. **Tumble low or hang.** High heat is what shrinks a poly-cotton set and cracks screen prints.

## Whitening white scrubs

Chlorine bleach reacts with the polyester in most scrub fabric and turns it yellow-grey with repeated use. Use an oxygen whitener (sodium percarbonate) instead: dissolve in warm water, soak up to a few hours, wash as normal. For heavy discolouration, repeat the soak rather than doubling the dose.

## Colour-fastness in bulk orders

Our sets are 65/35 or stretch poly-blends chosen to survive industrial washing, which is why clinics reorder the same colour SKUs for years. If your team is hard on uniforms, that fabric spec matters more than any care trick. See the [wholesale program](/private-label/), or start with a [stocked set from $13.20](/product-category/scrub-sets/).