ASTM D4265-14

Standard Guide for Evaluating Stain Removal Performance in Home Laundering

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This guide suggests a number of staining agents that are representative of stains commonly encountered in household laundry. The assessment need not be limited to this suggested list of stains, especially if special product types or end uses are being evaluated. This guide can be used to compare stain removal performance of products; however, there is no confirmed basis for correlation of this controlled laboratory technique with consumers’ ranking of stain removal performance.  
5.2 The evaluations generated by this guide should be regarded as diagnostic screening tests that are useful in formulation studies, quality control, and ingredient raw material qualification. This guide provides considerable flexibility in choosing specific stains, washing conditions, and laboratory equipment appropriate to the objective of the evaluation. This procedural latitude may result in a reduced level of interlaboratory precision and such comparison of results must be evaluated with caution.  
5.3 The procedure is applicable to all types of home laundry products including detergents, presoak and prespotter products, bleaches, and detergent boosters and is expected to be applicable to horizontal and vertical axis machines.  
5.4 It is not intended for the evaluation of products or conditions normally associated with commercial laundering or dry cleaning establishments.
SCOPE
1.1 This is a guide for evaluating stain removal performance of home laundry products or home laundering conditions. It provides guidance for the selection, preparation, application, and examination of various types of stains on test fabrics that are subjected to controlled but practical stain removal treatment conditions.  
1.2 There is no single combination of stain and fabric that will predict the overall performance of a product or treatment method. A single test, even with a variety of stains/fabrics, can only predict how products or treatment methods compare under the particular conditions chosen for evaluations. A series of assessments is necessary to evaluate the many aspects of stain removal performance and to simulate consumer experience more closely.  
1.3 In this guide, the use of both traditional top-loader washing machines as well as front and top-loading high-efficiency washers is addressed.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2013
• ICS: 71.100.40 - Surface active agents
• Technical Committee: D12 - Soaps and Other Detergents
• Drafting Committee: D12.15 - Physical Testing

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D4265 − 14
Standard Guide for
Evaluating Stain Removal Performance in Home
1
Laundering
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4265; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
3
2.2 AATCC Standard:
1.1 Thisisaguideforevaluatingstainremovalperformance
Test Method 130-2010 Soil Release: Oily Stain Release
of home laundry products or home laundering conditions. It
Method
provides guidance for the selection, preparation, application,
and examination of various types of stains on test fabrics that
3. Terminology
are subjected to controlled but practical stain removal treat-
3.1 Definitions:
ment conditions.
3.1.1 front-loading high-effıciency (HE) washing machine/
1.2 There is no single combination of stain and fabric that
washer, n—horizontally or nearly horizontally oriented ma-
will predict the overall performance of a product or treatment
chine used for laundry that uses varying amounts of water to
method.Asingle test, even with a variety of stains/fabrics, can
launder fabrics.
onlypredicthowproductsortreatmentmethodscompareunder
the particular conditions chosen for evaluations. A series of
3.1.1.1 Discussion—These washers: (1) may not exhibit any
assessments is necessary to evaluate the many aspects of stain visible free water or may show significant quantities of visible
removal performance and to simulate consumer experience freewater, (2)mayliftandtumbletheclothesload, (3)mayuse
more closely. both spinning and tumbling in both the washer or rinse
processes, (4) may use jet sprays of wash solution or rinse
1.3 In this guide, the use of both traditional top-loader
solution, or (5) may use thermal or chemical inputs, or both, to
washing machines as well as front and top-loading high-
offer sanitation or allergen claims. HE washers use consider-
efficiency washers is addressed.
ably less water and energy than traditional deep-fill washers in
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
the laundering process. HE washers are labeled by the appli-
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
ance industry and may be recognized by the U.S. Department
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection
and are not considered standard.
Agency (EPA) as Energy Star rated machines.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.2 home laundering, n—cleaning or conditioning, or
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
both, of textile materials using the washing and drying equip-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ment commonly found in the home.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.3 pretreaters, n—usage of a product designed to treat
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
fabric stains not likely to be removed using detergent in wash
alone in the normal household laundering process.
2. Referenced Documents
2 3.1.3.1 Discussion—Pretreaters can be found in many forms
2.1 ASTM Standards:
such as sprays and liquids and detergents themselves can be
D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color
used as a pretreater when applied directly to the stain.
3.1.4 stain, n—a local area of undesired foreign matter on a
textile material, differing in appearance from the textile sub-
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D12 on Soaps and
strate.
Other Detergents and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D12.15 on
Physical Testing.
3.1.5 top-loading HE washing machine/washer,
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2014. Published February 2014. Originally
ε1 n—vertically oriented agitation machine that is used for home
approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D4265 – 98(2007) .
DOI: 10.1520/D4265-14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
3
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on (AATCC), P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, http://
the ASTM website. www.aatcc.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4265 − 14
laundry with the fundamental difference from a traditional 6. Selection and Preparation of Fabric Swatches
top-loading
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation: D4265 − 98 (Reapproved 2007) D4265 − 14
Standard Guide for
Evaluating Stain Removal Performance in Home
1
Laundering
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4265; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—The superscript 2 was added to the “a” terms in Eq 1 and in Note 2, opm was replaced with spm.
1. Scope
1.1 This is a guide for evaluating stain removal performance of home laundry products or home laundering conditions. It
provides guidance for the selection, preparation, application, and examination of various types of stains on test fabrics that are
subjected to controlled but practical stain removal treatment conditions.
1.2 There is no single typecombination of stain and fabric that will predict the overall performance of a product or treatment
method. A single test, even with a variety of stains,stains/fabrics, can only predict how products or treatment methods compare
under the particular conditions chosen for evaluation.evaluations. A series of assessments is necessary to evaluate the many aspects
of stain removal performance and to simulate consumer experience more closely.
1.3 In this guide, the use of both traditional top-loader washing machines as well as front and top-loading high-efficiency
washers is addressed.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1729 Practice for Visual Appraisal of Colors and Color Differences of Diffusely-Illuminated Opaque Materials
3
D2960 Guide for Controlled Laundering Test Using Naturally Soiled Fabrics and Household Appliances (Withdrawn 2013)
3
2.2 AATCC Standard:
Test Method 130-2010 Soil Release: Oily Stain Release Method
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 front-loading high-effıciency (HE) washing machine/washer, n—horizontally or nearly horizontally oriented machine used
for laundry that uses varying amounts of water to launder fabrics.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D12 on Soaps and Other Detergents and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D12.15 on Physical Testing.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2007Jan. 1, 2014. Published January 2007February 2014. Originally approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 19982007 as
ε1
D4265 – 98.D4265 – 98(2007) . DOI: 10.1520/D4265-98R07E01.10.1520/D4265-14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC),
P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, http://www.aatcc.org.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—
These washers: (1) may not exhibit any visible free water or may show significant quantities of visible free water, (2) may lift and
tumble the clothes load, (3) may use both spinning and tumbling in both the washer or rinse processes, (4) may use jet sprays of
wash solution of rinse solution, or (5) may use thermal or chemical inputs, or both, to offer sanitation or allergen claims. HE
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4265 − 14
washers use considerably less water and energy than traditional deep-fill washers in the laundering process. HE washers are labeled
by the appliance industry and may be recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) as Energy Star rated machines.
3.1.2 home laundering—laundering, n—the cleaning and restoring cleaning or conditioning, or both, of textile materials to a
serviceable con
...