SPME II

Assignment 2

Washing and
Drying in
Garment
Industry

Submitted by:
PRAKRITI GORAI
BFT/19/75
Semester 4
 The process which is used to transform the outlook
appearance, warmness & fashion appeal of the
garments is called garment washing. Garment pre-
wash became popular, especially since 1978 when
jeans garments started pre- washing and got
instant popularity. It gave different a look of the
clothes. Garment washing is mainly done after
stitching. Wash types usually depend on the
product natures and usages. Based on consumer
demand and fashion trend, the buyer will fix the
washing type of any product. For example, stone
enzyme wash is required for denim item, but light
softener wash is perfect for a knitted item.

There are different varieties of garment wash used nowadays:

1. Normal wash
2. Pigment wash
3. Bleach wash
4. Stone wash with or without bleach
5. Acid wash
6. Enzyme wash
7. Caustic wash

 Normal Wash
Normal wash consists of washing garments in hot water with adequate detergent
and softener, rinse with plain water and dry in tumble dryer until it is 100% dry.
Some sodium is added to lend the garment a prominent washed look. Water
temperature, proportion of components of wash is adjusted as per requirement of
wash and types of fabric; the garment is made of. The softener makes the fiber soft
and tumble-drying makes the fabric fluffier. An expert technician can handle
washing in an expedient way to solve many problems arising out during washing.
Washing can also affect different garment parts differently. Shell fabric may be
solid color while pocket may be a white pocketing piece. After washing, it may
appear that pocketing piece has been stained.

Pigment Wash
Pigment Wash is similar to normal
wash but a bit costlier. The garment is
solid color pigment dye. The
requirement is that the color should
fade evenly to lend the garment a
prominent washed look. Pigment wash
requires a higher temperature of water
than a normal wash.
(1) Use hot water 50-60 degree C.
(2) Load the tumble washer not more
than 70 % of its capacity. It enables
garment to move inside smoothly. If
fully loaded with garments due to the
friction of the garments with tumble
body.

 Stone Wash

Stone wash means washing garments

with special stones so that garments
achieve a very strong washed effect.
Volcanic stones are used in such wash
abrade exposed parts of the garments,
this idea of washing with porous volcanic
stones is to give the garment a strong and
rough wash to achieve the pronounced
washed effect through abrasion on the
exposed areas, such as the seams and
pocket corners.

In stone wash the following points should be carefully checked:

(1) Size of the stones: Stone size is very important in stone wash. They have various
effects on the garment being washed. Large stones may give tough abrasion, and
small stones may lead less abrasion. Stone should be selected based on the
required abrasion effect as well as the type of fabric of the garments. However,
larger stones may damage comparatively light-weight fabric. Small stones may
give softer abrasion.
(2) Garment-Stone ratio: (Weight of stones relative to the weight of garment) Wash
with more stones may lead to more apparent blue/white contrast on the fabric.
(3) Washing time: Washing time also much important in stone wash.
(4) Quantity of Bleach: Use of more bleach can shorten wash time and leads to
more productivity. Bleach, however, cannot be used indiscriminately.
Disproportionate amount of bleach may lead to lose of the desired blue/white
contrast on the fabric. In order to achieve a better result, one should cut a balance
between quantity of bleach, stone size and amount of stone. Sometimes one needs
to use the normal quantity of stone and longer washing time to achieve the color
standard requirements.
 Acid Wash
It is a patented process and can be used only by permission. It is also a kind
of stone wash. The wash is performed in two steps: in the first step, garment
is washed without water and in the 2nd step with water.
(1) Soak volcanic stones in potassium permanganate solution. Stones
absorb chemicals and become saturated. The stones are then dried in
normal air or sun. The stones are ready for work.
(2) Denim garments are now made ready for wash. They are
desized/detached in water in a tumble washer and dried in a spin dryer.
(3) The garments are put in a separate tumble washer filled with treated
stones. Water is not added. Now run the tumble dryer wash the garments
without water. Tumble washer is run to wash the garments without water.
Stone will abrade the garments, especially, the exposed parts. Hidden parts
will not be abraded.
(4) After that, the garments are taken out of the tumble and transferred to
another tumbler filled with water for washing and rinsing. After rinsing is
over, the prominent acid wash effect will show up.

Bleach Wash
Bleach wash means that bleach chemical is used in water while
washing in a tumble washer. Strict washing time is a
requirement with such wash because otherwise the garment
may be over bleached and the color cannot be reversed.
 Enzyme Wash
Enzyme wash is performed with a kind of
live cell. Enzyme can break some fibers of
fabric and gives the fabric special effect
desired on the garment. Enzyme wash
provides the fabric a soft, sanded or
“peached” effect very desirable on many
garments. Enzyme wash is also useful for
indigo denim.

Caustic Wash
Caustic wash is a pre- printing wash. Caustic is a strong chemical with
highly corrosive features. Prior to printing on cotton fabrics, gray
goods are treated in boiling water with caustic, which also has strong
cleaning power, especially for grease. This wash can remove all soil,
dirt, grease, fine particles of cotton seeds as well as all foreign
materials. As a result, only pure cotton fiber in the fabric for printing is
left. It leads to stability of printing and well-cleaned fabric. However,
when we want to do caustic wash on garments, we just do the opposite
of the above; prior to printing, fabric is not treated with caustic wash
for cleaning.
Printing is done on the row & unclean fabric so that about 30% of the
printing done on the surface may eventually fade away. Finally, printed
garments are caustic washed. It leads to, about 30% of the printing
washed away along with the foreign materials- leaving about 70% of
the printing on the fabric. It eventually makes the design or stripe of
the desired look. For this type of wash, the printing must be pigment
print with a binder.

 Machines used in
Garment Washing
Plant
In the garments washing plant, a lot of machines
are used for different purposes. Where some
machines are used in the dry process and the rest
of those are used in the wet process of the
garments washing plant.
There are different types of machine,
which are used in garments washing
plant, are mentioned in the below:
1. Sample washing machine,
2. Sideloading washing machine,
3. Front loading washing machine,
4. Hydro extractor machine,
5. Steam dryer,
6. Gas dryer,
7. Chemical mixing machine,
8. Industrial woven (Gas),
9. Industrial woven (Electric),
10. Boiler,
11. Submersible pump,
12. Grinding machine,
13. Tagging machine,
14. Steam chamber for crinkle,
15. Effluent treatment plant (E.T.P),
16. Generator,
17. Sandblasting gun,
18. Sandblasting chamber,
19. Spray gun,
20. Spray dummy,
21. Screw compressor,
22. Laser Draw.
Function of each machine mentioned above sre as follows:
1. Sample washing machine:
In the garments washing plant, a sample washing machine is an important
piece of equipment. All the sample garments are washed here. A sample
washing machine is a must for any garments washing plant.
2. Sideloading washing machine:
A side-loading washing machine is used for washing bulk garments.
3. Front loading washing machine:
In the latest garments washing plant, the front loading washing machine is
common. It is also used for washing bulk garments. It has so much advantage
than side loading machine.
4. Hydro extractor machine:
This type of machine is used for extracting excess water from the garments.
5. Steam dryer:
The steam dryer is one kind of dryer that is run with the help of steam. If the
garments shade will be needed in a blue tone then a steam dryer will be used.
6. Gas dryer:
A gas dryer is also one kind of dryer that is run with the help of gas. If the
garments shade will be needed in a reddish tone then a gas dryer will be
used.
7. Chemical mixing machine:
A chemical mixing machine is needed in mixing the chemical. It’s important
equipment in garments washing plant.
8. Industrial woven (Gas):
Industrial woven is used for curing 3D garments. This type of machine is run
with the help of gas.
9. Industrial woven (Electric):
This kind of woven machine is run with the help of electricity. This type of
machine is also used for curing 3D garments. For completing the 3D process
properly, Industrial woven is a must in garment washing plants.
10. Boiler:
The boiler is important equipment in garments washing plants. The boiler is
needed for producing steam.
11. Submersible pump:
Submersible pump plays an important role to provide necessary water in all the
wet process of garments washing plants. It is a must for running any garments
washing plants.
12. Grinding machine:
A grinding machine is used in the dry process of garments washing plant. It has so
much importance in producing a grinding effect on the garments.
13. Tagging machine:
A tagging machine is also used in the dry process of garments washing plants. For
creating tag effect in garments, it has so much importance.
14. Steam chamber for crinkle:
This type of machine is needed for the crinkling process of garment washing
plants.
15. Effluent treatment plant (E.T.P):
E.T.P plays an important role in receiving an order from the buyer. E.T.P plan is
must for 100% export oriented garments washing factory.
16. Generator:
For producing electricity, the generator is important equipment in garment
washing plants.
17. Sandblasting gun:
Sandblasting gun is used in the dry process of garment washing plants. During
sandblasting it’s needed.
18. Sandblasting chamber:
Sandblasting chamber is also used in the dry process of garments washing plants.
It’s a crying needed in the sandblasting process.
19. Spray gun:
The spray gun is used in the dry process of the garment washing plant. It’s needed
during P.P spray.
20. Spray dummy:
A spray dummy is needed in the dry process of the garment washing plant.
During P.P spray it’s used.
21. Screw compressor:
The screw compressor is important equipment in garments washing plants.
22. Laser draw:
Laser draw is used in the dry process of garments washing plant. It’s needed for
producing a laser effect in the clothing.
 Garments received

Denim Washing ↓
Dry process
↓
Denim washing is the aesthetic finish, Send to wet process
which is given to the denim fabric to ↓
enhance the appeal and to provide Garments loading in the washing machine
strength. In the case of denim washing, ↓
several wash effects can be produced such De-size
as- color fading with or without ↓
Enzyme
patchiness, seam puckering, de-pilling,
crinkles, hairiness, etc. But denim washing
↓
Bleaching (If needed)
follows a process flow-chart, by which all ↓
the mentioned effects can be achieved Neutralization
easily ↓
Extracting
↓
Process Flowchart

Drying
↓
P.P spray
↓
Neutralization
↓
Tinting
↓
Softener
↓
Extracting
↓
Drying
↓
3D
↓
Curing
↓
Q.C check
↓
Delivery
 Process Flowchart in detail

PROCESS PROCEDURE
Dry process If garments needed any type of dry process (Hand-sand,

whisker, tacking, etc), then it’s sent to the dry process

section to do that.

De-size The de-sizing process is done here by using a de-size

chemical to remove size material from the garments.

Enzyme the enzyme washing process is done here by using enzyme

chemical (Acid enzyme or Neutral enzyme).

Bleaching If the bleaching process is needed to match with the desired

shade then it’s done here by using a bleaching chemical

Neutralization The bleaching chemical should be neutral here by using

sodium metabisulfite or sodium hypo.

Extracting Garments are extracted by using a hydro extractor.

Drying Garments are dried by using a gas dryer or steam dryer.

P.P spray According to wash instruction, if garments need P.P effect,

then P.P should be done by using the required chemical.

Tinting tinting is needed for matching the required shade.

Softener This process is done by using a softening chemical. It may be

a cationic or non-ionic softener.

Curing After applying the 3D process, all the garments are cured by

using the woven machine.

THANK YOU