Fabric preparation is a series of treatment steps to remove impurities that may interfere with the subsequent dyeing, printing and finishing processes. The preparation treatments usually include desizing, scouring and bleaching, but may also include singeing (a dry process) and mercerizing.

Desizing: Sizing agents are added to fibers in order to improve their strength and bending behavior during the weaving process.

Scouring: Scouring is performed to remove any impurities present in the fabric. The impurities (i.e. lubricants, dirt, surfactants, residual tints) are removed using an alkaline solution, typically sodium hydroxide, at high temperatures to breakdown or emulsify and suspend impurities

Mercerizing: Mercerization is a chemical process used to increase the dyeability, strength and appearance of cotton and cotton/polyester fabrics. The process requires passing the fabric

Surface-active agents or surfactants as they are now called have been available for a long time. Their use is widespread throughout all types of industry and is of particular importance in the textile industry. As the surfactant adsorbs to available interfaces, a double electrical layer is formed by diffusion of the surfactant into the contact point between impurity and fibre.