Why surgical scrub sinks matter in clinical environments

Surgical scrub sinks are purpose-built for pre-procedure hand and forearm scrubbing. Compared to standard hand sinks, scrub sinks are typically designed around real OR workflows—think deep, sloped basins to reduce splash, hands-free activation options, and configurations that let multiple clinicians scrub simultaneously.

Key features to look for when buying a scrub sink

• Hands-free activation: Infrared (sensor) or knee-operated controls help reduce cross-contamination risks during scrubbing.
• Bay count and throughput: Single bay for lower-volume rooms, dual bay for parallel scrubbing, and triple bay for high-volume surgical schedules.
• Temperature control: Look for thermostatic mixing and stable delivery—especially important in fast-paced surgical turnover.
• Easy-to-clean construction: Stainless steel surfaces and welded/coved designs can simplify cleaning and reduce soil traps.
• Maintenance-friendly components: Features like serviceable strainers and accessible valves can reduce downtime.
• Optional safety accessories: Some scrub stations can be configured with eyewash functionality—helpful in OR corridors and clinical support zones.

Our scrub sinks lineup (single, dual, and triple bay)

Single Bay Scrub Sinks (space-saving, efficient)

ES Series Scrub Sink Single Bay

If you need a compact footprint without giving up “true scrub sink” ergonomics, this is a strong fit. It’s well-suited to facilities working around tight OR cores or smaller procedure spaces.

• Best for: outpatient surgery centers, GI/endoscopy clinics, pain clinics, dental surgery suites, veterinary procedure rooms
• Why teams choose it: single-station scrubbing in limited space; practical upgrade path for older rooms

SS Series Single Bay Surgical Scrub Sink With Knee Operated Water & Soap

This model is a great choice when you want hands-free knee activation for both water and soap, paired with a scrub-sink design built for daily clinical use.

• Best for: hospitals, ASCs, orthopedic procedure suites, plastics/ENT surgical centers
• Why teams choose it: knee-operated workflow + durable, easy-to-clean scrub sink construction

Steris Amsco Flexmatic Single Bay Scrub Station

When facilities standardize around STERIS-style scrub stations, this single bay option is a go-to. It’s designed for dependable day-to-day use and includes features many teams look for in higher-acuity environments—like easy-to-use knee panels and integrated temperature control. It also includes a built-in eyewash station attachment (useful for OR access to emergency eyewash capability).

• Best for: hospital operating rooms, surgical corridors, sterile processing-adjacent clinical areas
• Why teams choose it: STERIS scrub station familiarity + robust build + eyewash capability

Dual Bay Scrub Sinks (two clinicians scrubbing in parallel)

SS Series Dual Bay Surgical Scrub Sink with Infrared Operated Water & Soap

For busy OR schedules, dual bay scrub sinks help prevent bottlenecks. This model adds infrared-operated water and soap to reduce touch points during pre-op scrubbing.

• Best for: main OR suites, labor & delivery surgical areas, high-volume ASCs
• Why teams choose it: true hands-free activation + dual-station throughput

SS Series Dual Bay Surgical Scrub Sink W/ Knee Operated Water & Soap

This is a practical pick when you want a dual-station scrub sink with knee-operated control for workflow speed and hygiene, without moving to infrared activation.

• Best for: ASCs, hospital OR cores, procedure centers expanding room count
• Why teams choose it: dual-bay capacity + straightforward hands-free knee operation

Dual Bay Economy Sink with Manual Knee Operated Water

Need dual-bay capacity on a tighter budget? This economy option is designed to keep the fundamentals—proper basin geometry and hands-free knee activation—while staying cost-conscious.

• Best for: outpatient surgical facilities, specialty clinics adding a second scrub position, veterinary surgical hospitals
• Why teams choose it: cost-effective dual bay throughput with knee-operated activation

ES Series Dual Bay Economy Sink W/ Infrared Operated Water

This model is built for facilities that want the economy footprint but prefer infrared (sensor) water activation to reduce touch points.

• Best for: ASCs, outpatient procedure rooms, clinical buildouts prioritizing touchless water activation
• Why teams choose it: budget-friendly dual bay + infrared water activation

Steris Manual Dual Bay Flexmatic Scrub Sink

This refurbished STERIS Flexmatic dual bay scrub sink is a strong match for facilities that want a recognizable scrub station platform. It includes two knee push pedals for activation and a built-in thermostatically controlled mixing valve (with documented temperature capability up to 115°F / 46°C). Note: soap dispensers are not included.

• Best for: hospital OR renovations, facilities standardizing on STERIS-style scrub stations, surgery centers scaling up
• Why teams choose it: STERIS Flexmatic platform + dual-station capacity

Dual Bay Flexematic Scrubsink, IR

This refurbished Flexmatic dual bay scrub station is designed for durability and easy cleaning, and includes a built-in thermostatically controlled mixing valve (documented up to 115°F / 46°C) and a chair carrier. Note: foot pedal or knee activated soap dispensers must be ordered separately (not included).

• Best for: facilities needing a refurbished dual bay scrub station platform with temperature control consistency
• Why teams choose it: rugged build + dual bay layout + refurbished value

Triple Bay Scrub Sinks (high-volume OR throughput)

Triple Bay Surgical Scrub Sink w/ Knee Operated Water & Soap

When multiple clinicians need to scrub at once—especially during turnover windows—a triple bay scrub sink can remove a major bottleneck. This model is built for multi-user workflows with hands-free knee operation for water and soap.

• Best for: high-volume hospital OR suites, teaching hospitals, multi-room ASCs
• Why teams choose it: three scrub stations in one footprint for faster parallel prep

Quick “which scrub sink should I choose?” guidance

• Choose single bay when you have one primary scrubber at a time, limited corridor space, or lower daily case volume.
• Choose dual bay when you regularly have two clinicians scrubbing at once and want to reduce pre-op delays.
• Choose triple bay when you run high case volume, multiple rooms, or teaching workflows where multiple staff scrub simultaneously.
• Choose infrared activation when reducing touch points is the priority and you want a more automated workflow.
• Choose knee-operated activation when you want hands-free control with simple, familiar mechanics.

Why facilities choose Auxo Medical for scrub sinks

We stock scrub sink options that fit real-world budgets and buildout needs, including new and refurbished scrub sinks and scrub stations. If you’re replacing an aging scrub station, adding bays to support more rooms, or building out a new OR core, we help you match the right configuration to your workflow and space.

FAQ: Surgical scrub sinks

What’s the difference between a scrub sink and a standard handwashing sink?

A scrub sink is purpose-built for surgical-style scrubbing (hands/forearms) and typically emphasizes basin shape, splash reduction, hands-free activation, and multi-user configurations for OR throughput.

Is infrared (touchless) better than knee-operated for an OR scrub sink?

Both can support hands-free workflows. Infrared reduces physical contact points, while knee-operated controls are often preferred for their simplicity and familiarity. The best choice depends on your facility’s preferences, maintenance approach, and standardization goals.

Do I need dual bay or triple bay?

If your team frequently scrubs in parallel (two providers at the same time), dual bay is often the sweet spot. Triple bay is best when you have multiple rooms turning over quickly or when teaching workflows require more simultaneous scrubbing capacity.

Ready to spec a scrub sink for your facility? At Auxo Medical, we can help you select the right surgical scrub sink or scrub station—single, dual, or triple bay—based on your space, throughput, and activation preferences.

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