Types of Chemical Used in Garments Washing:
Apparel washing is one of the important key points to the buyers for attracting the customers in their products. After washing the garments, they look too much pretty, which attracts the customers. In garments washing, a lot of chemicals are used to complete the whole process. Those chemicals have been discussed in this article with their functions.
List of Chemicals Used in Laundry:
Various types of chemicals used in garments washing are mentioned in the following:
- Whitening agent,
- Wetting agent,
- Detergent silicon,
- Hygroscopic agent,
- Fixing agent,
- Softening agent,
- Defoaming agent,
- Silicon,
- Rubbing fastness improvers,
- Sequestering agent,
- Meta by sulfite,
- Weight giving agent,
- Waterproofing agent,
- Enzyme,
- Acid enzyme,
- Neutral enzyme,
- Stiffening agent,
- Bleaching agent,
- Chlorine bleach,
- Calcium hypochlorite,
- Sodium hypochlorite,
- Hydrogen peroxide,
- Anti-back-stain,
- Caustic,
- Potash,
- Soda,
- Acetic acid,
- Leakage,
- Phosphoric acid,
- Hypo,
- Ant mildew agent,
- Bio polishing.
Functions of Washing Chemical:
Functions of each chemical have discussed below:
1. Whitening agent:
The chemicals which are used for more whitening the garments or clothing is called a whitening agent. Basically, we use this chemical in garments washing for white garments to achieve more whiteness like optical brightener, 4bk, etc.
2. Wetting agent:
The agent which is used to increase the wet property in the garments is called a wetting agent. We use this chemical in the washing bath to properly wet the garments so that washing chemicals can easily be used and work properly. Example: lissapo.
3. Detergent silicon:
Detergents are that chemical which removes the stain from the garments during washing. There are many types of detergents such as acidic detergent and alkali detergent.
4. Hygroscopic agent:
The agent which can easily absorb water from nature is called a hygroscopic agent. When the environment is very weighty that time we use these types of agents to avoid excessive moisture from the garments. Example: calcium chloride, amylopectin, etc.
5. Fixing agent:
The agent which is used for fixing the dyes with the fabric is called the fixing agent. In the case of garments dyeing, we use this agent after completing dyeing.
6. Softening agent:
These types of chemicals are used in garments washing for softening the garments which are widely used in the garments washing sector. Because hand feel is a great factor in garments washing. There are different types of softening chemicals used in garment washing. Among those cat-ionic and nonionic softener is mostly used. In the case of color garments we use a cat-ionic softener and for white garments we use a nonionic softener. Softeners are working inside the garments cellulose.
7. Defoaming agent:
The agent which is used in garments washing for reducing foaming from the garments is called a de-foaming agent. When the excessive foam is produced at dyeing or washing bath then we use this chemical.
8. Silicon:
It is used for final finishing the garments. Silicon provides excellent smoothness; nice durability and a good hand feel to the garments. Silicon is one kind of metal but it has high lubricant properties.
9. Rubbing fastness improvers:
Rubbing fastness will increase after using these types of washing chemicals.
10. Sequestering agent:
It is used in garment washing for processing the calcium and magnesium ions that dissolve in the water. These ions are creating obstacles in wet processing causing the pinhole effect.
11. Meta by sulfite:
It is a neutralization agent that is used in garments washing for oxidizing the garments. After using potash and bleach in the garments, we used this agent to neutral those. It helps to achieve a reddish tone in the garments.
12. Weight giving agent:
The chemical which increases the weight of the fabric is called weight giving agent. This type of agent is attached to the garments which will not remove by normal washing or laundry.
13. Waterproofing agent:
The chemical which is used in garments washing for protecting water-absorbing is called a water-absorbing agent. Example: PVC.
14. Enzyme:
Enzymes are used as cleaning products such as cleaning and fabric care agent. Most of the enzymes break down soils and stains.
15. Acid enzyme:
The acid enzyme works at the acidic medium that means when water an acidic condition (PH range 5-5.5) and comparatively at low temperature (45-50°C). We have to control this enzyme activity by checking the PH of the washing bath by adding acid or basic. In the garments washing bath, we select the enzyme based on the garment’s shade. This enzyme is available in liquid form.
16. Neutral enzyme:
The neutral enzyme works at the neutral condition that means when water at (PH 6.5-7) and comparatively at high temperature (55-60°C). Here also we have to control the enzyme activity by checking the PH of the washing bath by adding acid or basic. These enzymes are available in powder form.
17. Stiffering agent:
This type of chemical is used in garments washing for stiffness or hardness of garments. Example: resin, silicate, and melamine.
18. Bleaching agent:
The bleaching agent is used in garments washing for reducing color from the garments. It has various uses in other industries also. Based on construction, bleach is two types, chlorine, and nonchlorine bleach.
19. Chlorine bleach:
Chlorine bleach contains chlorine at a different percentage. Its activity depends on the chlorine percentage. Chlorine bleach is also two types i.e. sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite.
20. Calcium hypochlorite:
Calcium chloride is one kind of chlorine bleach. The basic difference between sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite is that sodium hypochlorite is liquid and calcium hypochlorite is powder. The powder form is easy to handle and transport. It is a widely used washing chemical for water treatment. The chemical is greater availability and stability than sodium hypochlorite.
21. Sodium hypochlorite:
Its chemical formula is NaOCl. It is produced by the reaction of sodium hydroxide and chlorine gas.
22. Hydrogen peroxide:
It is widely used in garment washing. It is a good oxidizer and used as a bleaching and cleaning agent. Sometimes it is used as a neutralizing agent. It is also high flammability.
23. Anti-back-stain:
In garments washing, anti-back-stain helps to protect back staining from water. In the bulk wash, we have to use different chemicals and for the effect of chemicals, color is washed out from the garments. Those colors may again back to the garments, especially at the pocket area. To protect those colors anti back satin is used.
24. Caustic:
It is a strong alkali substance, also a cleaning agent. In garments washing bath, we have to use this for removing color and cleaning. After using this chemical PH value will increase. It is also used as a de-sizing agent.
25. Potash:
Potash is a strong oxidizer. Mainly wee used this chemical in garments washing to reduce the color from the sitting and local area that area previously scrapped. Its chemical name is potassium permanganate. Its color is reddish. We used this chemical in garments washing by mixing it with the water and making a solution. After making the solution then sprays on the garments.
26. Soda:
It is also an alkali type substance that is used to remove color. Its PH is also higher. We used this chemical for de-sizing, cleaning, and scouring agent. Both caustic and soda are the same but soda is used for achieving reddish tone and caustic is used for blue tone.
27. Acetic acid:
It is one kind of acid which has various uses at garments washing plant. We used this chemical to control PH and cleaning purpose.
28. Leakage:
It is one kind of enzyme that is used in garment washing for achieving gray cast color. It is in powder form. It is a special type of enzyme. When the garments showing too much blue but need a reddish or gray tone at that time we used leakage enzyme.
29. Phosphoric acid:
It is one kind of acid that is specially used for active oxidizer. It is used in the mixture of potash. If we add phosphoric acid to the potash solution then potash will be more active.
30. Hypo:
It is a strong neutralizing agent. After using any oxidizer we used this chemical to neutralize the garments. It is used for achieving a blue tone in the garments.
31. Ant mildew agent:
The chemical which protects the garments from mold and mildew is called an anti-mildew agent. Example: Zinc chloride.
32. Bio polishing:
It is one kind of acid enzyme. But there is little difference from the acid enzyme. In bio polishing, there was a buffer solution but acid enzyme no buffer solution. In the case of buffer solution, PH remains the same as earlier. This type of chemical is used in garments washing for removing brush for its special action. After using bio polishing, garments achieved more softness.
Mayedul Islam is a Founder and Editor of Garments Merchandising. He is an Expert in Garments Merchandising. Writing is his passion. He loves to write articles about Apparel, Textile and Garment Washing specially on Merchandising. Mail him at mayedul.islam66@gmail.com
Nice Blog! Thanks for sharing such a valuable information. Optical brightening agents are chemical compounds that absorb light in the ultraviolet and violet region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and re-emit light in the blue region. This is also one of whitening agent used in chemical industry.
i am very glad to read this alternatives .this will help me to get a good jobs and a better salary in garments sectors.
very nice
Thanks.
Congratulations
Nice to read this important article.