Effect of Water From Different Sources on Washing of Clothes

The effectiveness of handpump and tap water from three localities of Lu Jhiana city, viz., Haibowal, Jawahar Nagar and Shivpuri on the washing of white cotton fabric was determined through soiling test to know the amount of soil removed as well as effect on the yarn counts, appearance and whiteness of the white cotton fabrics. Chemical analysis indicated that there were significant differences in water quality of handpump and tap waters of all the localities. The amount of soil removed from the soiled white cotton fabrics was minimum (5.1 to 54.2%) in case of handpump water of different localities as compared to tap water (57.1 to 88.3%). The yarn counts ot white cotton fabric after washing also decrease in case of handpump water (43.3 - 45.0 wrap and 27.3 - 29.3 weft) as compared to tap (47.0 - 49.0 wrap and 31.0 - 32.0 weft). Similarly, the decrease in quality scores for whiteness and appearance of the washed white cotton fabrics in handpump water were higher than tap waters. The least effectiveness of handpump water for washing of clothes was found to be attributed to the higher concentration of hardness of water. Thus, it has been concluded that the handpump water is of inferior quality and unfit for washing of clothes.