To prewash, or not to prewash…

This has been an age long debate, with supporters on both sides. Personally I am ‘Team Prewash’, and here are a few reasons why…

Textile experiment!

Fabric burn tests are done as a form of fibre identification, as not all fibres react in the same manner.

Pay attention, this is a quick one!

The fabric tested is a square of Broadcloth, which is a woven fabric. In this instance the fabric is a polycotton, which consists of a blend of cotton and polyester fibres.

When doing a polycotton burn test, a combination of fibre characteristics can be observed:

COTTON burn characteristics:

Cotton is a natural cellulose fibre (short, plant fibres).

• Fabric is flammable

• Catches on fire easily - flare up when lit

• Burns easily - continues to burn

POLYESTER burn characteristics:

Polyester, a manufactured fibre, is a byproduct of the petroleum industry, which is similar to plastic.

• Fabric shrinks away from flame

• May flare up

• Melts rapidly, even after extinguished

• Not always self-extinguishing

• Black smoke - fumes can be hazardous

• No ash, only beads

• Residue is hard, discoloured beads

• Chemical smell - smells like burning plastic

Also, check out the Cotton and Polyester burn tests, to see how each fibre reacts individually!

Do a burn test when you are unsure about the fibre type of a fabric.

The fabric tested is a square of Spun viscose.

A woven fabric that consists of wood pulp, but can also be made from other plants that can produce a pulp, such as Bamboo.

Viscose, is a regenerated manufactured fibre, that is produced by extruding the wood pulp into fibres. This makes viscose neither a synthetic fibre, nor a natural fibre, but something in-between.

When doing the viscose burn test, the following can be observed:

• Fabric is flammable

• Catches fire easily - flare up when lit - even makes some sparks

• Burns easily - continues to burn quite rapidly

• Continues to burn after extinguished, but no afterglow

• No melted beads

• Grey smoke

• Smells like burning paper

• Ash is crumbly and soft - will disintegrate if you rub it

Do a burn test when you are unsure about the fibre type of a fabric.

The fabric tested is a square of Spunbond, a non-woven fabric that consists of polyester fibres that have been massed together.

Polyester, a manufactured fibre, is a byproduct of the petroleum industry, which is similar to plastic.

When doing the polyester burn test, the following can be observed:

• Fabric shrinks away from flame

• May flare up

• Melts rapidly, even after extinguished

• Not always self-extinguishing

• Black smoke - fumes can be hazardous

• No ash, only beads

• Residue is hard, discoloured beads

• Chemical smell - smells like burning plastic

Do a burn test when you are unsure about the fibre type of a fabric.

The fabric tested is a square of Calico, which is a woven fabric that consists of 100% cotton fibres.

Cotton is a natural cellulose fibre (short, plant fibres).

When doing the cotton burn test, the following can be observed:

• Fabric is flammable

• Catches on fire easily - flare up when lit

• Burns easily - continues to burn

• Continues to glow/burn after extinguished

• No melted beads - cellulose = natural fibre

• Grey smoke

• Smells like burning paper

• Ash is crumbly and soft - will disintegrate if you rub it