Agents used for washing fabrics. The basic washing liquid is water, but choosing the right water is important. For example, tap water contains iron, which often acts as a catalyst. It is therefore necessary to use demineralized or soft water, which is easiest to obtain by cooking it. In the cooking process (about 30 minutes) insoluble calcium carbonate precipitates and magnesium carbonate sinks to the bottom, and then the liquid is filtered. Only part of the hardness can be removed by boiling; There are also water softeners, np. sodium carbonate, which precipitates sediments, or sodium hexametaphosphate, which works by binding divalent and trivalent ions into soluble ionic complexes. Most often, tap water that is completely desalinated is used for bathing fabrics (by ion exchange) or distilled. Do not use very hot water or water with an untested pH value for washing, np. colorimetrically or potentiometrically.
Ammonia water and other slightly alkaline liquids remove dirt, especially with high acidity (m.in. pot, skin fat, smoke condensates). The advantage of ammonia water is also relatively fast, complete evaporation. Water with the addition of 1-2% ammonia cannot be used for bathing all fabrics. Mineral dyes dissolve in it, while vegetable dyes are quite resistant.
