Javelle Water is:

Concept:

• Products other than the cleansers, required to give good finish to the fabrics during the process of laundering are known as Auxillaries.
• These are
  • Blues/Indigo agent
  • Optical brightening agents
  • Chemical bleaches
  • Stain removing agents
  • Stiffening agent

​Explanation:

Bleaching agent:

• Sodium hypochlorite is also called javelle water.
• Its chemical formula is Na2ClO3.
• A bleaching agent is any material or compound that whitens or brightens the fabric through chemical action.
• This action may be oxidizing or reducing.
• Example of oxidising bleaches are sun light, potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide and javelle water.
• Example of reducing bleaches are sodium hydrosulphite and sodium bisulphite.
• These bleaches help in removing colouring matter from fabrics.
• These are also used as stain removal agents.

Thus, javelle water is bleaching agent.

Additional Information

Indigo agent:

• A blue is defined as a chemical used as a fabric whitener.
• There are many types of blues and their colour varies from violet to blue to bluish green.

Starch:

• ​Starch is a stiffening agent.
• It is used for cotton clothes.

Finish

• ​Finish involves pressing, ironing and storing of clothes.