National Clothesline

Following the completion of its study on cleaning mold-contaminated fabrics, the Fabricare Foundation is embarking on a new project.

The foundation’s “Cleaning Effectiveness in Mold-Contaminated Fabrics” study found that natural fabrics support more fungal growth than synthetics and that contaminated synthetics are easier to clean. The study also revealed a difference in mold removal effectiveness among various cleaning methods.

With mold contamination in homes becoming a prominent issue, the foundation undertook the study as part of its mission to support research and educational ventures that can benefit the industry. It was the Fabricare Foundation’s second major project since it was constituted in 2001, the first being a study of customer attitudes toward drycleaners.

Next on the foundation’s agenda will be a public relations campaign to burnish the image of the drycleaning industry.

The mold study took about a year and

evaluated the cleaning effectiveness of four fabrics — cotton, wool, polyester and silk — using four cleaning methods — perchloroethylene, hydrocarbon, washing and washing with chlorine bleach. The cleaning processes were designed to be baseline processes with only detergent added to the drycleaning process and laundering with detergent both with and without chlorine bleach. Laundering with the addition of chlorine bleach was evaluated because of the known effect of bleach on mold.

Two types of common fungi — stachybotrys charterum and aspergillus versicolor — were used in the study. Fabrics were treated with spores, allowed to incubate, cleaned and reevaluated.

Major findings of the study were:

• Laundering with bleach is the most effective way to remove mold contamination.

• Steam pressing was effective in reducing the amount of fungi after cleaning.

• The least effective overall cleaning method was hydrocarbon drycleaning.

A copy of the full report is available to those who make a $300 donation to the Fabricare Foundation. The full report and all raw data are available to individual drycleaners who contribute $1,000 to the foundation. Donations to the foundation are tax deductible.

The Fabricare Foundation is also seeking donations to support its next project, upgrading the image of the drycleaning industry through a national advertising campaign. The foundation plans to hire a public relations firm to assist in the effort by working with industry associations to educate the general public on how to identify a professional drycleaner.

The goal is to commit $100,000 a year to finance the project. The foundation’s board of trustees has agreed to proceed with the program if $50,000 can be raised by July 1.

The foundation is asking industry members to make three-year pledges to the effort. Pledges and inquirers can be directed to the Fabricare Foundation at 4544 Harding Rd., Nashville, TN 37205; phone (615) 269-5312.