AAFES Quality Assurance

Photo-volt meter is used to measure light reflectance of unsoiled areas, and soiled areas before and after cleaning with a detergent. Improvement in reflectance is noted to calculate cleaning efficiency.

3. REFERENCES:

ASTM D 2960-98 - Method of Controlled Laundering Test using naturally soiled fabrics and household appliances.

ASTM D 3050-98- Measuring Soil Removal from Artificially Soiled Fabrics.

ASTM E 97-82 (1987)- Test Method for 45 Degree, 0 Degree, Directional Reflective Factor of Opaque Specimens by Broad-Band Filter Reflectometry.

Photo-volt meter user instructions/manual.

4. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

4.1 Photo-volt meter -Model #575, or equivalent

4.2 Search Unit. Type "y" Model #04-575-01, or equivalent

4.3 Standard soiled swatches (See Note-1 )

4.4 White Enamel Plaque

4.5 Automatic washing machine and Automatic tumble dryer (See Note-2)

4.6 Laundry Marker

4.7 100% Cotton Terry Towels with approximate weight of 1.0 Lb. each.

4.8 "Sofchek" Instant water Hardness test strips for testing water hardness.

5. PROCEDURE:

5.1 Following standard soiled fabrics will be used for testing and evaluation for each type of product.

A: FOR ALL LIQUID & POWDERED DETERGENTS:

MINERAL OIL WITH CARBON BLACK STAINED FABRICS:
65% Dacron 54, With 35% Cotton, Durable Press Finish,
Style-7435 WRL
Cotton With wash & Wear Finish, Style 419B

EMPA STAINS:
112 Cocoa On Cotton
116 Blood/Milk/Carbon Black On Cotton

DUST/SEBUM STAINS ON:
Cotton
Cotton/Poly
Polyester

GROUND IN CLAY STAINS ON:
Cotton
Cotton/Poly
Polyester

B: FOR WOOLWASH TYPE MILD DETERGENTS:

DUST/SEBUM STAINS ON:
Cotton
Cotton/Poly
Polyester
Wool
Silk

5.2 Prepare 10.16 by 7.62 cm. (4 by 3 In.) swatches of all the various types of fabrics and mark these swatches with laundry marker to identify types of fabric and the detergent to be tested.

5.3 Take a minimum of three swatches of each type test soiled fabric for wash test and keep one for control. Make a set for each type of test fabrics.

5.4 Mount the soiled swatches on the terry towels with safety pins on each side. After mounting all swatches on the towels make a wash load weighing Minimum 4 Lbs and maximum 8 Lbs.

5.5 Fill the Kenmore washing machine with warm water 100 F. to high level. Test the water hardness with hardness test strips and record.

5.6 Add and mix recommended amount (as labeled on the package) of detergent to the water. Add the washload of the swatches of various types of soiled fabrics to the washing machine. Wash using normal cycle.

5.7 After the final spin cycle, remove the wash load from washer and dry in the dryer at medium heat.

5.8 Remove the test swatches from the towels, lay them on the flat surface and smooth them out.

5.9 Sort the fabric swatches by type of fabrics.

5.10 Turn on the photo-volt meter and attach a type "y" search unit to it. Allow the equipment to warm up for a minimum of 15 minutes.

5.11 Measure light reflectance of fabric swatches as follows:

5.11.1 Put the control (unwashed) fabric swatch on the white plaque.

5.11.2 Set the search unit on the unsoiled areas of fabric.

5.11.3 Calibrate the photo-volt meter to read reflectance at 100.

5.11.4 Take at least three reflectance readings on unsoiled area of each controlled (unwashed) fabric swatch and average the readings. The average reading is the average reflectance of the unsoiled swatches before wash (A).

5.11.5 Take at least three reflectance readings on soiled areas of controlled (unwashed) fabric swatches and average the readings. The average reading is the average reflectance of soiled swatches before washing (B) .

5.11.6 Take at least three reflectance readings on soiled areas of the washed fabric swatches and average the readings. The average reading is the average reflectance of soiled swatches after wash (C) .

5.12 Repeat procedure outlined in step 5.11 for each type of fabric used.

6. EVALUATION:

Calculate the cleaning efficiency as follows:

	C - B
% of Cleaning efficiency =	_______	X 100
	A - B

A = Average reflectance of the unsoiled swatches before wash.
B = Average reflectance of the soiled swatches before wash.
C = Average reflectance of the soiled swatches after wash.

7. REPORT

Calculate and report cleaning efficiency for each type of fabric tested. Also, report hardness of the water used in the tests.

8. NOTES:

NOTE-1: Standard soiled swatches are available from following sources:

1. Test Fabrics Inc
415 Delaware Ave.
P.O. Box 26
West Pittston, PA 18643
PH: (570) 603-0432
FAX:(570) 603-0433

2. Textile Innovators Corp.
P.O. BOX 8, Forest Street
Windsor, NC. 27983
PH: (919) 7949703
FAX: (919) 7949704

NOTE-2: Kenmore or equivalent washer or dryers may be used.
However, for model number and approved sources contact:
AATCC
P.O. Box 12215
Research Triangle Park, NC. 27709
PH: (919) 5498141
FAX:(919) 5498933

_HARDLINES TEST METHOD_