The Risks of Home-Laundered Scrubs: Why Professional Uniform Service Matters
When you think about infection prevention in healthcare, you probably picture hand-washing, sanitized equipment, and glove use. But what about uniforms? Scrubs are among the most overlooked sources of contamination in medical facilities, especially when employees wash them at home.
From the moment scrubs leave a healthcare facility to the moment they return, they’re exposed to bacteria, viruses, and cross-contamination risks. In this blog, we’ll break down:
- Why home laundering isn’t effective
- How contaminated scrubs can affect patients and public spaces
- What professional laundering offers in protection and compliance
- Simple tips for improving uniform hygiene at your facility
Let’s take a closer look.
Home Laundering Doesn’t Meet Healthcare Standards
Most healthcare workers don’t wash their scrubs hot enough – or long enough – to kill pathogens. In fact, a study from De Montfort University found that over 40% of healthcare staff wash uniforms below 60°C (140°F), which is the minimum temperature required to destroy most bacteria and viruses (DMU Research).
A 2011 study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology confirmed that home-laundered scrubs carried significantly more bacteria than those processed by hospital laundry services. In fact, clostridium difficile spores and MRSA were found on uniforms even after home washing, making them a potential source of pathogen transmission (PubMed).
Domestic washers and dryers also lack the validated disinfection protocols of commercial healthcare laundries, increasing the risk of pathogens surviving the cleaning process.
Scrubs Worn in Public Can Carry Pathogens
Many healthcare professionals wear scrubs during commutes, errands, or breaks. But public areas expose uniforms to new bacteria while also carrying hospital pathogens outside the facility.
The CDC has long recommended that hospital staff avoid wearing contaminated PPE or attire outside the facility when possible to limit risk to the community.
Washing Scrubs at Home Risks Household Exposure
Scrubs don’t just carry bacteria back to the hospital – they carry it home. Household laundry machines aren’t equipped to handle healthcare-grade sanitation. As a result, pathogens may linger and cross-contaminate other clothes, surfaces, and family members.
This is especially concerning for healthcare employees working in home health, one of the fastest-growing employment segments in healthcare. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 3.7 million people in the U.S. work in home-based care—where infection control is often managed independently (BLS).
Providing professional laundering solutions for home health staff could significantly reduce this risk.
Why Professional Laundering is a Must
At Superior Linen Service, we are proud to be TRSA Hygienically Clean Healthcare certified at all facilities. This prestigious designation that ensures our laundry processes meet the highest standards for cleanliness, pathogen removal, and safety in healthcare environments. This certification includes third-party inspections and ongoing microbial testing to verify that textiles are consistently free of harmful bacteria (TRSA).
Some key distinctions include:
- Validated Pathogen Removal: Our wash formulas are tested to ensure effective removal of microorganisms like MRSA, C. difficile, and viruses. These tests confirm that the laundering processes effectively reduce pathogens to levels that pose no threat to human health.
- Functional Separation: We strictly separate soiled and clean textiles throughout the entire laundering and delivery process to prevent cross-contamination.
- Cooling and Drying Safeguards: Clean textiles are cooled before packaging to reduce heat retention and risk of combustion.
- Bagged and Sealed Delivery: Uniforms and scrubs arrive individually wrapped or sealed in protective packaging, ensuring hygienic transport from our plant to your facility.
- Routine Audits and Compliance: As a certified provider, we undergo routine inspections and performance testing to maintain compliance with TRSA Hygienically Clean Healthcare standards.
Our customers don’t need to worry about cross-contamination during transport. Our uniforms are delivered bagged, sealed, and ready for wear.
Tips for Improving Uniform Hygiene in Your Facility
Whether you manage a hospital, clinic, or home health service, you can reduce infection risk by encouraging the right practices:
| Tip | Action |
|---|---|
| Change scrubs before leaving work | Provide a locker area or spare set |
| Avoid wearing scrubs in public | Transport in sealed bags only |
| Partner with a certified provider | Ensure laundering meets TRSA or HLAC standards |
| Educate staff on scrub hygiene | Offer your staff annual infection control training |
Better Hygiene, Better Compliance
Uniforms are more than a dress code – they’re part of your infection control strategy. By switching from home laundering to professional services, healthcare facilities can reduce contamination, enhance patient trust, and improve compliance with CDC and OSHA guidelines.
📞 Want to review your uniform program or talk about switching to professional service? Contact Superior Linen Service today for a tailored consultation.