scope:

Purpose and Scope

This monograph outlines a standard laboratory practice to perform hand laundering of fabric specimens or small apparel items, with detergent. Several AATCC and ASTM test methods reference hand laundering, either to compare the results of an accelerated test, or to evaluate fabrics or apparel items for appearance, dimensional change, etc. Additionally, care labels on apparel items may recommend hand laundering. Currently, no standard procedures exist for laboratory duplication of hand laundering of apparel items by consumers. For this reason, AATCC has established a recommended standard laboratory practice that reflects consumer practice and provides consistent procedures for test repeatability. 

The laboratory procedures in this monograph are intended to simulate hand laundering of apparel items by consumers. The temperatures used in this monograph are consistent with those in the AATCC Monograph, Standardization of Home Laundry Test Conditions. Users are advised to familiarize themselves with the temperatures in that AATCC Monograph.

This practice recommends the use of AATCC Standard Reference Detergents. Commercially available detergents may be used prior to agreement between the interested parties. However, the use of such detergents may increase the between laboratory variability. Even if all comparison testing is done in one laboratory, repeatability of tests may be lessened by use of commercially available detergents in which additives may be changed from time to time to meet changing market or consumer demands.