Overview - ISO 18168:2015 (Colour fastness to shampooing)
ISO 18168:2015 specifies a laboratory method to determine the colour fastness to shampooing of textile floor coverings and of extracted yarns, loose fibres and tufts. The method uses a defined reference shampoo solution and controlled contact with specified adjacent fabrics to evaluate both change in colour of the specimen and staining of neighbouring materials, assessed with standardized grey scales.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test principle: specimen is immersed under pressure in a buffered shampoo solution (pH (7.5 ± 0.2)), dried separately and visually compared to original specimens using grey scales for change in colour and staining.
- Shampoo solution: prepared from surfactants (1 g dodecyl sodium sulfate + 0.2 g lauric mono‑isopropanolamide or coconut diethanolamide per 500 ml), buffered with citric acid/disodium hydrogen phosphate, diluted to 1 L and pH‑adjusted as required.
- Apparatus:
- Stainless steel testing frame applying 12.5 kPa pressure with a 5 kg mass (base 60 × 115 mm).
- Flat-bottom dish, pH meter (±0.02), and ovens (specified temperatures appear at 37 ± 2 °C and 40 ± 2 °C).
- Specimen and adjacent fabric sizes:
- Floor covering specimens: 100 × 40 mm, adjacent fabrics 50 × 40 mm.
- Yarns/loose fibres: yarns sewn to adjacent fabric (100 × 40 mm); 0.4 g yarn or fibre used.
- Tufts: compressed 0.4 g layer between adjacent fabrics; cotton support specified for tufts.
- Adjacent fabric matrix: Table 1 in the standard prescribes which adjacent fibres to use (e.g., cotton vs wool, polyamide vs wool/viscose, polyester vs wool/cotton).
- Procedure details: liquor-to-goods ratio ≥ 10:1; initial immersion at (37 ± 2) °C for 15 min, followed by a further 1.5 h under plate or weight; hydro-extract and dry (not exceeding 60 °C) before assessment.
- Test report must reference ISO 18168, identify samples, list numerical ratings for change in colour and staining, and note any deviations.
Applications and who uses ISO 18168:2015
- Carpet and textile floor covering manufacturers - product development, quality control and claims verification.
- Independent testing laboratories - standardized assessment for customer and regulatory requirements.
- Specifiers, procurement and retailers - comparative performance data for product selection.
- R&D and dyeing specialists - evaluate dye stability and interactions with cleaning products, including shampoo formulations.
- Certification and compliance bodies - harmonized method for test evidence.
Related standards
- ISO 2424 (vocabulary for textile floor coverings)
- ISO 105 series (grey scales and colour fastness test principles, e.g., ISO 105‑A01/A02/A03)
- ISO 105‑Fxx parts (specifications for adjacent fabrics)
- National equivalents cited in the bibliography: AS/NZS 2111.19.2 and BS 1006
Keywords: ISO 18168:2015, colour fastness to shampooing, textile floor coverings, shampoo solution, adjacent fabrics, testing frame, grey scale, carpet testing.