Scouring (textiles)

Removing these contaminants through scouring prepares the textiles for subsequent processes such as bleaching and dyeing.

[2][3][4] Scouring is an essential pre-treatment for the subsequent finishing stages that include bleaching, dyeing, and printing.

[6] For instance, fatty substances and waxy matters are the major barriers in the hydrophilicity of the natural fibers.

Absorbency helps the penetration of chemicals in the stages such as dyeing and printing or finishing of the textiles.

This process was associated with waulking songs, which were sung by women in the Scottish Gaelic tradition to set the pace.

"Grease" or "yolk'' is a combined form of dried sweat, oil and fatty matter.

[29] Lanolin is the major component (5-25%) of raw wool which is a waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals.

[32][33] Three steps comprise the complete cleaning process for wool: steeping, scouring, and rinsing.

[46] Cotton scouring refers to removing impurities such as natural wax, pectins, and non-fibrous matter with a wetting agent and caustic soda.

[2]: 19, 20 [8]: 51 [3] Kier is a large cylindrical vessel, upright, with egg shaped ends made of boilerplate that has a capacity of treating one to three tonnes of material at a time.

[51] Enzymes are helpful in bio-singeing, bio-scouring and removing impurities from cotton, which is more environmentally friendly.

[52] Biopolishing is an alternative method that is an enzymetic treatment to clean the surface of cellulosic fabrics or yarns.

''[53][54] Pectinase enzymes, breaks down pectin, a polysaccharide found in cellulosic materials such as cotton.

Certain oils and waxes are applied as lubricants during spinning or fabric manufacturing stages such as knitting or weaving.