bleaching

Bleaching is a technological process in which textile fibers, yarns, or finished fabrics are lightened in order to achieve a whiter appearance and to remove natural coloration or residual impurities. In traditional wool processing, bleaching was often not carried out chemically, but rather through repeated washing and drying in sunlight, which gradually produced a lighter shade of wool. Hemp and linen fabrics were similarly bleached primarily by repeated wetting or sprinkling during sun drying. This process was sometimes repeated over several weeks until the textile achieved the desired brightness. Sunlight and fresh air contributed to the gradual decomposition of natural impurities within the fibers.