6 Nursing Scrubs Stain Removal Tips and Tricks

Blood, urine, coffee, leaking pens. Your scrubs take a beating every shift. Here is how to get the six most common stains out before they set for good. One rule first: never dry a stained garment. Heat locks the stain into the fabric and makes it nearly impossible to remove.

1. Blood

Hydrogen peroxide is your best tool. Rub it on the stain until it lifts. It works on white scrubs and cotton too.

2. Coffee

Rub beer into the stain and run your normal wash cycle. If you spilled on the way in and have no beer on hand, rubbing alcohol pulls it out too.

3. Pen ink

Rubbing alcohol works well. Apply it and rub the stain out with a little pressure. Hairspray works as a backup.

4. Ointment

Oils and ointments come out with cornstarch. Let it soak up the grease for 15 to 20 minutes, brush the powder away, and launder in cold water. This handles Vaseline too. Dawn dish detergent also cuts oil-type stains.

5. Urine

Add a quarter cup of baking soda to your regular detergent, fill the fabric softener cup with vinegar, and wash normally.

6. Sweat

Mix one tablespoon of vinegar with half a cup of water, blot it onto the stains, and wash.

Keep a Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover Pen in your work bag for the stains you catch in the moment.