Effects of dimensional stability with appearance after machine wash and hand wash processes for woven school uniform materials

Abstract

School uniform durability and appearance retention after washing are crucial factors affecting their longevity and cost-effectiveness. Maintaining good dimensional stability and appearance throughout the academic year is essential for school uniform materials. The washing process significantly affects the school uniform shrinkage, appearance, and functional and aesthetic properties. Due to the economic crisis durability of the school uniform is essential to the parents. According to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (2022), the country experienced severe electricity shortages in 2022, largely caused by a combination of fuel short- aged and limited capacity of power-generation. During this period (2022), power cuts exceeding one hour per day became a common occurrence. People have changed their consumer behavior, buying habits and pattern (Ceylon today, 2023) and that might lead to change their washing methods. A systematic investigation would be necessary to identify the most effective washing procedure for woven school uniform white shirting, white trouser, and blue trouser materials. This research investigated the effect of the hand and machine washing processes on woven school uniform white shirting, blue trouser and white trouser. In addition to the shrinkage effect of the material, the investigation also evaluates the appearance of materials, including colour change, surface pilling, and smoothness appearance. According to the t-test results, a significant difference was observed in the shrinkage of machine wash in length and width direction of woven school uniform white shirting material compared to those washed by hand wash. The t-test results also reveal that significant shrinkage was observed in the length direction of the woven school uniform white and blue trouser materials which were washed in the machine wash process compared to the hand wash process, but such significant shrinkage was not observed for the width directions of the trouser materials.