If you’re wondering how to keep scrubs from fading, the answer is a handful of gentle laundry habits: wash them inside out, sort by color, use the water temperature on the care label, don’t overload the machine, and go easy on heat when drying. None of these takes much time, and together they help your scrubs hold their color through many shifts.
Why Scrubs Lose Color
Scrubs get washed far more often than most clothes, so small habits add up quickly. Color fading usually comes from a mix of everyday wear:
- Friction from rubbing against other clothes in the washer and dryer.
- Heat from hot dryer cycles or very hot water when the label doesn’t call for it.
- Harsh products such as bleach on colored fabric.
- Sunlight when scrubs are left to dry in strong direct sun.
- Frequent washing of the same one or two sets.
You can’t avoid washing your scrubs, but you can make every wash a little gentler.
Wash-Day Habits That Protect Color
Follow the garment’s care label first, then build these habits around it:
- Turn scrubs inside out. The outside of the fabric takes less rubbing this way.
- Wash similar colors together. Keep darks, brights and whites in separate loads.
- Use the temperature on the label. For colored scrubs, cold water is a common choice when the label allows it.
- Measure your detergent. Use the amount the package recommends for your load size.
- Don’t overload the washer. A crowded drum means more friction.
- Skip chlorine bleach on colors. Never use it on colored scrubs.
- Close drawstrings and empty pockets. Loose items and dangling strings add rubbing and can snag fabric.
For a full step-by-step routine, see our guide on how to wash scrubs.
Drying With Color in Mind
Heat and tumbling are hard on color, so the dryer deserves extra attention:
- Follow the drying instructions on the care label.
- If tumble drying is allowed, choose a lower heat setting.
- Remove scrubs as soon as they’re dry rather than running an extra cycle.
- If you air dry, hang scrubs indoors or in the shade, out of strong direct sunlight.
Stretch blends deserve special care here. Many of our sets, such as the Men’s Luxe Stretch Jogger Scrub Set, are 93% polyester, 7% spandex, and the spandex is what gives them stretch. Treat them gently and follow the label on heat.
How to Keep Black Scrubs From Fading
Black shows fading more than almost any other color, so it’s worth a little extra care. If you love black scrubs, try these tips:
- Give black its own load, or wash it only with other very dark colors like charcoal and navy.
- Always wash inside out. This matters most on dark fabric, where surface wear shows first.
- Consider a detergent made for dark clothes, used as directed on the package.
- Keep dryer time short and pull black scrubs out promptly.
- Dry away from direct sun if you hang them up.
- Wash lint-shedding items separately, since lint stands out on black fabric.
You may see home remedies like adding salt or vinegar to the wash. We’d suggest sticking with what your care label recommends. For more ideas on wearing and caring for dark sets, read our black scrubs guide.
Caring for Bright and Light Colors
Bright shades like red, coral and hot pink, and deeper tones like burgundy and eggplant, benefit from the same habits as black. Wash them with similar colors, keep them inside out, and go easy on heat.
When a bright set is brand new, it’s a good idea to wash it with similar colors or on its own the first few times, in case any dye releases in the wash. Avoid washing brights with whites or light colors like ceil blue.
White scrubs have their own rules. Wash them separately from colors, and only use bleach on white scrubs if the care label allows it.
Mistakes That Speed Up Color Fading
A few common habits work against you. Try to avoid:
- Using chlorine bleach on any colored scrubs.
- Washing in water hotter than the care label recommends.
- Running the dryer longer or hotter than needed.
- Leaving wet scrubs sitting in the washer for hours.
- Rubbing stains hard, which can wear the surface of the fabric. Blot instead.
- Wearing and washing the same set every day.
Rotate Your Sets to Spread the Wear
One of the simplest ways to keep scrubs looking fresh is to own enough to rotate. When each set gets washed less often, color fading happens more slowly across your whole wardrobe. If you’re not sure how many you need, our guide on how many scrubs you need can help you plan. It also helps to buy multiple sets in the same color at once, so they age evenly and stay a close match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I wash scrubs in cold water to prevent fading?
Cold water is a common choice for colored scrubs. Always check the care label first and use the temperature it recommends.
How do I keep black scrubs from fading?
Wash black scrubs inside out with other dark colors, use the temperature on the care label, keep dryer heat low, and dry them away from direct sunlight.
Can I use bleach on colored scrubs?
No. Don’t use chlorine bleach on colored scrubs. Only use bleach on white scrubs, and only if the care label allows it.
With a few easy habits, your scrubs can keep their color and look sharp for many shifts to come. When you’re ready to add a fresh set to your rotation, take a look at our latest colors.
