Care and Maintenance of Fabrics — NCERT Solutions

Given: After washing, fabrics may appear dull, limp, or yellowish. Finishing processes restore their original appearance.

Finishing Processes and Their Effects:

1. Blueing:

• During use and repeated washing, white and light-coloured fabrics tend to turn yellowish due to the natural yellowing of fibres.
• A small amount of blue dye (laundry blue) is added to the final rinse water.
• The blue colour is complementary to yellow on the colour wheel; together they produce a white or bright appearance.
• This optical effect makes the fabric look whiter and brighter.

2. Starching:

• Fabrics like cotton and linen become limp and soft after washing.
• Starch (rice water, commercial starch, or starch powder) is applied to the fabric during the final rinse or by spraying.
• Starch fills the spaces between the fibres, giving the fabric body, stiffness, and crispness.
• It also creates a smooth surface that resists soiling and makes ironing easier.
• Starch improves the textural characteristics — the fabric feels firmer and looks crisper.

3. Ironing/Pressing:

• Ironing with appropriate heat removes wrinkles and creases, restoring the smooth, neat appearance of the fabric.
• It also helps set the starch evenly and improves the overall finish.

Conclusion: Blueing restores the brightness and whiteness of fabrics by counteracting yellowing, while starching restores body, stiffness, and textural quality. Together, these finishing processes significantly improve the appearance and feel of washed fabrics.

What is Dry-Cleaning?

Dry-cleaning is a method of cleaning fabrics and garments using chemical solvents instead of water. Despite the name, it is not completely 'dry' — it uses liquid solvents, but these solvents do not penetrate the fibres the way water does, so the fabric does not get 'wet' in the conventional sense.

Common solvents used: Perchloroethylene (PERC), petroleum-based solvents, carbon tetrachloride.

Process:

• The garment is placed in a machine that tumbles it in the solvent.
• The solvent dissolves grease and oil-based soils.
• The solvent is then extracted, filtered, and recycled.
• The garment is dried and finished (pressed).

Types of Fabrics Where Dry-Cleaning is Recommended:

1. Wool and woollen fabrics: Water and agitation cause wool fibres to felt and shrink due to the scaly structure of wool fibres. Dry-cleaning prevents shrinkage and matting.

2. Silk fabrics: Water can cause silk to lose its lustre, change texture, or develop water spots. Dry-cleaning preserves the sheen and delicate texture of silk.

3. Heavily embroidered or embellished fabrics: Embroidery threads, beads, sequins, and zari work may get damaged, tarnished, or loosened by water and agitation.

4. Fabrics with special finishes: Fabrics with finishes such as glazing, embossing, or water-repellent coatings that may be destroyed by washing.

5. Structured garments: Tailored suits, jackets, and coats with interfacing and padding that may lose their shape when washed in water.

6. Rayon and acetate fabrics: These fibres weaken considerably when wet and may shrink or distort.

7. Fabrics labelled 'Dry-clean only': Any fabric whose care label specifically instructs dry-cleaning.

Conclusion: Dry-cleaning is recommended for delicate, structured, or specially finished fabrics that cannot withstand the mechanical action of water-based washing without damage to their appearance, texture, or shape.

Aim: To analyse the colour fastness of coloured fabrics to washing.

Materials Required:

• Four samples each of coloured fabric and white cotton fabric, each measuring $2'' \times 4''$
• $0.5\%$ soap solution prepared in warm water at $40^\circ$C
• Needle and thread (to join samples)
• Basin/bowl for washing

Procedure:

1. Join each coloured fabric sample with a white cotton sample (stitching along one edge) to produce four composite samples of $4'' \times 4''$, labelled A, B, C, D.
2. Keep Sample A as the control (no washing treatment).
3. Wash Samples B, C, and D once in $0.5\%$ soap solution in warm water ($40^\circ$C) by rubbing gently for 5 minutes. Rinse and dry.
4. Wash Samples C and D a second time using the same process. Rinse and dry.
5. Wash Sample D a third time using the same process. Rinse and dry.
6. Compare all samples with the control (Sample A) and record observations.

Observation Table:

(Students fill in actual observations based on their experiment.)

Inference/Conclusion:

• If the coloured fabric shows no change in colour and the white cloth shows no staining even after repeated washing → the fabric has good/excellent colour fastness to washing.
• If the coloured fabric fades and/or the white cloth gets stained → the fabric has poor colour fastness to washing and requires special care (gentle washing, cold water, separate washing from white fabrics).

Practical Significance: This knowledge helps consumers make wise choices about the care of coloured fabrics — whether they can be washed with other garments or require separate, gentle treatment to prevent colour bleeding.

Aim: To study and analyse the information provided on fabric and apparel labels and yardage stampings.

Materials Required:

• Five samples of labels from readymade garments (collected from shirts, sarees, trousers, etc.)
• Five samples of stampings from yardage/fabric lengths
• Notebook for recording observations

Part A — Analysis of Garment Labels:

For each garment label, record the following:

Part B — Analysis of Yardage Stampings:

For each stamping on yardage, record the following:

Observation Table (Sample Format for Garment Labels):

(Students fill in actual observations from their collected samples.)

Conclusion:

• Garment labels provide essential information about fibre content, size, and care instructions that help consumers maintain garments properly and extend their life.
• Yardage stampings help consumers understand the fabric composition, construction, and finishes, enabling them to choose the right fabric for the right purpose and care for it appropriately.
• Reading and following care labels is a key aspect of responsible consumer behaviour and ensures that garments retain their appearance and serviceability for a longer period.