The effects of storage and care on the bacteriostatic properties of durable press fabrics

Includes bibliographical references (pages 30-31)Newly finished durable press fabrics have been shown to have a bacteriostatic agent as a constituent of the finish. It has not been shown what happens to the antibacterial constituent after prolonged storage or periods of laundering. This study investigated the hypotheses that the bacteriostatic effects of durable press finishes are dissipated during prolonged storage a:nd that laundering of fabrics removes any residual bacteriostatic effect present as a result of application of durable press finishes. Two types of bacteria were used. One, Escherichiacoli, represents a gram-negative bacteria and the other, Bacillus megaterium represents a gram-positive bacteria. Fabric blends composed of cellulose and polyester and finished with a durable press finish were the objects of the experiment. The fabric had been stored in a dark, closed area in a laboratory for eight months. Control samples were held and test samples were laundered to check th eeffect of laundering. Subsequent laundry periods were given the fabric to obtain samples which rep resented two, seven, twelve, twenty-two, and thirty-two launderings. See more in text