CHAPTER XV 

 BLEACHING, BLUEING, STARCHING 



THE beauty and the commercial value of uncolored fabrics 

 depend upon the purity and perfection of their whiteness ; a 

 man's white collar and a woman's white waist must be pure 

 white, without the slightest tinge of color. But all natural 

 fabrics, whether they come from plants, like cotton and linen, 

 or from animals, like wool and silk, contain more or less color- 

 ing matter, which impairs the whiteness. This coloring not only 

 detracts from the appearance of fabrics which are to be worn 

 uncolored, but it seriously interferes with the action of dyes, 

 and at times plays the dyer strange tricks. 



Natural fibers, moreover, are difficult to spin and weave 

 unless some softening material such as wax or resin is rubbed 

 lightly over them. The matter added to facilitate spinning 

 and weaving generally detracts from the appearance of the 

 uncolored fabric, and also interferes with successful dyeing. 

 Thus it is easy to see that the natural coloring matter and the 

 added foreign matter must be entirely removed from fabrics 

 destined for commercial use. Exceptions to this general rule 

 are sometimes made, because unbleached material is cheaper 

 and more durable than the bleached product, and for some 

 purposes is entirely satisfactory. Unbleached cheesecloth and 

 sheeting are frequently purchased in place of the more expensive 

 bleached material. Formerly, the only known bleaching agent 

 was the sun's rays, and linen and cotton were put out to sun for 

 a week; that is, the unbleached fabrics were spread on the 

 grass and exposed to the bleaching action of sun and dew. 



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