Home textile products are becoming increasingly important to consumers who not only seek fine quality and better designs but also demand improved functionality and value-added finishes. This shift in consumer preferences is driven by growing awareness, modernized lifestyle requirements, and ongoing research and developments in the textile industry, leading to the creation of new and unique finishes for home textiles.

Some of the existing finishes for home textile products include anti-microbial, anti-mite, flame retardant, and fragrance encapsulating finishes. These features cater to various needs such as hygiene, safety, and sensory appeal.

In recent times, there has been a focus on developing innovative finishes that go beyond traditional functionalities. For example, modern finishes can now moderate temperature, help keep allergies at bay, and even possess healing qualities. One noteworthy innovation is the development of thermal draperies, designed to regulate interior temperatures by keeping homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

These thermal draperies typically consist of an opaque rubber backing applied to the end of an uncoated fabric to enhance light absorption. A single coat of liquefied rubber polymer is applied to the fabric and then fused dry using a heated roller. These draperies, often referred to as dim-out fabrics, can absorb 50-70 percent of direct light, providing effective heat insulation.

The emergence of smart textiles has also introduced solutions for comfortable sleeping experiences. Beddings and mattresses now incorporate technologies that regulate temperature based on an individual's body climate, promoting restful sleep. These innovations often use phase-changing materials, such as paraffin, which is embedded in crystalline structures and spun with tear-resistant fibers. This functional fiber absorbs excess heat and releases it when needed, creating a microclimatic condition conducive to comfort.

Another technique for thermoregulation involves microencapsulating phase-changing materials within duvets, pillows, and mattresses. When a person's body temperature drops, the fluids in these capsules change phase from liquid to solid, releasing stored heat energy to keep the individual warm. This heat-regulating technology ensures that warmth is stored and released as required for optimal comfort.

Furthermore, a common issue with cotton-based home textile products is their susceptibility to wear and tear with regular use and washing. To address this problem, some companies have developed innovative finishes that help cotton fabrics resist abrasion. These finishes not only enhance fabric strength but also offer benefits such as wrinkle resistance, shrinkage control, color retention, and the preservation of fabric softness. These functionalities extend the lifespan of home textile products like beddings and sheets, making them more durable and long-lasting.

Cleaning of home textiles like pillows, blankets, towels, curtains, and bed coverings is possible with disinfectants and advanced laundry solutions. But keeping dirt and the mites at bay in mattresses is extremely difficult. However, using a recent high-tech mattress it is now possible to control the dust mite population. The technology creates hygrothermal living condition within the mattress to make sure that mites do not exist. Mites breed when there is moisture in the air and are sensitive to dry and warm conditions. Keeping the mattress warm enough to 50 degree centigrade for 60 minutes one to two times in a week can resolve the problem of mites. Thin layers of elastic textile heating pads are placed at definite distances inside the mattress which ensures a desired temperature is maintained. Similar technique has been used in upholsteries of interiors to keep the house away from mite infestations.


Having to keep home textiles clean requires keeping them from getting greasy and moist. A unique finish can avoid water and oil stains on home textile fabrics. Fluorocarbons can provide a low surface energy films that possess high oil and water repellency qualities. Most importantly, the finish is eco-friendly, does not contain harmful chemicals, and is durable to several washes and dry cleaning. Apart from this soil release finishes have been developed to easily remove dirt from home textile substrates. Fluorochemical or silicone kinds of varieties are used for producing fabrics with such finishes.


Antimicrobial finishes have been introduced for home textile products like sheets, pillowcases, duvets, carpets, kitchen clothes, and even towels. They keep fabrics odour free, bacteria and stain free, and also protect from allergies. Fire safety is vital to any home. What better way to keep one's house protected with flame retardant home textiles. Curtains, draperies, and other home textile articles are treated with flame resistance chemical additives to reduce the high rate of burning when regular fabrics like cotton and line are used.


With growing concerns among consumers to living a healthy lifestyle has resulted in fostering innovative home textiles. Value added finishes introduced with extensive research and development can not only keep home textiles clean and easy to maintain, but also safe and comfortable.


References:


1.      Xtremearth.com

2.      Textile-review.com