Preference and subjective evaluation of washed fabric hand using conjoint analysis

Abstract

The hand of washed fabrics can be changed by varying the laundry detergent ingredients and the properties of washing liquid. The ingredients brought by changes to the hand of fabrics can be considered by subjective assessment. Three types of cotton fabrics were washed in a drum-type washer with 16 different laundry detergents, which are based on profiles derived from a fractional factorial design. A questionnaire method was used to evaluate fabrics washed by 16 different detergent combinations. Zeolite was the most important ingredient for the preference of the washed fabrics in a dry state, followed by hardness, pH, LA-7, LAS, and soap. Each ingredient affected the subjective hands in a different way. Surfactants such as LA-7 and LAS, zeolite and soap affected the subjective hand more, while pH and hardness affected the subjective hand less. An increase in the surface-friction related slippery feeling and the fullness/softness resulted in an increase in the preference for the hand of the washed fabric.