Scrubs you can wash at 60°C: check the care label before buying

Short answer

NHS England says wash uniform at the hottest temperature the fabric allows; 10 minutes at 60°C removes almost all micro-organisms.
Of the styles we checked, only a Dickies 55% cotton, 45% polyester top was listed as washable at 60°C.
A Grey's Anatomy Kim top and pants were listed at 30°C, and FIGS fabric care says wash cold.
One NHS trust stopped embroidering polos because embroidered garments cannot be washed at 60°C.
Check the care label and your employer's policy before you buy, not after.

In this guide (8 sections)

Why does 60°C matter for nurses' uniforms?
What do scrub care labels say?
Can embroidered scrubs be washed at 60°C?
Why do brands say wash cold?
Worked example: buying scrubs for a trust that expects hot washes
Does washing at 60°C damage scrubs?
What if my employer provides uniforms?
What to check before you act

Few of the scrubs we checked are listed as washable at 60°C. Of seven styles, only a Dickies cotton-polyester poplin top had 60°C on its listing; a Grey's Anatomy set was listed at 30°C and FIGS care information says wash cold. If your employer expects hot washes, the care label is something to check before you buy, because a garment that can't take 60°C won't become one that can.

This guide is for UK readers working under NHS guidance and anyone whose employer sets a wash temperature. It sets out the rule, what labels actually say, and the questions to ask before you pay.

Why does 60°C matter for nurses' uniforms?

NHS England's "Uniforms and workwear: guidance for NHS employers" (2 April 2020) is the starting point in England:

Wash uniform at the hottest temperature suitable for the fabric.
A 10-minute wash at 60°C removes almost all micro-organisms.
Washing with detergent at 30°C removes most Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA.
Employers should check wash temperatures before buying uniforms that are low-temperature wash or dry clean only.

NHS Scotland's DL(2018)4 says to launder at the highest temperature suitable for the fabric as per the care label, and not to add bleach.

So neither document says every garment must go in at 60°C. Both tie the temperature to what the fabric allows. In practice, 60°C is widely treated as the target: a 2022 De Montfort University survey of more than 1,200 NHS staff and students in England described 60°C as the recommended home-wash temperature and found 17% did not use it. A garment labelled 30°C limits what you can do. The 60°C point is also why the purchasing advice is aimed at employers: they are asked to think about it before they buy.

In the US, the CDC's figures for healthcare laundry are higher still (at least 71°C, or 160°F, for 25 minutes is commonly recommended), but those apply to facility laundry processes, not home machines. The CDC adds that low-temperature cycles rely heavily on bleach.

What do scrub care labels say?

Here is what product and care pages listed on 23 October 2026. "Not stated" means the page gave no wash temperature, not that the garment can't be washed hot.

Style	Composition	Listed care	60°C on the listing?	Source
Dickies 81906 men's top	55% cotton, 45% polyester	Machine wash 60°C, light spin, cold iron if needed	Yes	Greek retailer
Grey's Anatomy Kim GRST001 top	74% polyester, 23% rayon, 3% spandex	Washable at 30°C	No	Greek retailer
Grey's Anatomy Kim GRSP500 pants	74% polyester, 23% rayon, 3% spandex	Washable at 30°C	No	Greek retailer
FIGS (FIONx fabric)	72% polyester, 21% rayon, 7% spandex	Wash cold, tumble dry low	No	Reseller help page
Healing Hands Purple Label 2167 Jane top	77% polyester, 20% rayon, 3% spandex	"Machine washable"	Not stated	Australian retailer
Jaanuu W30003	65% rayon, 30% nylon, 5% spandex	No care given	Not stated	Reseller
Grey's Anatomy Impact jogger	Polyester, rayon, spandex (no %)	Machine washable	Not stated	Walmart listing

Retailer and reseller pages are secondary sources. The sewn-in label on the garment you receive is the one that counts.

The pattern in this small sample is clear enough to be useful: the stretchy polyester-rayon-spandex blends that dominate US brand ranges were listed at cold or 30°C, while the one cotton-polyester poplin style was listed at 60°C. That is a description of these listings, not a rule about fibers. For what each fiber does, see our fabric blends guide.

Can embroidered scrubs be washed at 60°C?

Not always. Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust said in a staff update on 3 June 2026 that its national-uniform polo shirts would no longer be embroidered, because embroidered garments cannot be washed at 60 degrees and so are unsuitable on infection prevention grounds.

That is one trust's statement about its own garments, but it is a useful prompt. If you add a name or logo to scrubs, check whether the embroidery or transfer changes the care instructions.

Why do brands say wash cold?

Some brand care advice is written with fabric life in mind. Cherokee's blog (21 March 2026), for example, says cold water is gentler on fabric and better for color retention, and that high heat is the main reason scrubs fade and lose shape. That advice is about making scrubs last, not about infection control.

So there can be a real conflict between what a US brand's label says and what a UK employer expects. The guidance resolves it by asking you to use the hottest temperature the fabric allows, which means the label sets the ceiling.

Worked example: buying scrubs for a trust that expects hot washes

Suppose you work for a trust whose local policy says uniforms should be washed at 60°C where the fabric allows, and you are choosing between two tops you've seen online.

Top A is a 74/23/3 polyester-rayon-spandex blend listed at 30°C. You could follow the label at 30°C, and NHS England says 30°C with detergent removes most Gram-positive bacteria. But it can never meet a 60°C expectation, so ask your manager or infection prevention team whether it is acceptable.
Top B is a 55/45 cotton-polyester poplin listed at 60°C. It fits the policy as written. It has no spandex, so check the fit and movement you need. Cherokee's blog notes that blends without spandex tend to be stiffer.
Either way, check the label on arrival. If it differs from the listing, the label wins, and you may want to return the item.

Neither top is "better". The point is to match the label to the rule you work under before you spend money.

Does washing at 60°C damage scrubs?

We found no independent test data on how 60°C affects specific scrub fabrics. Brand advice, such as Cherokee's, links high heat to fading and loss of shape, especially in tumble dryers. If a label allows 60°C, the maker has labelled the garment for that temperature. If it doesn't, washing hotter than the label risks damaging the garment.

What if my employer provides uniforms?

Then the question mostly moves to your employer. NHS England says organizations should provide enough uniforms for a clean set every shift, and should check wash temperatures before buying. If your trust issues the national uniform, follow the care label on what you are given. For whether you can take it home at all, see can nurses wash uniforms at home. For the step-by-step washing guidance, see how to wash scrubs.

What to check before you act

Read your employer's uniform and laundry policy for any set temperature.
Check the care label's maximum wash temperature, on the garment if possible, before buying.
Treat "machine washable" with no temperature as unknown, not as 60°C.
Check whether embroidery, badges or transfers change the care instructions.
Keep receipts until you have seen the sewn-in label.
If a garment you need can only be washed cool, ask your infection prevention team whether it is acceptable.

Questions people ask

Do NHS scrubs need to be washed at 60 degrees?

NHS England's 2020 guidance says to wash at the hottest temperature the fabric allows and that 10 minutes at 60°C removes almost all micro-organisms. NHS Scotland says the highest temperature the care label allows. Your trust's policy sets the local rule.

Can you wash FIGS scrubs at 60 degrees?

The FIGS fabric care information we read says to wash cold and tumble dry low. We did not see 60°C listed, so check the label on your garment and your employer's policy.

Can polyester scrubs be washed at 60?

It depends on the garment, not just the fiber. Of the polyester-blend styles we checked, none was listed at 60°C; the one style listed at 60°C was a cotton and polyester poplin top.

What if my scrubs can only be washed at 30 degrees?

NHS England's guidance says a 30°C wash with detergent removes most Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA, but it still advises the hottest temperature the fabric allows. Ask your employer whether low-temperature garments are acceptable.

Why can't embroidered uniforms be washed at 60?

Derbyshire Community Health Services said in June 2026 that embroidered garments cannot be washed at 60 degrees, so it stopped embroidering polo shirts. Check the label of any embroidered item.

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

Uniforms and workwear: guidance for NHS employers (NHS England, 2 Apr 2020)checked October 23, 2026
DL(2018)4: national uniform policy, dress code and laundering policy (Scottish Government)checked October 23, 2026
National uniform rollout: further update, 3 June 2026 (Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS FT)checked October 23, 2026
Laundry and bedding (CDC, last reviewed 8 Jan 2024)checked October 23, 2026
Dickies 81906 men's scrub top (Medi-shop)checked October 23, 2026
Barco Grey's Anatomy Kim GRST001 women's scrub top (Medi-shop)checked October 23, 2026
Barco Grey's Anatomy Kim GRSP500 women's scrub pants (Medi-shop)checked October 23, 2026
FIGS fabric and care (All Custom Wear help center)checked October 23, 2026
Healing Hands Purple Label 2167 Jane top (Medshop Australia)checked October 23, 2026
Jaanuu W30003 (Ninja Transfers)checked October 23, 2026
Grey's Anatomy Impact jogger scrub pant (Walmart listing)checked October 23, 2026
Research highlights barriers preventing healthcare workers following NHS uniform laundering guidance (De Montfort University, 3 Feb 2022)checked October 23, 2026
Durable scrubs: how to choose (Cherokee Uniforms blog, 21 Mar 2026)checked October 23, 2026