India's fabric hygiene knowledge base · WHO · BIS · CPCB sourced · Independent editorial · No brand sponsorship · No product comparisons · 16 Indian cities covered · 22+ fabric types ·
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A considered collection of colourful Indian garments and fabrics arranged in soft natural light

India's fabric hygiene knowledge base

The science of fabric care, explained for Indian homes.

An independent guide library on fabric care, fiber science, and cleaning chemistry — WHO- and BIS-backed, written for India's water, humidity, and dust. No brand promotions, no product rankings.

Explore guides Check your city's water
7
Knowledge pillars
120+
Fabric types covered
16+
Indian cities mapped

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Guides by topic

Sunlight falling through household curtains
Home Textiles & Hygiene

How Unwashed Curtains Trigger Chronic Allergies in Indian Homes

8 min read · Home Textiles & Hygiene
Laboratory glassware beside folded white fabric
Chemical Safety

The Chemical in Your Dry-Cleaned Clothes You Should Know About

8 min read
Macro view of a stain spreading across cotton weave
Dirt & Stain Science

Why the Same Detergent Cannot Remove Every Type of Stain

9 min read

From the library

More guides worth reading

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Liquid detergent measured into a cup
Care Methods

Why Most Indian Households Use Too Much Detergent — And What It Does to Clothes

More detergent does not mean cleaner clothes. Excess detergent leaves chemical residue on fibres that accumulates with every wash, stiffens fabric, and irritates sensitive skin.

7 min read
Sofa with linen cushions in an Indian living room
Fabric & Fiber Science

Festival Fabric Care: Preserving Silk and Zari Sarees

Most damage to family silk sarees happens in storage, not in wear. Conservation-based guidance on light, humidity, pests and keeping zari from tarnishing.

7 min read
Sunlight falling through household curtains
Care Methods

How to Read Dry Cleaning Labels on Indian Ethnic Wear

International care symbols were designed for Western garments. Here's how to interpret them for sarees, sherwanis, kurtas, and handloom Indian textiles.

6 min read
Cold water running over white fabric in a basin
Sustainability

Cold Water Washing — Does It Actually Clean, and Does It Save Energy?

Cold water washing with enzyme detergents cleans comparably to warm water for most stains. Here's what the research shows and what it means for Indian homes.

5 min read

Printable checklists

Seasonal fabric care routines you can print and tick off

View checklists →

Seven content pillars

What we cover

Water running from a tap into a steel vessel beside folded laundry

Pillar 01

Water & Climate

3 articles
Folded swatches of cotton, silk, wool and linen

Pillar 02

Fabric & Fiber Science

3 articles
Macro view of a stain on cotton weave

Pillar 03

Dirt & Stain Science

6 articles
Laboratory glassware beside white fabric

Pillar 04

Chemical Safety

9 articles
Garments in protective bags on a rail

Pillar 05

Care Methods

13 articles
Sofa with linen cushions in an Indian home

Pillar 06

Home Textiles & Hygiene

15 articles
Washed cotton drying on a line beside green leaves

Pillar 07

Sustainability

6 articles

Original research

Water hardness & fabric care across India

See what your city's water means for your laundry — compiled from municipal supply reporting and CPCB water quality data.

View full index →
hard

Bengaluru

TDS 300–500 ppm

Supply varies street by street between Cauvery piped water and harder borewell water. On borewell supply, use the hard-water detergent dose and add a longer rinse rather than more detergent.

very hard

Delhi

TDS 400–700 ppm

At the upper end of the national hardness range, much of each detergent dose is consumed neutralising calcium and magnesium. Liquid formulations and periodic machine descaling help.

soft

Mumbai

TDS 150–300 ppm

Comparatively soft supply means detergent works efficiently — standard dosing is usually enough, and over-dosing is the more common cause of residue here.

very hard

Chennai

TDS 500–900 ppm

Hardness is combined with salinity in many areas. A final rinse in the softest water available reduces the hygroscopic salt residue that makes stored cotton feel damp.

Independent editorial

Fabric care is science. We explain it honestly.

Every article on fabwash.com is sourced from WHO guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards publications, and peer-reviewed research. No brand bias. No advertising. No product comparisons.

About fabwash.com

WHO · BIS · CPCB

Source standards

16

Indian cities covered

22+

Indian fabric types covered

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How much detergent is actually enough?Jun 3
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Why your white cotton turns grey over timeApr 1

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Built for Indian homes. Every city. Every fabric.

16 cities

metro and Tier 2 coverage

22+ fabric types

from Kanjivaram to cotton

WHO + BIS sourced

credible references only

Disclosed affiliation

transparent editorial policy

BengaluruMumbaiDelhiChennaiHyderabadPuneKolkataAhmedabadCoimbatoreIndoreJaipurLucknowNagpurSuratBhopalKochi