Influence of Multiple Laundering on Cotton Shirts Properties

Abstract

White and light colored cotton men's shirts were submitted to multiple laundering with two different detergents under the same washing conditions. Powder detergent contained bleaching agent and optical brightening agents while the liquid one did not. Changes after 25 washing cycles were analyzed through mechanical, comfort and aesthetic properties and ash content. Mechanical properties were studied by measuring tensile strength and tensile elongation, comfort by air permeability and thickness and aesthetic properties by whiteness index and CIELab coordinates. Shirts laundered whith powder detergent showed higher thickness, mechanical properties and ash content and lower air permeability compared to shirts laundered with liquid detergent. White shirts laundered with powder detergent showed higher whiteness index compared to shirts laundered with liquid detergent. Colored shirts laundered with powder detergent were lighter (higher ΔL*) and showed higher fading (higher ΔE*) compared to shirts laundered with liquid detergent.