1. Care of Textile Products

2. Factors Related to Cleaning
Soil and soil removal
Mechanically held soil: gum, mud, or wax; removed by agitation or scraping
Electrostatic soil: lint and dust; removed by neutralizing attraction
Water-soluble soil: beverages, etc.; removed with water
Organic soil: oil, grease, fatty soil; removed with chemical action and heat

3. Factors Related to Cleaning
Detergency
Lower surface tension with detergent or soap
Soap or detergent molecule: Organic tail and water-soluble head dislodge soil.
Keep soil suspended in water and prevents redeposition.

4. Soil Removal

5. Factors Related to Cleaning
Solvents: Liquid that dissolves another material.
Water: Solvent used in laundering.
Water hardness: amount and type of mineral contaminants present
Calcium, iron, and others
Interfere with action of detergent or soap
Removed or sequestered

6. Factors Related to Cleaning
Water Temperature: Determines effectiveness of laundry aids.
Related to removal of certain soils
Affects colorfastness of some dyes
Water Volume
Allows for agitation
Keeps soil suspended
Minimizes wrinkling

7. Factors Related to Cleaning
Other solvents: Used in dry cleaning and spot/stain removal.
Perchloroethylene (perc): widely used; removes oily soils; possible carcinogen and environmental hazard
Trichloro-trifluoroethane (CFC 113): removes oily soils; environmentally hazardous; being phased out
Replacement solvents used by some dry cleaners: cyclic siloxane, liquid carbon dioxide

8. Synthetic Detergents and Soap
Surfactants
Nonionics: liquid form; temperature sensitive
Anionics: best in hot and warm water; good for oily soils; powder and liquid form
Cationics: seldom used
Builder: Not present in some formations
Assists in cleaning; sequesters hardness ions
Phosphate, carbonate, citrate, Zeolites: phosphates replaced in U.S. market.

9. Synthetic Detergents and Soap
Enzymes: Minimize worn appearance of textiles
Anti-fading agents and color transfer inhibitors.
Other ingredients: Antiredeposition agents, perfumes, dyes, fluorescent whitening agents.
Soap: Salt of long chain fatty acid; reacts with hard water to form insoluble curd; less effective than synthetic detergents at cleaning.

10. Synthetic Detergents and Soap
Additives
Bleach: powder or liquid
Fabric softener: washer or dryer; potential problems with synthetic & lightweight fabrics
Water softener
Presoak: assist in soil and stain removal
Other additives: disinfectant (check for EPA registration number to certify that these are strong enough to disinfect), presoak, pretreatment for soil removal, starch/sizing, bluing

11. Special Products Compound to clean down and feathers.
Soaps and detergents for hand washing of wool and delicates.
Detergent formulated for textiles used with babies.
Stain removal agents for use with carpets and upholstery or outdoor textiles.
Stain removal agents for rust and grease stains.
Soaps and detergents with all natural ingredients or with no perfume or color added.

12. Laundering Sort: By color, soil, linting ability, abrasion resistance.
Washing: User-friendly machines; built-in cycles for easy use; horizontal & vertical axis.
Drying: Regular and vent-free dryers.

13. Dry Cleaning
Solvents: perchloroethylene (perc), fluorocarbon, petroleum, or others
International Fabricare Institute
Process
Check item in: identification number assigned
Pretreated at spotting board
Tumbled in dry cleaning unit with charged solvent
Solvent reclaimed
Pressed or finished on specialized equipment

14. Dry Cleaning
Services: repair, water repellency, wedding dresses, antique items, drapery, pillows
Leather and fur cleaning
Home solvent cleaning kits

15. Professional Wet cleaning
Commercial alternative to traditional dry cleaning.
Uses water, steam, heat, natural soaps, and pressing to restore item.
Options: Steam cleaning, spot removing, hand washing, gentle machine washing, tumble drying, vacuuming.
Effects: Less odor, good cleanliness, more labor intensive, some stains hard to remove, minimal stretching or shrinking, some wrinkling and color loss.
Advantages: Less expensive to establish & run, energy intensive, environmental concern.

16. Storage Important for producers and consumers.
Storage next to plastic may cause problems with color migration.
Storage next to raw wood may cause acid degradation.
Storage in dry cleaner bags may cause textiles to discolor or mildew.
Protect from insects and mildew.
Store clean and dry.

17. Carpet Cleaning Methods
Vacuuming: Removes particulate soil and dust.
Wet cleaning or shampooing: Dilute water-detergent solution; applied to textile, wet vacuumed; potential problems with over-saturation.
Dry foam or aerosol cleaning: Spray foam on textile; work in with brush, soil and foam removed with vacuum.

18. Carpet Cleaning Methods
Hot water extraction or steam cleaning: Hot water-detergent solution injected into textile; wet vacuumed.
Powder cleaner or dry extraction cleaning: Dry powder sprinkled on textile; worked into pile; removed by vacuum.
Ultrasonic cleaning: Requires special facility; high frequency sound removes soil.

19. Conservation For historic and collectable textiles
Special techniques for cleaning, storing, and handling textiles to minimize damage.

20. Environmental Impact
Dry-cleaning solvents: Carcinogenic; environmentally hazardous to air and water quality.
Phosphate builders: replaced in U.S.
Detergents
Biodegradable (voluntary by detergent manufacturers)
New formulations: less builder and filler; multi-functional ingredients
Recycled, recyclable packaging, and refillable containers
Energy and water use
Changes in equipment: vertical vs. horizontal washers
Microwave dryers