How to Wash Scrubs So They Last: The Complete Care Guide
To make scrubs last, wash them in cold water with like colors, tumble dry on low or hang to dry, iron on warm only if needed, and skip the bleach. Cold washing and gentle drying protect the color and the fabric's stretch, so your scrubs keep their shape and shade far longer. Here's the full routine, plus how to handle stains, fading and wrinkles.
The right way to wash scrubs
Follow these steps every time:
Sort by color. Wash with like colors — darks with darks, lights with lights — to prevent color transfer.
Use cold water. Cold protects color and prevents shrinking. Hot water is the fastest way to fade and shrink scrubs.
Turn them inside out. This reduces surface fading and pilling on the outside of the fabric.
Skip the bleach. Bleach breaks down fabric and strips color. Use a color-safe detergent instead.
Don't overload. Scrubs need room to move so they actually get clean and rinse fully.
Drying without damage
Tumble dry on low, or hang dry. Low heat (or air drying) preserves the fabric's stretch and prevents shrinking. High heat is the main cause of scrubs shrinking and going stiff.
Take them out slightly damp and smooth or hang them — you'll avoid deep wrinkles and may skip ironing entirely.
Warm iron only if needed. If you press them, use a warm (not hot) iron.
How to care for rayon-blend scrubs
Ourz Scrubs are made from a 62% rayon / 32% nylon / 6% spandex blend.
That blend is soft and stretchy, and it rewards gentle care. Washing cold, drying on low or hanging to dry, and avoiding bleach help keep the rayon soft, the nylon durable, and the spandex springy so your scrubs recover their shape instead of bagging out.
Ourz also invests in an additional shrinkage process during production to support greater longevity after washing. The scrubs were developed with the everyday working woman in mind, so caring for them doesn't require complicated or time-consuming instructions.
And that longevity isn't just part of the design process. After six months of regular washing and wear, Collena's own Ourz set was still holding its color, fit, and wearability.
Fixing common scrub problems
PROBLEM | CAUSE | FIX / PREVENT |
Fading | Hot water, bleach, sun-drying | Wash cold, inside out, no bleach; dry in shade |
Shrinking | High-heat drying | Tumble low or hang dry |
Pilling | Friction, overloading | Wash inside out, don't overload |
Wrinkles | Sitting wet, high heat | Remove damp, hang or smooth; warm iron |
Stains | Set-in spills | Treat quickly, cold water, gentle stain remover — never bleach |
A simple care rhythm
Wash after each shift (or air them between light-wear days), keep a rotation of a few sets so no single one wears out, and treat stains right away with cold water. That rhythm alone will add months to the life of every set.
Ourz Care Guide
COLD WASH → LIKE COLORS → LOW/HANG DRY → NO BLEACH
Save this care routine for your next laundry day or screenshot it so you'll always have your Ourz care instructions handy.
Want to see what that longevity looks like in real life? Watch Collena share how her Ourz Scrubs looked and felt after six months of washing and wear.
Frequently asked questions
How do you wash scrubs so they last?
Wash in cold water with like colors, turned inside out, with no bleach; tumble dry on low or hang dry; and warm-iron only if needed. Cold washing and low-heat drying protect the color and stretch.
Should you wash scrubs in hot or cold water?
Cold. Hot water fades and shrinks scrubs; cold water preserves color and shape.
How do you keep scrubs from fading?
Wash cold, turn them inside out, skip bleach, use color-safe detergent, and avoid drying in direct sun or on high heat.
Can you put scrubs in the dryer?
Yes, on low heat — or hang dry. High heat causes shrinking and stiffness.
How do you care for Ourz Scrubs?
Machine wash cold with like colors, tumble dry low or hang dry, warm iron if needed, and avoid bleach — the right routine for their rayon-nylon-spandex blend.
Do Ourz Scrubs hold up after repeated washing?
They're designed with repeat wear and washing in mind. Collena has also documented her own experience wearing and washing an Ourz set for six months, showing how the scrubs maintained their color, fit, and wearability over time.
Written by Collena Robertson, DMD — founder of Ourz Scrubs, curve-conscious scrubs built to hold their shape wash after wash. Shop the collection.
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