The prevention of fading of denim fabric by treating the fabric with a compound or mixture of compounds having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is a linear unbranched saturated or unsaturated chain having from 7 to 17 carbon atoms, R' is either ethyl or methyl, X.sup.- is an anion selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide methosulfate and ethosulfate, and n is an integer of from 1 to 6, and wherein at least 75 percent of the weight of the composition comprises a compound or mixture of compounds in which n is an integer of between 1 and 4.
The addition of up to 15 percent by weight of a polyoxyalkylene derivative to a fatty acid derived bis(alkylamidoalkyl)amine derived quaternary salt permits the atomization of the latter in conventional equipment. The resulting fabric softening product is in the desirable form of a free flowing solid, water dispersible powder.
A method for chlorine-free bleaching of denim textile material composed of warp yarn which is dyed with at least one of (a) indigo dye and at least one sulfur dye, and (b) at least one derivative of indigo dye and at least one sulfur dye, and weft yarn which is undyed and substantially white and which continues to be substantially white after bleaching to provide a denim textile material having a stylish gray cast. The method includes placing denim textile material in water and heating; adding to the water a dispersing agent which is effective to retard deposition of dyestuff stripped from the warp yarn during bleaching onto the weft yarn and which is comprised of polyvinylpyrrolidone; and bleaching the denim textile material by adding to the water an aqueous alkaline bleaching agent which contains a bleaching agent which is selective for the indigo dye or the derivative of indigo dye of the warp yarn and which is selected from the group consisting of formamidine sulfinic acid, and a mixture of formamidine sulfinic acid and at least one reducing carbohydrate, wherein the least one sulfur dye includes a sulfur black dye, and wherein the method provides denim textile material having a stylish gray cast.