Wash-and-wear

Descriptive of textile materials that are reasonably resistant to disturbance of fabric structure and appearance during wear and washing and require a minimum of ironing or pressing.

Washer

A machine for removing impurities, excess dyes or chemicals from textiles by treatment in an aqueous medium. (See also open width washer.)

Washfastness

The resistance of a dyed fabric to loss of color or change in properties during home or commercial laundering.

Washing-off

Treatment of textile material in water or detergent solution to remove substances employed in previous processes.

Waste

By-products created in the manufacture of fibers yarns and fabrics.

Waste (costing)

That proportion of the production of a machine or unit of production, normally expressed as a percentage of the whole, which cannot be sold as the intended product. There are two classesof waste:
(i) predictable waste which arises from the nature of the production process, e.g., thrums during the preparation for weaving, and end-fents arising in subsequent processes. Such waste occurs at every stage of manufacture and can be incorporated into the calculation of costs;
(ii) unpredictable waste which is due to material breakages and mechanical failures, the cost of which cannot accurately be forecast.

Waste (cotton, wool andother staple fibres)

There are two classes of waste, known as 'hard' and 'soft', and their treatment differs according to the class. Hard waste is essentially that from spinning frames, reeling and winding machines and all other waste of a thready nature. Soft waste mainly comes from earlier processes where the fibres have little or no twist, and are neither felted nor compacted.

Waste courses (weft knitting)

Additional courses used in the manufacture of knitted articles either as protective courses or to facilitate handling in subsequent operations. These courses are afterwards removed.

Waste courses (weft knitting)

Additional courses used in the manufacture of knitted articles either as protective courses or to facilitate handling in subsequent operations. These courses are afterwards removed.

Water Imbibition

See IMBIBITION.

Water mark

1. A moire fault produced by the pressure of the surface of one layer of fabric on another.
2. An unwanted mark on a fabric caused by contamination with water prior to tinting or dyeingon a pad mangle or beam dyeing machine, which results in a reduction in dye uptake.
note. A pile orientation difference causing light reflection differences.

Water penetration resistance

The ability of a fabric to withstand penetration by water in specified circumstances. Water may be under pressure (e.g., hydrostatic head test) or in the form of drops hitting the surface of the fabric.
note.. Different test methods may test different aspects of water penetration resistance and water repellency, and the test may not simulate the effects experienced in use.

Water repellency

The relative degree of resistance of a fabric to surface wetting, water penetration, water absorption, or any combination of these properties. (See also water-repellent.)
note.. The term is used in relation to tests carried out with several very different pieces of apparatus and, therefore, the same parameters are not involved in every case (e.g., Bundesmann test, Wira shower test, Credit rain simulation tester, Spray rating test).

Water-Jet Loom

See JET LOOM.

Water-repellent

A state characterized by the non-spreading of a globule of water on a textile material.
note:. The term is not normally applied to a water-repellent finish impervious to air: this is generally referred to as waterproof.