​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​How do I or a caregiver do laundry safely?

If laundry (towels, bedding, clothes) had no contact with the known hazard medicine or your body fluids, you can wash it normally.

If laundry had contact with the known hazard medicine or your body fluids, wash it as soon as possible. Keep it separate from other laundry. If you can’t wash it right away, put it in a plastic bag, tie it tightly, and put it in another bag until you can wash it.

Follow these steps to do the laundry safely:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water. Caregivers must also put on gloves.
2. Put the laundry directly into the washing machine.
3. Throw out the gloves using 2 garbage bags in the regular garbage (see Throwing out medicine, used supplies, and garbage​).
4. Wash your hands with soap and water.
5. Wash the laundry 2 times with detergent. Use bleach if it’s OK for the fabric, and hot​ water (cold water can’t clean this type of laundry properly).