How to Shrink Scrubs

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 6, 2019 References

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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Washing and Drying

1
Check the tag of your scrubs, if they have one, to see what kind of fabric they are made out of. Scrubs are generally made out of cotton, or a cotton and polyester blend. Cotton will be easier to shrink than a blend, and so may require a less hot temperature shrink.^{[1]
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2
Set 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.

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3
Place 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]
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- Turn the scrubs inside out. This will protect the color of the scrubs from fading too much in the washing process.
4
Remove 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]
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- 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.
5
Repeat 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.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Washing and Ironing

1
Wash 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.
2
Place 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.
3
Cover 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]
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4
Iron 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.
- Move the iron gently across the scrubs. There is no need to press down. ^{[5]
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- After ironing, lay flat to dry. ^{[6]
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5
Repeat 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.