Removing blood stains from scrubs

Blood on scrubs is part of hospital life. A drip line that leaks, a dressing change, a cannula that bleeds more than expected. The stain itself is rarely a disaster, but the wrong first move, usually hot water, can set it into the fabric for good.

Here is a simple, home-friendly way to deal with blood stains on coloured poly-cotton scrubs. Before anything else: if the soiling is heavy or your area has specific rules for contaminated uniforms, follow your hospital’s infection-control policy. Some hospitals want such uniforms sent to their own laundry. Wear gloves when handling heavily soiled clothing.

The golden rule: cold water first

Blood contains protein. Heat makes protein bind to fibres, a bit like cooking an egg. So:

• Always start with cold water.
• Do not put a blood-stained scrub in a warm wash before treating the stain.
• Do not iron or tumble dry until the stain is fully gone.

Fresh stains

The faster you act, the easier it is.

1. Rinse from the back. Turn the fabric inside out and run cold water through the back of the stain. This pushes the blood out the way it came in rather than through the fibres.
2. Rub gently with soap. A little bar soap or liquid detergent worked in with your fingers is usually enough.
3. Rinse again in cold water and check.
4. Repeat until the mark fades, then wash normally.

At work, if you can, at least rinse the area with cold water during a break. Do not rub hard with a dry tissue; it spreads the stain.

Dried stains

Dried blood needs a soak.

1. Soak in cold water with a spoon of liquid detergent for half an hour or more. Overnight is fine for stubborn marks.
2. Work the stain gently between your fingers or with a soft old toothbrush.
3. Rinse in cold water and check before washing.

Some people find these household helpers useful on dried blood:

• Salt paste: a little salt mixed with cold water, rubbed in, then rinsed.
• Enzyme detergent: many washing powders contain enzymes that break down protein. Check the pack.
• Hydrogen peroxide: works well on light colours, but it can lighten dyes. Test on an inside seam first, and avoid it on navy, wine and teal unless you are happy to risk a pale patch.

What not to do

• No bleach on coloured scrubs. It will leave pale spots. Our care label says not to bleach coloured scrubs.
• No hot water until the stain has gone.
• No hard scrubbing with a stiff brush; it roughens the fabric surface.
• No drying a stained garment in a dryer or in hot sun.

After the stain is out

Once the stain has gone, wash as usual: machine wash warm, up to 60 °C, with similar colours. Then tumble dry low or line dry. Our guide to washing scrubs after a shift covers the full routine.

Colour can help

Dark colours like navy and wine hide light marks between washes better than pale shades. If you work in an area with frequent splashes and your hospital gives you a colour choice, that is worth thinking about. Our post on scrub colours explains the options.

When to let it go

Old, set-in stains sometimes never fully lift. If a top has a permanent mark in a visible place, it may be time to move it to your backup pile and add a fresh set. You can browse replacements on our scrubs page.