Article of manufacture and textile treatment process

Abstract

An article of manufacture and methods for making the same are disclosed. The article includes a unit of fabric that has been softened by being at least partially submerged in geothermal water from an unprocessed natural source, the geothermal water having a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L. The submerging includes exposing the unit of fabric to the water in one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles having a duration of between 1 and 6 hours, sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the unit of fabric to render the softening of the unit of fabric.

1 . A method of treating one or more units of fabric, the method comprising:
 providing the one or more units of fabric to geothermal water from an unprocessed natural source, the geothermal water having a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L;   exposing the one or more units of fabric to the geothermal water in one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles having a duration of between 1 and 6 hours, sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the one or more units of fabric to render a softening of each of the one or more units of fabric; and   removing the one or more units of fabric from exposure to the geothermal water to yield one or more units of softened fabric.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises magnesium in a range of l5 mg/L to 20 mg/L. 
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises potassium in a range of 30 mg/L to 60 mg/L. 
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises manganese in a range of 0.1 mg/L to 0.3 mg/L. 
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises chloride in a range of 1000 mg/L to 2000 mg/L. 
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises flouride in a range of 2 mg/L to 8 mg/L. 
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises sulfate in a range of 150 mg/L to 300 mg/L. 
     
     
         8 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises boron in a range of 3 mg/L to 6 mg/L. 
     
     
         9 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the geothermal water has an alkalinity as CaCO3 in a range of 250 mg/L to 350 mg/L. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating one or more units of fabric, the method comprising:
 providing the one or more units of fabric to water having a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L;   exposing the one or more units of fabric to the water in one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles having a duration of between 1 and 6 hours, sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the one or more units of fabric to render a softening of each of the one or more units of fabric; and   removing the one or more units of fabric from exposure to the water to yield softened one or more units of fabric.   
     
     
         11 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises magnesium in a range of l5 mg/L to 20 mg/L. 
     
     
         12 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises potassium in a range of 30 mg/L to 60 mg/L. 
     
     
         13 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises manganese in a range of 0.1 mg/L to 0.3 mg/L. 
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises chloride in a range of 1000 mg/L to 2000 mg/L. 
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises flouride in a range of 2 mg/L to 8 mg/L. 
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises sulfate in a range of 150 mg/L to 300 mg/L. 
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the mineral content of the geothermal water further comprises boron in a range of 3 mg/L to 6 mg/L. 
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the geothermal water has an alkalinity as CaCO3 in a range of 250 mg/L to 350 mg/L. 
     
     
         19 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 a unit of fabric that has been softened by being at least partially submerged in geothermal water from an unprocessed natural source, the geothermal water having a temperature in a range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and having a mineral content comprising calcium in a range of 100 mg/L to 150 mg/L, sodium in a range of 800 mg/L to 1200 mg/L, and bicarbonate in a range of 250 mg/L to 500 mg/L, such that the geothermal water has a mineral hardness as measured by a content of calcium carbonate in a range of 350 mg/L to 500 mg/L, the at least partially submerging including exposing the unit of fabric to the water in one or more cycles, each of the one or more cycles having a duration of between 1 and 6 hours, sufficient to impart a partial breakdown of fabric fibers of the unit of fabric to render the softening of the unit of fabric.   
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture in accordance with  claim 19 , in which the unit of fabric has been formed into an article of clothing.