**2.4 Strength**

The strength of fibers determine the ease of washing of fabric made from the chosen fiber. Fibers have property of strength variation in dry and wet states. Fibers like wool, silk, rayon loose strength in wet state while cotton and synthetics exhibit high strength even when wet enabling easy laundering of fabrics made from such fibers. Therefore, cotton and other synthetic fibers should be preferred for daily wear apparels and accessories which require frequent cleaning and laundering. However, occasional wear accessories like silk scarves, stoles are made of delicate fabrics prone to strength loss on repeated washings and need dry cleaning and less frequent washing cycles.
