There’s no difference in how to clean white blouses, blue jeans, summer dresses, or even underwear if they’ve been stained by an injury or your period. Bleach (the stain-busting MVP) can discolor or destroy your clothing, so check the care labels before attempting to remove blood stains. Using bleach on wool, silk, mohair, leather, spandex, and non-colorfast hues are not suggested, therefore always follow the care instructions.

Carolyn Forte, Executive Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, has put together a guide on how to get blood out of clothes for those who are dealing with a type and color of fabric that bleaches effectively. If chlorine or non-chlorine bleach isn’t an option for your garment, you’ll need to turn to various stain removers, detergents, and treatments to get the job done. You can also use a product like Carbona Stain Devils #4, which is designed specifically to remove blood stains. In the event that you are uncertain about a product’s safety, try it out on an inside seam or hem first.

To get rid of stains, Forte recommends using cleaning products that have been proven to work time and time again and following the product’s usage and dosage instructions. They may be updated or modified as product formulas change.

How to Remove Blood from Clothes

A new bloodstain is the easiest to remove, as is the case with most other stains. Do not delay in locating the necessary supplies in your medicine cabinet and laundry room as soon as you see blood on your clothes.

As quickly as possible, use cold water to soak the discoloration. The fresher the stain, the better the results you’ll get from running it under cold water.

Scrub the stain with cold water and soap or hydrogen peroxide with a sponge.

In order to get rid of the remaining stain, use a fabric-safe bleach in warm water and a laundry pre-treater or liquid laundry detergent that contains enzymes.

Wait until the stain is entirely removed before using a dryer.

First, dab the blood with a cold-water-dampened towel or rag to remove as much as possible. Scrub less. This can enlarge the discoloration in the fibers.  If available, use Tide Liquid Coldwater or Oxi Clean Versatile Stain Remover Powder.

Wool, silk, and dry-clean-only apparel are delicate. These stains may require professional help to remove. Soak garments for an hour. Some stains require a six-hour soak. Bleach and other harsh chemicals can harm the fabric’s fibers and colors. Also, avoid using hot water as this will set the stain.

Blot detergent with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach that is harmless for clothes, skin, and materials. Some blogs advocate using a toothbrush. If you choose to do so, be aware that this may push the stain further into some fabrics.

Hydrogen peroxide may cause fizzing. After treatment, wash the fabric in lukewarm water to eliminate any leftover chemicals.

DO NOT use heat to dry the stain. Dryer heat sets stains.

Repeat if the stain remains.

These approaches are for little blood drops or stains and do not disinfect bloodborne germs on textiles. If the bloodstain is huge, pooling, or in many places, seek an expert.