Colour Bleeding Test

Determine the risk of colour staining during home laundering for all garments in combination dark and light coloured fabrics. Test to be done for dark fabrics combined in contrast with light fabrics in the same garments.

Apparatus and reagents required:

• Solution of 0.05% of nonionic interfacial active agent
• Beaker
• Supporting frame of horizontal bar

Specimen preparation:

• For testing print or stripe patterned fabrics, cut a test specimen in 2, 5 cm width and in length more than 20 cm (stripes should be horizontal).
• For testing solid colour fabrics, cut a test specimen in width 2, 5 cm and 3 cm in length out of the fabric. Use an undyed cotton cloth (JIS cloth) in width 2, 5 cm and in length more than 20 cm and sew it together with the test specimen at the short side.

Procedure:

1. Test conducted under standard condition (20 ± 2°C, 65 ± 2 % RH). Air flow must be avoided.
2. Pour 50 ml or 100 ml of the 0, 05% non-ionic surface active agent into a beaker.
3. Immerse one end of the test specimen into the beaker so that approx. 2 cm is dipped into the solution.
4. The same test as above must be done with a blank specimen by using a separated bath.
5. Remove the specimen after 2 hours.
6. Dry it by hanging at room temperature.
7. Tested specimen and blank test specimen shall be returned to the applicant.

Evaluation:

Assess first the tested sample if positive or negative and compared it with blank test. Any stain, caused by colour wicking observed shall be positive. Make an assessment at the most stained part by using the grey scale ISO 105-A03 or JIS L 0805 and give grading.

Note: In case the staining is caused by finishing agents and not by dyestuffs, the test results should not be considered as bleeding.