Comparison of Yarn Costs Between Standard and Washed Cottons

Abstract

Washing cotton before it is processed into yarn may eliminate or attenuate the biologically active byssinotic agent, reduce dust levels in mills, and exempt mills from the OSHA cotton dust standard. The tandem carding and reduced spinning speed specified to maintain yarn quality in processing washed cotton results in an 8.9% increase in the cost of yarn from washed as compared to unwashed standard cotton. Washing procedures and finishes that would allow the processing of washed cotton at normal spindle speed would increase yarn cost by 1.4%.