textile science

Introduction

In the last two topics, we looked at the various agents that are used in laundry –work .we defined laundry -work as the general care of clothes and household articles. It may also be defined as the washing, rinsing, drying and finishing of textile products.iin this types of washing .we shall also look at how to remove stains.

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

                                  i.            list the various laundry work processes

                                ii.            Differentiate between the regular and special laundry work processes.

                              iii.            Starch a white garment.

                              iv.            Disinfect napkins handkerchiefs.

Regular laundry work processes.

There are various processes that a textiles article should go through as it is being laundered. They Include:

 

a.      Sorting

a)      Color –similar colors should be grouped.

b)      Age of wearer –whether babies, elderly, teenagers, or others.

c)      Use of articles such as bed sheets, foundations garments or tablecloths.

d)     Amount of dirt, for example, overalls for mechanics as opposed to Sunday wear.

e)      Types of fiber(s) such as cotton, Terylene.

f)       Health status of wearer, for example, one suffering from a skin disease versus a healthy person.

g)      Fast and loose colored fabrics

h)      Whether they are heavily stained or not.

b.      Mending

-          This refers to repairing worn out parts. It is done before washing soap to prevent increase of tears as well as to wash off any dirt  that may be  incurred while mending .mending may involve repairing seams, fixing hems, patching ,darning holes ,fixing buttons or  replacing zippers .mending prolongs the life  of  garment and enhances the appearance of  clothes  as well as the water.

c.       Soaking /steeping

Soaking is done only for fast colored clothes or articles, and for those that do not stretch. It may be in plain or soapy water.it is done to loosen dirt or stains. It also helps in wetting the article by loosening the surface tension of water.

 

d.      Stain removal

This is removal of fixed dirt according to its nature and the type of fabric. Depending on the nature of the stain, it may be done before or after soaking .we shall learn more about stain removal later.

e.       Washing

This is actual removal of dirt from the article by use of water detergent and pressure. The temperature of washing water may vary depending on the type of fiber present.

There are 2 methods of washing

i)        Friction or rubbing method is used for fabrics which are quite strong when wet such as cotton and linen, as well as for fabrics which do not stretch or lose color.

ii)                  Kneading and squeezing method is used for delicate   fabrics like wool, and for those fabrics that stretch or lose color.

f.       Rinsing

This is the process that gets rid of the dirt which is removed during washing, as well as the traces of the detergent used. This is done in order:-

i)        To avoid discoloration of the garment

ii)      To prevent weakening the fibers

iii)    To avoid skin irritation

iv)    To give a fresh smell

v)      To improve the hang or drape of a garment or article

Garment should be rinsed in warm water severally till the water is clear, and then given a final rinse in cold water to freshen them. However, no cold rinse should be given to wool as it may shrink or matt.

g.      Drying

This refers to the removal of moisture from article by different methods; for example, hanging, drying flat, under direct sunlight, drying in indirect sunlight or under shade, or machine drying.

Advantages of drying fabrics in direct sunlight

                                i.            It’s cheap

                              ii.            Enhance freshness and helps remove strong odour

                            iii.            A natural bleach i.e. helps in whitening clothing e.g. sheets, towels and cloth diapers

                            iv.            Natural disinfectant

                              v.            Gentle on clothing (tossing and tumbling cause wear, tear and strain)

                            vi.            Conserves resources and energy 

h.      Ironing /Pressing

This is the removal of creases or wrinkles from a fabric. It is done to:-

i)        kill germs

ii)      Removal creases or straighten an article

iii)    Give a fresh look

iv)    Help a garment retain its original shape.

v)      Make it easier to store an article, or to

vi)    Warm a garment or article such as bed linen and babies ‘clothes

Garments may be ironed or pressed while slightly damp for easier straightening. In ironing, the iron box moves up and down, or to and fro, across the garment. It is done on fabrics that do not stretch or shine. In pressing, the box is lifted, placed in one area, then lifted and placed in another area till all creases are removed .it is done on fabrics that shine or stretch if ironed.

i.        Airing

This is putting a garment in an airy space so as to either freshen the garment, or to dry the garment completely especially if it was ironed damp. This prevents formation of mildew in cellulosic fibers.

j.        Storing

Storing is the process of keeping away clothes in their respective storage places, for example, drawers, suitcases, boxes, cartons, wardrobes and clothing bags. Garments should be folded or hang depending on their nature and/or convenience of the user.

 

SPECIAL LAUNDRY WORK PROCESSES

These are processes that are not done on all types of fabrics or articles, but on those that require specialized care. They include:

i.                    Use of salt

Salt is used for various reasons. They are

i)        To emulsify mucus in hankies

ii)      To remove ink, protein and blood stains.

iii)    To fixes color on loose colored garments.

iv)    To disinfect articles such as handkerchiefs.

 

ii.                  Use of vinegar and lemon juice.

Vinegar and lemon juice are used in the final rinse of colored clothes to brighten their color

 

iii.                Bleaching

Bleaching is done before washing so as to kill germs, whiten garments or remove attains.

NOTE WELL:

Babies’ and children’s clothes should not be bleached as this may cause skin irritation. Garment must be thoroughly washed and rinsed after bleaching to remove all traces of the bleach.

 

iv.                Bluing

This is done on white garments to whiten them. Done on white garments which tend to yellow with age. The blue agent absorbs the yellow light so that less yellow is reflected. The surface therefore, reflects blue or ultra-violet rays which make it look whiter.

Blue is made from soda ash, sodium sulphate, charcoal, Sulphur and clay. The ingredients are heated until a colored substance is formed. It is then ground and compressed into cakes and cut into cubes.

 

v.                  Boiling

This involves putting clothes which have been thoroughly washed and rinsed into water and bringing it to boil. The articles are held at boiling temperatures for 10-20 minutes. Boiling is done so as to brighten whites, kill germs and to remove stains.

Points to observe when boiling

-          Items to be boiled must be washed and rinsed thoroughly before boiling

-          During boiling items must be turned occasionally using a stick or pair of tongs.

-          After boiling the items, they should be rinsed in cold water to freshen the fabrics

-          Boiling is suitable for disinfecting white cottons and linen articles 

 

 

vi.                Use of steam

Germs are killed by putting the articles in a chamber with hot steam. This treatment best suits white cotton and linen articles. It is commonly used in institutions such as hotels, hospitals and prisons.

 

 

 

vii.              Starching

Starching is done on white garments after the final rinse, to stiffen, whiten and give a crisps appearance to a garment. Starched articles after ironing become smooth and glossy and does not get dirty easily. Starching is done after the final rinse.

 

viii.            Sponging

Sponging is given to garments made of dark-colored fabrics which are soiled on the surface, such as woolens. The surface is cleaned with a cleaning fluid and a laundry brush or cotton pad with no fluff. Different solutions may be used depending on the fabric being cleaned. They include warm water, warm soapy water, salt, ammonia and vinegar.

 

Method of sponging an article.

·         Shake the garment to remove surface dirt.

·         Spread on the working surface

·         Remove any stains

·         Dip a cloth or sponge in the solution and squeeze out extra moisture.

·         Cleaning systematically from the wrong side, then to the double portions such as cuffs.

·         Rinse each section with clean, warm water.

·         Turn to the right side and clean a little at a time.

·         Rinse well using the same procedure.

·         Hang in fresh air to rid of the smell(to air)

 

Advantage of sponging

·         Saves  time and money

·         Solutions are easy to make at home.

·         There is no loss of color or shape especially in bulky garments.

 

ix.                Spotting

This is treatment given to dark-colored garments which happen to accidentally get soiled on small areas and need to be cleaned immediately. Spotting may be useful in situations where people are away from home and there are no clothes to change into.

 

x.                  Fixing colors

This is a treatment given to loose-colored articles during laundry to prevent loss of color.

 

Process of fixing color

-          After washing and rinsing

-          Use 1 tbs of sodium chloride (table salt) to every 4litres of cold water to make a solution

-          Immerse the loose colored garment and knead in the solution.

-          Squeeze out as much of the solution as possible from the garment

-          Dry in the shade with the wrong side out

 

Precautions taken to prevent loss of color

-          Using kneading and squeezing method of washing

Using mild detergent

-          Using moderate temperatures

-          Dry in shade