X
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.
This article has been viewed 26,484 times.
Learn more...
Scrubs are the go-to uniform for nurses and doctors in hospitals. They're comfy and easy to wash. But they're often distributed one-size-fits-all––what if that one size is too big for you? Don't fret. There are simple ways to shrink your scrubs. You can wash your scrubs in hot water, and then shrink them either in the dryer, or with an iron.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Washing and Drying
-
1
-
2Set the washer to the highest temperature setting. There is no need to add soap. If your washing machine has a separate temperature dial for wash and rinse, make sure that both dials are set to the highest temperature.Advertisement
-
3Place only the scrubs in the washer and start the washer. Washing at such a high temperature may cause colors to bleed, so washing only the scrubs will make sure nothing gets discolored. Consider adding a cup of white vinegar to the wash to preserve the color of the scrubs. [2]
- Turn the scrubs inside out. This will protect the color of the scrubs from fading too much in the washing process.
-
4Remove the scrubs from the washing machine and place in the dryer. If your scrubs are a cotton and polyester blend, try the medium heat setting. If they are just cotton, try the highest temperature setting. Run the dryer all the way through the cycle. [3]
- If you don't know what your scrubs are made out of, try the medium setting first. If this does not do the job, try the high setting.
- When the scrubs have finished drying, hold them up or try them on for size.
-
5Repeat the process if the scrubs are still too large. You can repeat the process however many times it takes to shrink the scrubs, or, you can switch to trying the washing and ironing method.
Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Washing and Ironing
-
1Wash the scrubs on the highest temperature setting of the washing machine. Remove the scrubs once they are done with the cycle. For this method, do not put the scrubs in the dryer after washing.
-
2Place the wet scrubs on the ironing board. Do this immediately after you take them out of the washing machine, so that they are still wet when you begin to iron. This will maximize shrinkage.
-
3Cover the scrubs with a pressing cloth. This is optional, but will protect the scrubs from damage during ironing. A pressing cloth will make it harder to accidentally scorch or melt your scrubs.
- A piece of unbleached cotton muslin works great as a pressing cloth. [4]
-
4Iron the scrubs until they are completely dry. You may have to flip the scrubs over and iron on the other side to fully dry the scrubs. Make sure the iron is on the correct setting for the fabric of the scrubs. Irons typically have different settings for cotton or polyester.
-
5Repeat the washing and ironing process if your scrubs are still too large. If they are the right size, congratulations! You have successfully shrunk your scrubs.
Advertisement
References
- ↑ http://www.sophisticatededge.com/can-polyester-shrink.html
- ↑ http://www.sophisticatededge.com/can-polyester-shrink.html
- ↑ https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/promo-university/shrink-a-tshirt.htm
- ↑ https://wendyward.wordpress.com/2016/01/26/what-is-a-pressing-cloth-and-why-you-should-use-one/
- ↑ https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/home-improvement/cleaning-stain-removal/how-to-iron-clean-clothes/
- ↑ https://sewguide.com/how-to-shrink-clothes/
- ↑ https://www.whowhatwear.com/how-to-shrink-a-shirt/slide2
About This Article
Advertisement