Introduction
In the textile industry, one of the most critical quality parameters is color fastness to washing. Consumers expect their garments to retain color, resist fading, and avoid staining other clothes even after multiple wash cycles. To meet these expectations and adhere to international standards, manufacturers and laboratories perform the color fastness to washing test using standardized methods.
This article provides a detailed overview of the color fastness to washing test method, including the principles, procedures, required materials, standards, and interpretation of results.
What Is Color Fastness to Washing?
Color fastness to washing refers to a fabric’s ability to retain its original color and not transfer dye to other fabrics when subjected to laundering. The test simulates typical home or industrial washing conditions to evaluate two aspects:
- Color change: Fading or alteration of the fabric’s own color.
- Staining: Transfer of color to adjacent fabrics during washing.
These characteristics are essential in determining a fabric’s suitability for consumer use and its overall durability.
Why Is the Test Important?
- ✅ Ensures product quality and consistency.
- ✅ Prevents consumer complaints related to fading or staining.
- ✅ Meets buyer and regulatory requirements (e.g., ISO, AATCC standards).
- ✅ Helps optimize dyeing and finishing processes.
- ✅ Reduces product returns and increases brand trust.
Standard Test Methods
Several global organizations have established standardized procedures to evaluate washing fastness. The most widely accepted methods include:
1. ISO 105-C06 (International Standard)
- Commonly used worldwide.
- Tests washing fastness under different temperatures and detergent concentrations.
- Uses composite multifiber adjacent fabrics for staining evaluation.
2. AATCC 61 (American Standard)
- Used primarily in North America.
- Simulates accelerated home laundering using specific detergent formulations and washing conditions.
- Multiple procedures (e.g., 1A, 2A, 3A) represent different levels of laundering.
Both methods follow similar principles but differ slightly in terms of sample preparation, detergents used, and washing parameters.
Materials and Equipment Required
To perform a color fastness to washing test, the following items are needed:
- ✅ Washing fastness tester (Launder-Ometer or equivalent)
- ✅ Standard detergent (without optical brighteners unless required)
- ✅ Distilled or deionized water
- ✅ Steel balls (for mechanical action, as specified)
- ✅ Multifiber adjacent fabric (containing strips of different fibers)
- ✅ Test specimen (dyed or printed textile sample)
- ✅ Gray scale for color change and staining
- ✅ Drying apparatus (air dryer or oven)
Color Fastness to Washing Test Procedure (ISO 105-C06 Example)
Step 1: Sample Preparation
- Cut a test specimen (usually 10 cm × 4 cm).
- Sew it together with a multifiber adjacent fabric of the same size.
Step 2: Load the Washing Container
- Place the composite specimen in a stainless-steel container.
- Add 150 mL of water with 4 g/L of standard detergent (and optionally 10 steel balls).
Step 3: Washing
- Insert the container into the rotating drum of the washing fastness tester.
- Set the machine to rotate at 40 ± 2 RPM for 30 minutes at 60°C (or other conditions depending on the procedure).
Step 4: Rinsing and Drying
- Remove the specimen, rinse thoroughly in cold water.
- Dry in air or using a hot air oven at a temperature that does not affect the fabric.
Step 5: Evaluation
- Use a gray scale to assess color change on the test specimen.
- Assess staining on each strip of the multifiber fabric.
AATCC 61 Method (Overview)
- Uses different formulations of detergent and shorter test durations (e.g., 45 minutes at 49°C).
- Includes options to simulate 5 to 50 home launderings.
- Often uses steel balls and specimen size of 10 × 4 cm sewn to multifiber fabric.
- Evaluation is done in the same way using gray scales.
Evaluation and Grading
The evaluation is performed visually under controlled lighting using gray scales, or instrumentally using a spectrophotometer.
Gray Scale Rating (1 to 5):
- Grade 5: No change or staining (Excellent)
- Grade 4: Slight change
- Grade 3: Moderate change (May be acceptable)
- Grade 2: Significant change
- Grade 1: Severe change or staining (Poor)
Results are reported for:
- Color change (on test specimen)
- Staining (on each adjacent fiber type)
A rating of 4–5 is typically required for premium garments, while 3–4 may be acceptable for general clothing.
Factors That Affect Washing Fastness
- Fiber type – Natural and synthetic fibers behave differently.
- Dye class – Reactive, vat, disperse, and direct dyes have varying fastness properties.
- Dyeing process – Improper dye fixation reduces fastness.
- Washing parameters – Temperature, detergent, and time directly affect results.
- Finishing treatments – Softeners or coatings can influence dye migration.
Applications
- 👕 Garment production
- 🧼 Home textile testing
- 🏥 Medical and institutional fabrics
- 🧪 Textile R&D labs
- 🏢 Third-party testing labs
- 🌍 Compliance for exports (ISO, AATCC, GB standards)
Conclusion
The color fastness to washing test method is a cornerstone of textile quality assurance. It ensures that fabrics maintain their color integrity and don’t cause staining during laundering. By following standardized procedures like ISO 105-C06 or AATCC 61, manufacturers can consistently produce durable, high-quality products that meet global expectations.
Understanding and implementing the correct test methods helps reduce returns, enhance brand reputation, and deliver customer satisfaction in today’s competitive textile market.
For more information on textile testing methods/standards
or textile testing machines, contact us:
What’s App: +86 180 2511 4082
Tel: +86 769 2329 4842
Fax: +86 769 2329 4860
Email: sales@tes.hk
