Caregiver Resources
It’s a question every new caregiver runs into eventually, usually while doing laundry at 11 PM before an early shift: how many uniforms do I actually need? The honest answer depends on your schedule, but there’s a simple way to figure out the right number for you.
Start with your weekly shift count
The baseline rule: one set per shift, plus a buffer so you’re never stuck relying on same-day laundry. If you work five shifts a week, five sets is the minimum — but it assumes everything gets washed and dried on schedule, every week, without exception. Most caregivers find that unrealistic.
Add a buffer for laundry day
A more realistic number is your weekly shift count plus two. That gives you a spare set for the day laundry doesn’t happen on schedule, and a second spare for the unexpected — a spill, a stain, a shift that runs long and turns into back-to-back visits. For someone working five 12-hour shifts a week, that’s seven sets.
Factor in how you actually do laundry
If you wash uniforms after every single shift, you can get away with fewer sets. If you prefer to batch laundry once or twice a week — which most caregivers do, given the schedule — you’ll want enough sets to comfortably cover the gap between wash days, plus your buffer.
Quality changes the math
Uniforms built for frequent washing hold their shape, color, and stretch for far longer than budget scrubs, which means you’re not quietly replacing sets every few months as they wear out. Investing in fewer, better sets often costs less over a year than buying more of something that won’t last.
A simple starting point
- Part-time (2–3 shifts/week): 4–5 sets
- Full-time (4–5 shifts/week): 6–7 sets
- Full-time, 12-hour shifts: 7–8 sets
If you’re building your rotation from scratch, our Caregiver Starter Kit is a practical way to begin — it’s built around exactly this kind of everyday math. See the Starter Kit.