Care and Maintenance of Clothes : CBSE Class 12 Board Exams Questions and Answers

1 Marks Questions

Question 1 : Give two advantages of washing clothes with a soap?

Answer: The two advantages of washing clothes with a soap are:

(i) Soap is economical.

(ii) It is eco friendly.

Question 2 : Give two advantages of washing clothes with a detergent. 

Answer : The  advantages of washing clothes with a detergent are:

(i) It readily dissolves in both cold and hot water.

(ii) Detergents make clothes soft and fluffy as they have do not leave deposits on the fabric.

Question 3 : Give one advantage each of washing clothes with soap and detergent. 

Answer: The advantages of washing clothes with soap is that dirt particles become loose when clothes are soaked in soapy water. When we rub the clothes,the dirt comes out and leaves the fabric easily. Soap is alkaline in nature. Detergents can be used in both cold and hot water.Thus, washing becomes comparatively easy with detergents.

Question 4 : Give one reason why kneading and squeezing method should be used for washing a woollen sweater. 

Answer: Woollen fibres are delicate in nature and become weak when they are wet. They should not be squeezed hard. They require very light pressure. The woolens should be kneaded and squeezed by hand so that their delicate fibre is not damaged. It will also prevent shrinkage in the sweater.

Question 5 : Mention two important ingredients for making a detergent.

Answer:  Important ingredients for making a detergent are:

(i) Long chain hydrocarbons from petroleum.

(ii) Sulphuric acid.

Question 6 :Mention two important ingredients for making a soap.

Answer: Important ingredients for making a soap are:

(i) Animal or vegetable fat.

(ii) Alkali like caustic potash or caustic soda.

Question 7 :Name any grease solvents which are used to remove stains from garments. 

Answer:The names of two grease solvents are:

(i) Turpentine

(ii) Acetone.

Question 8 :Why is friction method not used to wash woolens? 

Answer: In friction method rubbing by hands or by brush is involved, which is not suitable for woolen clothes. Therefore, friction method is not used to wash woolens.

Question 9 : Name two grease absorbents which are used to remove stains from garments. 

Answer:The grease absorbents used are:

(i) Talcum powder

(ii) Flour(maida)

Question 10 : Give a suggestion to remove excessive blue from cotton garments. 

Answer:excessive blueness can be removed from cotton garments by rinsing them in lime or vinegar and then rising them in plain water.

Question 11 : Give two tips of storing cotton sarees. 

Answer: Tips of storing cotton sarees are:

(i) If the cotton sarees are starched , they can be attacked by silverfish ,so before keeping them for a long time they should be soaked in plain water to remove the starch and then they should be dried and ironed before storage.

(ii) Naphthalene balls or odonil should be kept to keep the silverfish away.

Question 12 : How will you remove tea stain from a white cotton shirt? 

Answer:  To remove tea stain from a white cotton shirt , the following method should be used:

(i) First soak the shirt in glycerine and wash.

(ii) Washing soda or borax can be rubbed on the stain and then, it should be washed on hot water.

2 Marks Questions

Question 13 : After six months when Neetu took out her silk sarees from a box, she found them damaged.List four possible reasons that could have caused this damage. 

Answer:Four possible reasons that could have damaged Neetu’s silk sarees are:

(i)  The sarees were not dry cleaned before storing and moisture was left in them.

(ii) Moth balls or neem leaves were not kept with them while storing them.

(iii) Sarees were not wrapped in clean muslin cloth or newspaper.

(iv) The sarees with charak were kept without removing it.

Question 14 :  After six months when Neetu took out her cotton sarees from a box, she found them damaged.List four possible reasons that could have caused this damage.

Answer: Four possible reasons that could have damaged Neetu’s cotton sarees are:

(i) Sarees were damp or dirty before storage.

(ii) Sarees may have been starched so they may have attracted silverfish.

(iii) The storage box may not have been dry or airtight.

(iv) If pins or rested hooks are left in the garment ,they may rust leaving stains.

Question 15 : After six months when Neetu took out her woollen shawls from a box, she found them damaged.List four possible reasons that could have caused this damage.

Answer: Four possible reasons that could have damaged Neetu’s woolen shawls are:

(i) The storage box was not dry and airtight.

(ii) The shawls were not dry cleaned before storing.

(iii) No moth balls or neem leaves were kept in the storage box.

(iv) The woolen shawls were not wrapped in clean muslin cloth or newspaper.

Question 16 : After removing ink stains from her dress,Sheela found spots of chemical on it. State four precautions she should have taken in order to avoid this problem. 

Answer: Sheela should have taken the following precautions:

(i) She should have diluted the chemical before using it remove the ink stains.

(ii) She might not have rinsed her dress in clear water after using the chemical .

(iii) She might not have rubbed the chemical properly in circular manner.

(iv) Too much us e of excessive quantity chemical might have left the spots.

Question 17 : Why should we store woolen clothes once winter is over? Mention two important precautions that we need to take while storing them. 

Answer: As soon as winter is over, we need to store our woolens because:

(i) They should be protected from moisture,moths,mildew and molds.

(ii) To maintain their size and shape for use in the next winter.

Precautions need to be taken while storing woollens are:

(i) Woolens should be stored in a dry airtight box to avoid dampness.

(ii) Neem leaves or moth balls should be kept in the box to avoid silverfish.

Question 18 : Name two methods by which stains can be removed from silk fabric. Give one reason each for using these specific methods. 

Answer: The two methods through which stains can be removed from silk fabric are:

(i) diluted chemical solutions should be used.

(ii) If stain persists, diluted hydrogen peroxide should be used to bleach the fabric,s so that the stain goes away.

The reason for using diluted chemical solution is that, very string chemical can damage the fabric. For bleaching also use of diluted Hydrogen Peroxide is to used, so that the silk fabric doe snot get damaged or chemical stains do not stay with the cloth.

Question 19 :Elaborate four precautions you will keep in mind to protect woolen clothes during storage. 

Answer: Precautions to be kept in mind during storage of woolens are:

(i) The clothes should be dry cleaned before storage.

(ii) They should be wrapped in clean muslin cloth or newspaper.

(iii) Neem leaves or moth balls should be kept in the box to avoid silverfish.

(iv) The cupboard in which the coats are stored should be sprayed with insect repellents.

Question 20 :  You are using a chemical to remove stains from your clothes.What four precautions would you keep in mind while using it on fabric?

Answer: Precautions to be kept in mind while using chemicals to remove stains are:

(i) The fabric should be examined and identified to know whether its cotton,wool,silk or synthetic, since different chemicals react differently with individual fabrics.

(ii) The effect of chemicals should be tested on a hidden corner of the cloth.

(iii) Chemical should be diluted before application.

(iv) Traces of chemical should be rinsed immediately with clear water after removing the stains.

Question 21 :State four precautions to be adopted while storing cotton sarees over along period of time.

Answer:The precautions to be followed are:

(i) Sarees should be de starched before storage to avoid attracting silverfish.

(ii) Cotton sarees can be affected by mildew so they should be properly dried before storage.

(iii) Cotton sarees should be stored in air tight box to avoid moisture.

(iv) Neem leaves or moth balls should be kept in the box to avoid silverfish.

Question 22 : State four precautions to be observed while storing woollen coats over along period of time? 

Answer: The precautions to be followed are:

(i) The coats should be dry cleaned before storage.

(ii) They should be hung  in zipped bags with sufficient space between them for aeration.

(iii) Neem leaves or moth balls should be kept in the box to avoid insects.

(iv) The cupboard in which the coats are stored should be sprayed with insect repellents.

Question 23 : Name two things which can damage cotton clothes during storage. What two steps should you adopt to prevent this spoilage? 

Answer: Two things which may spoil cotton clothes are:

(i) They can be attacked by silverfish if starch has not been removed from them.

(ii) They can be affected by mildew if clothes are dirty or full of perspiration leading to dampness.

Th two steps to prevent these spoilage are:

(i) Cotton should be washed and dried properly in the sun before storage.

(ii) Starch should be removed before storing by soaking them in water and then drying them.

Question 24 :Rini is using chemical to remove stains from her silk dress.What precautions should she take to  prevent any damage to the fabric?

                                  or

Rini spoilt her silk dress while removing stains with chemical. What precaution should she have taken to prevent this?

Answer: While using stains from her silk dress Rini should have taken the following precautions:

(i) The effect of chemicals should be tested on a hidden corner of the cloth.

(ii) Chemical should be applied from the back of the stained fabric.

(iii) Chemical should be diluted before application.

(iv) Traces of chemical should be rinsed immediately with clear water after removing the stains.

Question 25 : Name two things which can damage silk clothes during storage. What two steps should you adopt to prevent this spoilage? 

Answer:Two things which damage silk clothe are:

(i) Carpet beetles.

(ii) Perspiration remaining after being worn.

Steps to be taken to prevent this spoilage are:

(i) They should be stored with moth balls or neem leaves to avoid attack by carpet beetles.

(ii) They should be dry cleaned to remove perspiration before being stored.

Question 26 :State two reasons for the need for washing woolens with kneading and squeezing method. Also tell about the water and soap requirement for washing wool. 

Answer: Reasons for washing woolens with kneading and squeezing method are:

(i) Wool require gentle handling because it is a weak fibre and its strength drops even more when wet.

(ii) Agitation of wool while washing may cause felting and shrinkage,so agitation should be avoided.

The requirement of water is that it should not be hot. It should only be warm and its temperature should remain constant during the washing process. The kind of washing soap to be used for washing wool is any mild ,neutral detergent. Strong alkaline detergents will damage the wool.

Question 27 :  Give four characteristics of a good detergent for washing clothes. 

Answer: A goo detergent must have the following qualities:

(i) The detergent should be free from resins.as they make clothes yellow and hard.

(ii) It should not have white crystals, as it indicates excess  alkali.

(iii) The detergent should be readily soluble in water.

(iv) It should give a good lather.

3 Marks Questions

Question 28 :  Apart from removing unknown stains when fresh, what other six precautions would you adopt while removing stain from clothes.

Answer: We should take the following precautions:

(i) Identify the nature of stain.

(ii) The selection of chemical to remove stain should be used according to the fabric.

(iii) Dilute the chemical before use.

(iv) During removal of stain,clothes should be moved in a circular motion with hand.

(v)Traces of chemical should be rinsed thoroughly and immediately after removing the stain.

(vi) While removing stains from coloured clothes ,first check if the colour bleeds or not.

Question 29 :  Apart from removing unknown stains ,what precautions would you adopt to remove stains from an expensive dress? 

Answer:Refer to Q.No. 28

Question 30 : Outline the steps of washing a silk sari at home. 

Answer: The following steps should be followed while washing a silk saree at home:

(i) First check the saree for any repair or removal of stain.

(ii) To prevent bleeding of colours,mild solution or reetha nut solution should be used to remove stains.

(iii) Soak the saree in warm water with neutral detergent. Only light pressure kneading and squeezing should be used.No friction method is to be used.

(iv) Rinsing is to be done thoroughly to remove all traces of soap or detergents. Press with soft hands to remove excess water and detergents.

(v) Starch gum can be used for stiffening.

(vi) Warm ironing should be done when the saree is still slightly moist.

Question 31 : Ouline the steps of washing woolen sweater at home. 

Answer:  Following steps are to be observed while washing woolen clothes at home:

Preparation  Before washing, the sweater should be brushed . See, if any repair are required:if any it must be done before washing. Make an outline of the sweater before washing.

Washing Soak the sweater for 120-15 minutes in a mild detergent, then gently hand was it with kneading and squeezing .

Rinsing  Rinse thoroughly in cold water to remove all the traces of detergent .Press by hand gently to remove excess water.

Drying  Dry the sweater on paper that already has its outline.

Finishing  The sweater should be steam ironed for final finish.

Question 32 : Rama wants to store her cotton clothes till summer is back. Give any six precautions she should observe. 

Answer: Rama should observe the following precautions:

(i) Clothes should be dried properly before being put away in the cupboard.

(ii) Torn clothes should be repaired before storage.

(iii) Starch should be removed by soaking in water and drying them

(iv) Keep neem leaves or moth balls in the cupboard to keep away silverfish.

(v) Iron the clothes before storage.

(vi) Store in a dry cupboard or airtight storage box.

4 Marks Questions

Question 33 : After three months ,when Reena took out her dress from storage,she found patches and holes in it. She was surprised to see the damaged as she had removed the stains before storing it. Explain in detail eight probabale reasons that might have caused this damage. 

Answer:  Probable reasons for this damage can be:

(i) She must have removed the stains with the help of a chemical but perhaps rinsing was not done properly.

(ii)Traces of the chemical are to be washed immediately, otherwise it can damage the clothes.

(iii) She might not have diluted the chemical while removing the stain.

(iv) She might have not given an alkaline rinse as acidic stains require alkaline rinse.

(v) After washing the chemical and alkaline rinse the cloth must be dried properly in sunlight. Reena might not have done so.

(vi) She might have used a variety of chemicals and they may have reacted among themselves.

(vii) If absorbent is used for stain removal ,it is essential it should be removed properly.

(viii) Only very mild chemical should be used which Reena may not have not done.

Question 34 : Your younger brother is going to a hostel. Guide him for the necessary precautions he should adopt while soaking washing ,drying and ironing his coloured woollen sweater. 

Answer: He should follow the following precautions regarding his coloured sweater:

Soaking  Before soaking, he should mark the sweaters’ outline on a paper on which it will be kept for drying . It should then be soaked in a mild detergent solution with water. No other garments should be soaked with it.

Washing He should use kneading and squeezing method with warm water. no scrubbing should be done.

Drying  After removal of excess water by pressing gently with the hand, he should lay it out flat on the outline marked on the paper in the shade for drying.

Ironing A wet muslin cloth should be put on the sweater while ironing. the iron should be pressed and lifted . he should not slide the iron over the sweater.

Question 35 : Your younger brother is going to a hostel. Guide him for the necessary precautions he should adopt while washing,rinsing ,drying and ironing his coloured silk T shirt. 

Answer:b He should adopt the following precautions for his silk T shirt:

Washing The prevent the bleeding of the Tshirt’s colour ,neutral soap flakes should be used. He should use kneading and squeezing method with warm water.

Rinsing Thorough rinsing should be first done with warm water. then the final rinse should be done with cold water with lime juice or vinegar, to give luster to the shirt.

Drying  The washed T shirt must be dried in the shade to avoid discolouration.

Ironing  The shirt should be evenly dampened before being ironed with a warm iron. It should not be sprinkled with water before ironing as this will leave marks on the T shirt.

Question 36 : Your younger brother is going to a hostel. Guide him for the necessary precautions he should adopt while soaking soaking,washing ,drying and ironing his coloured cotton clothes. 

Answer: He should adopt the following precautions:

Soaking  After removal of stains , he should soak the coloured clothes separately from the white ones.

Washing He should use the friction method by hand or brush to remove the dirt. The water should be warm only and not hot.

Drying He should dry these in the shade.

Ironing Ironing should be done with a hot iron when the clothes are still slightly wet, till all the dampness is removed.

Question 37 : ‘Cotton and woollen clothes are laundered using different method.’ Support this statement with the help of suitable examples. 

Answer: This statement is true.Examples of the differences are:

Parameter

Cotton Clothes

Woollen Clothes

Water temperature and detergent quality

Hot water(if white in colour) and strong detergent if very dirty Warm water and mild detergent

Washing method

Scrubbing with hand or brush Gentle Kneading and squeezing

Drying

Can be hung in the sun (if white) or in the shade (if coloured) Must be dried on a flat paper where their shape are already marked

Ironing

Hot iron A wet muslin cloth is put on the garment and the iron temperature is kept warm.

Question 38 : Write the outline steps of laundering woollen sweaters. 

Answer: Steps of laundering woollen sweaters are:

(i) The garment must be brushed to remove the dirt.

(ii) The garment should be outlined and marked on a sheet of paper.

(iii) The sweater must be soaked for a short duration.

(iv) A mild detergent or reetha nut solution should be used for coloured woollen sweater.

(v) Kneading and squeezing method must be used for cleaning .

(vi) High and uneven water temperatures should be avoided to rinse the sweaters.

(vii) All traces of soap should be removed during rinsing.

(viii) The sweaters should be laid on a clean towel and excess moisture must be removed by pressing and not by squeezing.

(ix) They should be dried on a flat surface and in the shade,to retain their shape.

(x) For ironing, mild temperature of the iron should be maintained.

Question 39: Rita’s silk blouse has an unknown stain on it. Name the method and give steps of procedure she should follow to remove the stain.

Answer: To remove the unknown stain the method to be used is know as sponging. The stained portion is placed face down on a blotting paper and initially a diluted stain removing chemical is applied in a circular motion. If the stain doe snot go away the following steps should be taken one after another until the stain goes away:

(i) Soak the stained portion in plain cold water for some time and then wash it.

(ii) Soak the stained portion in warm soapy water for some time and then wash.

(iii) Bleach the stained portion by exposing in sunlight for some time.

(iv) Treat the stain with dilute alkaline solution and then in a dilute acidic solution.

(v) Next we should apply oxidising bleach and lastly, a reducing bleach,which removes oxygen from the stain to make it colourless.

5 Marks Questions

Question 40 : List two main ingredients which are used for making a detergent. Write in detail how they help in removing dirt from clothes.Comment on cleaning quality of soap/detergent you are using to wash clothes at home. In your opinion what is the reason for your satisfaction/dissatisfaction?

Answer:The two main ingredients in making detergent are:

(i) Long chain hydrocarbon from petroleum.

(ii) Concentrated sulphuric acid.

Cleaning done by Detergent Most of the detergent molecules have two parts, head and tail. The head is hydrophilic(gets attracted to water) and the tail is hydrophobic(water repellent).

When a detergent is added to water,the molecules of the detergent arrange themselves in a micelle that breaks the surface tension of the water.The water become more fluid and the detergent molecules along with the water penetrates deep to tackle the dirt.Water alone cannot remove the dirt.Builders or phosphates in the detergent increase the cleansing power. Scrubbing action pushes the detergent further into the fabric and also breaks the dirt pinto smaller particles.

Some molecules of the detergent do not allow the dirt to redeposit on the fabric.When we rinse the cloth again and again , the dirt is removed from the water also.

I use detergent in place of soap while washing clothes at home. Detergent does not contain calcium or magnesium salt of the water.it leave my clothes bright and sparkling. My clothes do not require a lot of water to get washed while i am using detergent.

Question 41 : List two main ingredients which are used for making a soap. Explain fully how detergent works in cleaning the fabric. Which four rules will you follow while removing stains from expensive garments? 

Answer:  The main ingredients used for making a soap are:

(i) Caustic soda or caustic potash (alkaline substance)

(ii) Animal/vegetable fat/mahua/coconut or any other oil.

(iii) Sodium potassium salts of fatty acids.

(iv) Besan flour/ starch acid slurry.

For cleaning action of detergents.refer Q. No. 39.

Rules I will follow while removing stains from expensive garments are:

(i) Test the chemical on a hidden corner of the fabric.

(ii) Use a diluted chemical solution for expensive garments made from delicate fabrics.

(iii) Work in a circular motion starting from the outer part of the stain.

(iv) Neutralise acid reagents with an alkaline rinse and alkaline reagents with acidic rinse.

Question 42 : Give four reasons as why detergents are considered better than soaps.Write six rules of removing stains from clothes. 

Answer: We prefer detergents over soaps for washing clothes because:

Soap

Detergent

Cleaning quality of soap is unsatisfactory Cleaning quality of detergent is superior and satisfactory
Soap leave the clothes dull Leave the cloth bright and shining
Soap is ineffective in cold water Detergent is effective both in hot and cold water
Requires lots of water Clothes can be washed in less water

Rules for removing stains from clothes are:

(i) Stains should be removed when fresh.

(ii) Naure of the stain should be identified

(iii) Natuer of fabric should be identified to choose suitable chemical.

(iv) Initially test the chemical on a hidden corner of the fabric.

(v) Several application of diluted chemical should be done instead of one concentrated application.

(vi) Neutralise acid reagents with an alkaline rinse and alkaline reagents with acidic rinse.

Question 43 : Neha has some grease and some coffee stains on her cotton dress.Suggest her one suitable chemical each which will help her to remove the stains.Also tell her important precautions she should take while removing these stains.Name one more stain which these chemicals can be used for.

or

Neha has some tea and ballpen ink on her cotton dress. Suggest her one suitable chemical each which will help her to remove the stains.Also tell her important precautions she should take while removing these stains.Name one more stain which these chemicals can be used for.

or

Neha has some tea and lipstick on her cotton dress. Suggest her one suitable chemical each which will help her to remove the stains.Also tell her important precautions she should take while removing these stains.Name one more stain which these chemicals can be used for.

Answer: Borax is the chemical used for removing coffee stains.It can also be used to remove tea stains. Methylated spirit or any other organic solvent like petrol or kerosene can be used for removing grease stains. These organic solvents can also remove ballpen ink and lipstick stains.

Precautions to be taken while removing these stains are :

(i) Choose the right chemical according to the fabric and stain.

(ii) Initially test the chemical on a hidden corner of the fabric.

(iii) Use diluted chemical and repeat if necessary.

(iv)  Work in a circular pattern fro outside to inside of the stain.

(v) Neutralise the chemical using suitable reagents.

(vi) Rinse all the traces of the chemical after removing the stains.

Question :

Answer:

Question :

Answer:

Question :

Answer:

Question :

Answer:

Question :

Answer:

Question :

Answer:

Question :

Answer: