How to Get the Smell Out of Scrubs (And Stop It From Coming Back)
Almost every healthcare worker has had the experience of pulling scrubs from a clean wash and smelling something that shouldn't be there. The clean version of the smell, the not-quite-fresh version. The "Getting the smell out of scrubs" thread on Student Doctor Network is a long-running cry for help.
Two things are causing it: technique and fabric. Both are fixable.
Why scrubs hold onto smell after washing
Three forces sink into the fiber:
- Sweat that didn't fully rinse out. Sweat is mostly water plus salts and trace oils. Cold water doesn't fully release the oil component. The oil stays, dries, and bacteria feed on it.
- Body oils from skin contact. Underarms, neckline, waistband. These accumulate over a shift and don't release in a normal cold wash.
- Disinfectant residue. Bleach splashes, alcohol contact, occasionally chlorhexidine. These don't smell bad on their own, but they react with sweat in storage to produce that "slightly off" wash result.
The reason this is worse for scrubs than for streetwear: scrubs see all three of these every shift, and most of them are made from polyester or polyester blends, which trap oils more stubbornly than cotton.
The actual washing protocol that works
This is the consensus that emerges across r/nursing, allnurses, and Student Doctor Network threads. None of it is brand-specific.
1. Pre-soak before the wash
30–60 minutes in warm water with one of:
- 1 cup white vinegar (breaks down oils)
- ½ cup baking soda (neutralizes acid odors)
- 1 tablespoon enzyme detergent (Persil, Tide Hygienic Clean)
Pick one. Don't combine vinegar and baking soda — they neutralize each other.
2. Wash in warm water, not cold
Cold water saves energy and is gentle on dyes, but it doesn't release oils effectively. Warm (90–105°F) is the floor for getting smell out. Hot water (130°F+) is more effective if your fabric tolerates it.
3. Use less detergent than you think
Counterintuitive, but using too much detergent can leave residue that bacteria feed on. Follow the dose for medium loads, not heavy loads.
4. Add an oxygen booster (not bleach)
OxiClean or a similar oxygen-based brightener helps lift trapped oils without damaging color. A scoop in the wash drum is enough.
5. Run an extra rinse
Most washing machines under-rinse on the default cycle. An extra rinse pulls remaining detergent and broken-down oil out of the fabric.
6. Dry on high heat or in direct sun
Heat kills any lingering bacteria. UV from sun does the same. If you air-dry, do it in sunlight, not in a closed laundry room.
Following all six brings most "I just washed these and they still smell" complaints down to zero.
What to do if smell is already locked in
Sometimes you inherit a set that's been mistreated. The recovery protocol:
- Soak overnight in 1 gallon water + 1 cup white vinegar.
- Wash with enzyme detergent + oxygen booster, warm water, extra rinse.
- Dry on high heat.
- If smell persists after one cycle, repeat. By the third cycle, almost any salvageable fabric is restored.
If smell still persists after three deep cycles, the fabric is past saving. This is rare but happens with old polyester scrubs that have absorbed a year of buildup.
Why fabric choice matters here
The single biggest factor in whether your scrubs hold smell is the fabric, specifically how quickly it releases moisture.
Fabrics that wick + dry quickly don't give bacteria time to break down sweat into odor compounds. Fabrics that wick but dry slowly (a lot of "performance" scrubs) trap moisture in the fiber, which is exactly the conditions bacteria need.
This is the practical case for combining moisture-wicking with quick-dry. It's not just about feeling drier on shift. It's about not feeding the smell loop.
Eipnare's ShiftWeave™ fabric was designed with both properties together for exactly this reason. The mid-weight knit also breathes during shift, which means less sweat in the fabric in the first place.
Storage matters too
A clean wet scrub put in a closed hamper turns into a smell problem in eight hours. Two storage rules:
- Don't pile worn scrubs in a sealed bag or hamper. Hang them or lay them flat until you wash.
- Don't store clean scrubs in a humid closet. Dry storage extends the wash cycle's effect.
FAQ
Why do my scrubs smell after washing?
Most likely cold water didn't release body oils, or detergent residue is feeding bacteria. Switch to warm water, add a vinegar pre-soak, and run an extra rinse. That fixes most cases.
Can I wash scrubs in hot water?
Most modern scrubs tolerate warm to hot water (90–130°F). Check the care label. Hotter water is more effective at removing oils and killing bacteria but can fade colors faster over time.
Should I use bleach on scrubs?
Only on white scrubs and only sparingly. Bleach degrades fabric over time and damages color. An oxygen-based booster like OxiClean is safer for colored scrubs.
Does fabric softener help with smell?
No. Fabric softener coats fibers, which can actually trap odors instead of removing them. Skip the softener and use a vinegar rinse instead — it softens and deodorizes.
Are some scrubs less likely to smell?
Yes. Quick-dry fabrics with effective moisture-wicking don't give bacteria time to break down sweat. Look for both properties together, not just wicking.
Read next
- The 12 things nurses keep complaining about on Reddit (full breakdown)
- Why performance scrubs run hot and what fabrics actually breathe
- Why your $90 scrubs pill in 6 months
Hedy Nie is COO of Eipnare. Connect on LinkedIn.