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Line‐Dried vs. Machine‐Dried Fabrics: Comparison of Appearance, Hand, and Consumer Acceptance
Author(s) -
Morris Mary Ann,
Prato Harriet H.,
White Nancy L.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
home economics research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 0046-7774
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x8401300105
Subject(s) - line (geometry) , smoothness , stiffness , process (computing) , computer science , materials science , composite material , mathematics , geometry , operating system , mathematical analysis
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of line drying on smooth ness and stiffness of fabrics, to determine whether consumer acceptance of fabric appearance and hand is related to certain economic and attitudinal factors, and to evaluate changes in the laundering process that would optimize the appear ance and hand of line‐dried fabrics. Smoothness and stiffness of fabrics were measured after machine, line, and modified line‐drying treatments. Consumer participants rated the acceptability of fabric appearance and hand, and responded to questions about their attitudes toward energy conservation and environmental concern. In most cases, line‐dried fabrics were significantly stiffer than machine‐ dried fabrics but were equally acceptable with respect to hand. Line drying re sulted in a more wrinkled appearance which was less acceptable than the ap pearance of machine‐dried fabrics. Factors which were related to the acceptance of fabric appearance were knowledge of the cost of machine drying, the fastid iousness of the individual, and attitude toward conservation. Briefly tumbling previously line‐dried fabrics in a machine dryer resulted in appearance and hand that would have been acceptable to most consumer participants while still saving energy.