Most medical uniforms are made with stain release, but after the stain is removed, there may be some residual odor on medical uniforms that will need to be removed.
In the past medical uniforms were pretty much all about the same and they were white. Now with all the options in material, color, design, and style, removing odor isn’t as simple as it was in the past. In the past a little bleach could be added to the wash load to remove odor and stains. That simply will not work with a brightly colored medical uniform covered with images of Betty Boop!
When performing duties in a hospital or other medical facility, the following can cause odor problems when they come in contact with a uniform:
• Vomit
• Feces
• Urine
• Medications
• Disinfectants
• Body odor
The first line of defense against odor is in the washing machine. Don’t cut corners when choosing a detergent for clothes. Initially it may seem to do the job fine, but odors can build up and eventually clean clothes may still smell dirty. Even though you shower and use deodorant, clothes may begin to smell of body order when you use a low cost detergent. During stressful situations the hormones that are released may cause excessive perspiration and odor. There are many medical situations that can trigger this response. A quality clothes detergent will be more affective in removing body odor and other odors from clothing.
When bodily fluids (vomit, urine, feces) come in contact with a medical uniform, clean as much as possible as soon as possible. If you can, change to a clean medical uniform and remove the soiled one. If stain treatment is handy, spray and then wash the uniform as soon as possible. This will cut down on the odor and help prevent the stain from setting.
When washing white medical uniforms, a little bleach can be added to the wash cycle. For bright colors and fabrics that you cannot use bleach with, there are other alternatives to remove odors. Adding the following to the wash cycle will help eliminate odors in medical uniforms:
• Vinegar
• Liquid disinfectant
• Baking soda
• Diluted bleach (be VERY careful with this)
• Fabric odor remover (like Febreze)
• Pet stain/odor remover (works especially well with feces and urine)
Avoid covering up the odor with sprays and fabric softeners. Be sure the odor is removed before using fabric softener in the rinse. Odors that are masked tend to reveal themselves if the uniform gets wet from rain, perspiration, a spill, etc.
Using fabric guard on medical uniforms (when safe for fabric) prevents stains and odor from being absorbed into the fabric.
The best way to keep medical uniforms smelling fresh is to avoid contact with anything that can cause odors. Use protective clothing or layers when there is a risk of contact with anything that can cause odors that will need to be removed.
All Uniform Wear has a wide range of medical uniforms that come in a variety of colors and styles. Go to AllUniformWear.com to see the full line of medical uniforms.
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