The Lab Coat Laundry program provides a laundry service to researchers free of charge in the interest of encouraging researchers to wear protective clothing. User-owned coats and scrubs can be enrolled through the vendor’s retape process and laundered on a weekly basis at no cost to the lab. See below for enrollment and additional information.
How much does it cost?
This service is provided at no cost to researchers via funding dedicated for laboratory safety.
The David Geffen School of Medicine funds this service for researchers in the DGSOM at locations #3 – CHS, #4 – Warren Hall, #7 – BSRB, #8 – Jules Stein, and #9 – MRL. Researchers from the Schools of Dentistry, Nursing, and Public Health are also welcome to enroll their coats free of charge.
What is a “Retape?”
“Retaping” refers to the vendor’s barcoding process, which involves manual input of information to generate a barcode. This is how you enroll your coat for the first time. We stick to the vendor’s terminology because it leads to better communication between end users and the vendor when necessary.
How long does it take to get my coat back?
When you first enroll (Retape) a coat, expect to wait two weeks after the closest Thursday pickup for your coat to be returned. Expect to wait one week for basic laundry service (Soil Bin process).
How do I know when my coat is ready?
At some locations, you will receive an email. Otherwise, expect to wait two weeks to see a newly enrolled coat and one week for any enrolled coats that were washed. Remember, the vendor visits on Thursdays before 10:00 am.
Can clinicians use this service, too?
Clinicians are welcome to use the service, but should be aware that this is a laundry and not a dry cleaning service. The coats will not be pressed and may not offer the ideal presentation for patient interaction.
What if my coat doesn’t come back on time?
Sometimes coats may be delayed due to a large volume of use. If your coat’s return is delayed, follow up directly with the vendor according to the instructions. See Instruction →
What if my coat gets lost?
It’s extremely rare, but coats have sometimes been lost. Keep careful records of the coats that you drop off and follow up directly with the vendor according to the instructions. See Instruction →
Bookmark the tiny URL and use it instead of the paper log sheet. Works on both mobile devices and desktop computers.
Available Now for Jules Stein and CHS. Coming soon to other locations!
This workflow will guide you through your next steps. Contact SOMSafety@mednet.ucla.edu with any questions.
If you have a question about the Lab Coat Laundry program beyond the information provided here, contact the DGSOM Research Safety Office:
Email: SOMSafety@mednet.ucla.edu
Phone: (310) 206-8537
Location: CHS 12-096A
