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Plants for Human Health Institute

Guidelines for Washing Lab Coats

Lab coats should be washed on a regular basis with washing intervals not normally exceeding once/month.  Routine washing is suggested to ensure cleanliness of coats.  For heavy use, a weekly wash schedule is recommended; for less frequent use, washing should be completed biweekly.

Lab coats are NOT to be taken home to be laundered.

Chemical Guidelines:

  • If a substantial chemical spill on clothing occurs or if the spilled material is highly toxic, corrosive, or persistent (non-evaporating), the lab coat must be discarded according to hazardous waste disposal procedures. Contact EHS and/or Facilities Management to dispose of the lab coat as chemical waste.
  • Coats that should not be washed but rather discarded would include those that are still wet with contaminants; contaminated with volatile carcinogens, teratogens, or toxic materials with an LD50 < 50mg/kg; contaminated with strong smell of chemicals; contaminated with materials that pass through nitrile gloves (e.g. organometallics like methyl mercury); or contaminated with large amounts of concentrated acids or corrosives.
  • If the spill does not meet any of the above conditions, the coat may be washed and reused.

Biosafety Guidelines:

  • Where a known or suspected contamination/spill from ANY biological agent occurs (regardless of risk group assessment level or biosafety lab level), all contaminated clothing and lab coat must be decontaminated by autoclave before laundering.
  • Do not autoclave biologically contaminated lab coats that are additionally contaminated with chemical or radioactive material.

Radiation Guideline:

  • If a spill on the lab coat involves radioactive material, inform EHS and/or Facilities Management immediately. The lab coat will be placed in a sealed bag for proper disposal as radiation waste.

Wash Protocol

  1. Prior to washing the first load of the day, run the wash machine on the tub clean cycle.
    This is a steam-only cycle.  No detergent or bleach is needed.
  2. All lab coats must be washed in hot water and bleach with HE laundry detergent. NO COLD OR WARM CYCLES.
    Use the Sanitary cycle for BSL-1 labs; Use the Allergiene cycle for BSL-2 labs.
    – Sanitary cycle reduces 99% of bacteria through use of an extra hot water temperature of 147 degrees F.
    – Allergiene cycle uses additional steam to reduce allergens in clothing.
  3. ANY LAUNDRY CONTAINING BIOHAZARDOUS MATERIALS OR FLUIDS MUST BE FOLLOWED BY A CYCLE OF BLEACH AND HOT WATER BEFORE ANY OTHER LAUNDRY CAN BE WASHED.
  4. Once the washing cycle is complete, remove the load and place it in the dryer for 60-90 minutes depending on the size of load.
  5. Once the dryer is finished, check to make sure the load is dry; remove from the dryer; and hang coats in area designated for clean lab coat storage.

***SEE WASHING MACHINE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FURTHER OPERATIONAL DETAILS.***