How to wash scrubs: what NHS and CDC guidance says

Short answer

• NHS England says wash at the hottest temperature the fabric allows; 10 minutes at 60°C removes almost all micro-organisms.
• A 30°C wash with detergent removes most Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA, according to the same 2020 guidance.
• Uniform visibly contaminated with blood or body fluids should go to the hospital laundry, never home (NHS Scotland).
• CDC says infections linked to home laundering are rare, but facilities should launder uniforms or give guidance.
• Your employer's policy and the garment's care label come first.

In this guide (10 sections)

1. What does NHS guidance say about washing uniforms?
2. Do scrubs need to be washed at 60 degrees?
3. Should you wash scrubs separately?
4. Can you use bleach on scrubs?
5. What does the CDC say about washing scrubs at home?
6. NHS and CDC washing guidance side by side
7. A worked example: a home routine built from the guidance
8. How many staff follow the guidance?
9. Does antimicrobial fabric mean you can wash less?
10. What to check before you act

NHS England's guidance says to wash uniforms at the hottest temperature the fabric allows: a 10-minute wash at 60°C removes almost all micro-organisms, and a 30°C wash with detergent removes most Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA. Uniform that is visibly contaminated with blood or body fluids should go to the hospital laundry, not home. In the US, the CDC says infections linked to home laundering are rare, but your facility's policy decides what you do.

This page sets out what each body says, where they differ, and how that meets the care label sewn into your scrubs. It is general information, not an infection control policy. Your employer's rules come first.

What does NHS guidance say about washing uniforms?

NHS England's "Uniforms and workwear: guidance for NHS employers" was published on 2 April 2020. It revises the 2007 guidance, and each NHS organization sets its own policy from it. On laundering, it says:

• Wash at the hottest temperature the fabric will tolerate.
• A 10-minute wash at 60°C removes almost all micro-organisms. In the tests it cites, only 0.1% of C. difficile spores remained.
• A 30°C wash with detergent removes most Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA.
• Domestic and commercial laundering show little effective difference in removing micro-organisms.
• Don't overload the machine, and wash heavily soiled uniforms separately.
• Clean washing machines and tumble driers regularly.
• Put on a clean uniform at the start of every shift, and change immediately if it is visibly soiled.

The guidance also says employers should provide enough uniforms for a clean set every shift, so staff don't need to wash daily.

NHS Scotland's national uniform policy, DL(2018)4, adds detail for home washing. Wash at the highest temperature the care label allows. Don't add bleach. Empty pockets first. Keep used and clean uniform apart, and wash your hands before handling clean uniform and after handling used uniform. Home laundering does not apply to theatre scrubs, PPE or contaminated uniform.

Do scrubs need to be washed at 60 degrees?

Not always, and this is where people get confused. Neither NHS document says "always 60°C". Both say "the hottest the fabric allows".

The problem is that many scrubs don't allow 60°C. Published care instructions vary widely:

Garment (fabric)	Care label as published	Source, date seen
Dickies 81906 men's top (55% cotton / 45% polyester)	Machine wash 60°C, cold iron	medi-shop.gr, 23 Oct 2026
Barco Grey's Anatomy Kim GRST001 (74% poly / 23% rayon / 3% spandex)	30°C	medi-shop.gr, 23 Oct 2026
FIGS FIONx fabric (72% poly / 21% rayon / 7% spandex)	Cold wash, inside out, tumble dry low	allcustomwear help page (reseller), 23 Oct 2026

If your trust's policy says 60°C and your scrubs say 30°C, you have a real conflict. Ask your trust which wins, or buy scrubs whose label allows the temperature your policy needs. Our scrub fabric blends guide lists more labels. The national uniform update from Derbyshire Community Health Services (3 June 2026) shows the same issue: it dropped embroidery on polo tops because embroidered garments can't be washed at 60°C.

Should you wash scrubs separately?

NHS England's guidance says to wash heavily soiled uniforms on their own and not to overload the machine. NHS Scotland says to keep used and clean uniform separate at all times, including in storage and transport.

Neither document says every uniform must always be washed alone. For fabric life rather than hygiene, Cherokee's care advice (21 March 2026) suggests washing scrubs apart from rough items such as denim, towels and anything with zips or Velcro, and turning them inside out.

Can you use bleach on scrubs?

The sources disagree, so check your employer and your care label.

• NHS Scotland (DL(2018)4) says not to add bleach to the wash or use it for whitening.
• SHEA (the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America) published expert guidance on healthcare attire in 2014. It said a hot water wash, ideally with bleach, followed by a dryer or ironing, had been shown to eliminate bacteria. This is now over 12 years old.
• CDC describes bleach as part of hospital laundry processes, noting chlorine bleach activates at about 57–63°C (135–145°F). That is industrial guidance, not a home recipe.

Many colored scrubs will fade with chlorine bleach. If the label says "do not bleach", follow it.

What does the CDC say about washing scrubs at home?

The CDC's Laundry and Bedding page (last reviewed 8 January 2024, based on a 2003 guideline) says:

• Experts disagree on whether OSHA's rule against home laundering of PPE extends to uniforms and scrubs that are not contaminated with blood or body substances.
• Uncontaminated uniforms likely carry soil similar to street clothes, which home laundering should remove.
• If a facility requires uniforms, it should either launder them or give staff guidance, including how often to wash.
• Infections linked to work clothing or home laundering are rare.

For hospital laundries, the CDC says a hot wash of at least 71°C (160°F) for 25 minutes is commonly recommended. Low-temperature washing at 22–25°C can also work when the cycle, detergent and bleach-based additives are tightly controlled. It describes the overall risk of disease transmission from laundry as likely negligible.

The 71°C figure applies to industrial laundries. Domestic machines and most scrub labels are not designed for it.

NHS and CDC washing guidance side by side

Question	NHS England (2020)	NHS Scotland (2018)	CDC (reviewed 2024)
Temperature	Hottest the fabric allows; 60°C for 10 min removes almost all micro-organisms	Highest the care label allows	71°C/160°F for 25 min commonly recommended for hospital laundries
Home washing allowed?	Yes; domestic ≈ commercial	Yes for used uniform where no facility laundry; never for contaminated	Debated; follow facility policy
Contaminated uniform	Change immediately	Change immediately; facility laundry in a water-soluble bag	OSHA rules cover contaminated laundry handling
Bleach	Not stated	Don't add bleach	Used in hospital processes
Separate loads	Wash heavily soiled items separately	Keep used and clean apart	Not stated for home

A worked example: a home routine built from the guidance

Say you are an NHS nurse whose trust lets staff wash at home, and your scrub label says 60°C.

1. Change out of uniform at work, or cover it, as NHS England advises.
2. Carry it home in a separate bag from clean clothes.
3. Empty the pockets.
4. Wash at 60°C with detergent, without overloading the drum.
5. Wash a heavily soiled set on its own.
6. Wash your hands after handling the used uniform.
7. Store the clean set apart from used ones.

If the label says 30°C instead, step 4 changes, and you should ask your trust whether that garment is acceptable. If your uniform has blood or body fluid on it, none of this applies. Change, bag it and use the facility laundry.

For the rules on whether you may take uniform home at all, see washing your uniform at home: the rules.

How many staff follow the guidance?

A De Montfort University survey of more than 1,200 nurses, healthcare workers and students in England (reported 3 February 2022) found that over a fifth did not follow the uniform guidance. 17% did not wash at 60°C at home. More than two-thirds said they would prefer their employer to launder uniforms, and the lack of changing facilities was named as the biggest barrier.

Does antimicrobial fabric mean you can wash less?

No source we checked says so. NHS England still asks for a clean uniform every shift. Our antimicrobial scrubs evidence guide covers what those treatments are allowed to claim.

What to check before you act

• Read your employer's uniform and laundering policy first. It overrides general guidance.
• Read the care label for the maximum temperature and any bleach warning.
• If the label and the policy conflict, ask infection prevention or your manager.
• Never take home uniform contaminated with blood or body fluids.
• Uniform is not PPE, as NHS Scotland's policy puts it. Use the PPE your role requires.

Questions people ask

General information only, not medical, legal or employment advice. Your employer's uniform and laundry policy comes first, and brand specs and prices change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Sources

1. Uniforms and workwear: guidance for NHS employers (NHS England, 2 Apr 2020)checked October 23, 2026
2. DL(2018)4: NHSScotland national uniform and dress code (Scottish Government)checked October 23, 2026
3. Laundry and bedding (CDC, last reviewed 8 Jan 2024)checked October 23, 2026
4. Infectious diseases experts issue guidance on healthcare personnel attire (Infection Control Today, 20 Jan 2014)checked October 23, 2026
5. Research highlights barriers preventing healthcare workers following NHS uniform laundering guidance (De Montfort University, 3 Feb 2022)checked October 23, 2026
6. Durable scrubs: how to choose (Cherokee Uniforms blog, 21 Mar 2026)checked October 23, 2026