Re: Desizing muslin

["Mary W. Ballard" <BallardM@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Meg--I am lazy & always test for starch with that potassium/potassium iodide dilute solution; this can test positive for PVOH though, so if it is new fabric I check for simple water solubility. I use alpha amylase enzyme that I keep in a refridgerator in a glass jar (labeled) and follow directions it is pretty easy to run in a washing machine. After weighing the fabric and figuring the quantity of enzyme, you just need to make sure your temperature setting is right, let the mixture agitate a bit, and "pause" the washing machine for the right number of hours. You could use a wash tank but the alpha amylase I use smells a bit sweet so I like to keep "a lid on it."  Then I finish the cycle, run it again with detergent, and run it again without detergent. Peroxide recipes are also successful and can be found in Textile Chemist & Colorist articles. I like the alpha amylase because you are only doing one thing--the bleaching would lighten the fiber as well. Mary

>>> mgmooney@xxxxxxxx 11/28/01 03:00PM >>>
Hi Mary - What procedure would you recommend to desize cotton muslin,
"with enzyme or peroxide"?
Meg Geiss-Mooney
in chilly northern California

"Mary W. Ballard" wrote:
> 
> The reasons for washing muslin include a) shrinkage b) dressing or size removal. Starch sizes attract cockroaches and crickets, and in high humidity, silverfish. It would seem reasonable to consider testing for starch size prior to washing so that you can remove it with enzyme or peroxide. Normal detergent washing does not remove starch. If your starch test is negative after only water rinsing you may have a polyvinyl alcohol size...