doffing

Doffing is the act of removing clothing or equipment from the body. The term contrasts with donning, which means putting on. Doffing is used across a range of contexts, including personal protective equipment (PPE), industrial settings, theatre, and textile production.

In healthcare and other high-contamination-risk environments, doffing PPE is performed in a prescribed order to minimize self-contamination. A common sequence is removing gloves, then gown, then eye protection, and then the mask or respirator, with hand hygiene performed after all items have been removed. Proper doffing often relies on training and may be guided by checklists to ensure each step is completed correctly.

In textile manufacturing, doffing refers to the removal of full bobbins from a spinning frame by the doffer, who replaces them with empty ones. The term reflects a specific operational stage in spinning and carding processes.

In theatre, film, and costume work, doffing denotes the removal of costumes or wardrobe after a performance or shoot. In museums, it can describe the removal of protective coverings or other temporary dressings on displays or exhibits.

The concept of doffing emphasizes the broader practice of safely removing worn items and returning to a baseline state. Across domains, proper technique and, where relevant, hygiene or safety procedures are important to prevent contamination, damage, or disruption to workflow.