scope:

This PAS deals with methods for measuring the "gentleness of action" (GoA) of clothes washing machines for household use, with or without heating devices and for cold and/or hot water supply. It is also applicable to appliances for both washing and drying textiles (called washer-dryers) with respect to the washing phase. "Gentleness of action" defines the influence of washing machine parameters to irreversible changes of the textile properties. These changes can be visible or not visible. Examples of these irreversible changes are: - loss of tensile tear strengths; - surface friction (abrasion, pilling); - dimensional changes (shrinkage or elongation); - creasing; - "structural disorientation". Three methods for different ranges of mechanical action are described to measure and quantify the influences of the machine parameters by measuring one or several of these irreversible changes: - thread removal method (TRM - preferable for low to medium mechanical action); - dot removal method (DRM - preferable for high mechanical action); - fraying method (FM - preferable for medium to high mechanical action).