ISO 3175-4:2018

Overview

ISO 3175-4:2018 - Textiles: Procedure for testing performance when cleaning and finishing using simulated wetcleaning - defines laboratory procedures to simulate professional wetcleaning for fabrics and garments that cannot be laundered domestically and require professional finishing. The standard specifies reference equipment, process settings and finishing options to evaluate how textiles respond to repeated professional wetcleaning cycles. It supports consistent assessment of cleaning performance, dimensional change and finish durability under three severity levels: normal, mild and very mild simulated wetcleaning.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope: Applies to fabrics, composite specimens and garments that need professional wetcleaning; excludes localized stain removal.
• Reference equipment: Uses a Type A1 reference washing machine (per ISO 6330) and a commercial tumble dryer with controlled air temperature; an alternative Type C procedure is described in Annex B.
• Three process types:
  • Normal: cleaning at 40 °C + tumble drying to residual moisture < 3% (typical professional wetcleaning).
  • Mild: cleaning at 30 °C + tumble drying to ~15% residual moisture for sensitive materials.
  • Very mild: cleaning at 30 °C + max 2 min tumble at 40 °C then air-dry for very sensitive materials.
• Reagents and water quality: Soft water (hardness < 0.1 mmol Ca/Mg per litre) and a specified non‑ionic detergent (C13 oxoalcohol ethoxylate, 7EO).
• Specimen preparation and conditioning: Fabrics typically cut to ~500 × 500 mm and stitched; conditioning per ISO 139 before testing.
• Load control and ballast: Test load mass limits; ballast composed of 50/50 polyester-cotton squares to standardize mechanical action and drying.
• Finishing methods: Defined finishing options include ironing, steam press, steam cabinet/former, steam table or no finishing; finishing conditions must be recorded.
• Iterative testing: Recognizes progressive changes; multiple cycles (commonly 3–5) are used to reveal cumulative effects.

Applications and users

Who uses ISO 3175-4:2018:

• Textile testing laboratories and standards bodies
• Apparel and technical textile manufacturers for product development and quality control
• Professional wetcleaning and commercial laundry equipment manufacturers
• Retailers and brand compliance teams assessing care labeling and expected durability Practical uses:
• Simulating professional wetcleaning to validate care instructions and durability
• Comparing material performance across cleaning severities (normal, mild, very mild)
• Supporting care symbol decisions (in conjunction with ISO 3758)
• R&D for finishes, coatings and textile constructions

Related standards

• ISO 3175-1 - Assessment of performance after cleaning and finishing
• ISO 6330 - Domestic washing and drying procedures (reference machine specs)
• ISO 139 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing textiles
• ISO 3758 - Care labeling symbols (referenced for care-class linkage)

Keywords: ISO 3175-4:2018, professional wetcleaning, simulated wetcleaning, textiles testing, reference washing machine, tumble dryer, cleaning performance, finishing.