Wet Soiling of Cotton

Abstract

The retention of various soils during laundering as a function of the type of finishing agent applied to cotton fabries was studied. Soil retention is compared with soil deposi tion. Generally, systems that are readily soiled from a water medium also have a strong tendency to retain soil during laundering. Chemically modified cottons having a large degree of swelling in water are a notable exception ; soil is difficult to remove but does not deposit readily. Silicone, Huorocarbon, and hydrocarbon acrylate finishes have a strong retentiveness for soil corresponding to a large tendency to become soiled in aqueous systems.