What every home textile inspection covers
Home textiles are made-ups: fabric that has been cut, sewn, finished and packed as a sheet, a towel, a curtain or a cushion. Most faults come from three places: the fabric itself (weight, shade, shrinkage), the stitching room (sizes, seams, hems) and the packing table (labels, folding, damp). An inspection follows the same order.
- Quantity and packing status. Finished and packed pieces counted by style, colour and size against the order. Cartons are opened at random across the lot, not only from the front of the stack.
- Fabric. Weight per square metre, construction and hand-feel against the approved sample; for towels, weight per piece.
- Shade. Each piece compared with the approved sample in a light box, and pieces in one set compared with each other. A sheet set or a pair of curtain panels cut from two dye lots is the most common reason a lot is held.
- Measurements. Laid flat without tension and measured against the size chart. Shrinkage is checked by washing a few pieces where the buyer asks for it.
- Workmanship. Seams, hems, corners, closures, embroidery and print, loose threads, stains and holes, judged against the buyer's defect list.
- Labels. Fibre content, origin, care, size and brand against the market's rules and the approved artwork.
- Packing. Fold size, inserts, polybags and their warnings, carton marks and counts, carton condition and dryness.
Sample sizes follow ISO 2859-1; see the AQL guide. A day covers fewer queen-size quilts than tea towels, because each sampled piece is unfolded, measured and refolded. We confirm the number of man-days before you book.
How the checklist changes by product
| Product | What the inspector adds |
|---|---|
| Bed sheets and duvet covers | Thread-count claim against the fabric, fitted-sheet pocket depth and elastic, duvet closures, set completeness |
| Quilts, comforters and throws | Fill weight and spread, quilting lines, fibre poking through, fringes and tassels, US law labels on filled bedding |
| Cushions and covers | Zip and closure, cover-to-insert fit, embellishment pull, insert fill, UK fire labels |
| Curtains and blinds | Drop and width per panel, matched pairs, eyelets and heading tape, blackout lining, blind cords |
| Table linen | Shape and drop, mitred corners, napkin sets, stain-repellent finishes |
| Kitchen linen | Tea-towel absorbency and lint, apron straps, oven-glove insulation and CE marking |
| Bath towels | Weight per piece, pulled loops, absorbency, hems and borders, "bamboo" labelling |
Two material pages cover claims and hand work that cut across products: organic cotton home textiles (certificates and transaction certificates) and crochet lace and embroidered textiles (hand-made tolerances). Bath mats are inspected like small rugs and sit under rug and carpet inspection.
What is checked on site and what needs a lab
An inspector can see, measure, weigh and handle. Some properties only a lab can measure, and some claims need documents, not tests.
| On site | Lab (accredited, buyer's choice) | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Size, weight per piece or per square metre, shade in a light box, seams and hems, closures, fill spread by hand, dry and wet rub with white cloth, quick wash where agreed, labels, packing | Fibre content, thread count to ASTM D3775, dimensional stability, colour fastness to washing, rubbing and light, azo amines and formaldehyde, PFAS, flammability | GOTS or OEKO-TEX certificates and transaction certificates, fire test reports for UK cushions, CE documents for oven gloves |
We do not run our own lab. We pull and seal samples for an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab you choose or we suggest, then check the lab report against the goods; see lab testing coordination.
Market rules for home textiles
| Market | Rule | What it touches |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (16 CFR 303) | Fibre names and percentages, country of origin and the dealer's name or RN on bedding, towels, curtains, table linen and cushions |
| United States | FTC Act (truthful claims) | Thread count, "bamboo", "organic" and similar claims need a reasonable basis |
| United States | State bedding laws, e.g. California (4 CCR 1126) | Law labels on comforters, bed pillows, decorator pillows and quilted bedspreads |
| United States | 16 CFR 1120.3 and ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 | Operating and inner cords and on-product labels on window coverings such as Roman blinds |
| European Union | Regulation (EU) 1007/2011 | Fibre composition label in the selling country's language; oven gloves, stuffed pan-holders and tea cosies are exempt |
| European Union | REACH Annex XVII | Azo dyes (entry 43), nonylphenol ethoxylates (46a), CMR substances in skin-contact textiles (72), PFHxA in consumer textiles other than clothing from 10 October 2027 (79) |
| European Union | PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 | Oven gloves for home use are PPE against heat: CE marking after a notified body's type-examination |
| European Union | GPSR (EU) 2023/988 | General safety, traceability and an EU responsible person on the product or packaging |
| United Kingdom | Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 | Filled cushions and pillows; bedding such as duvets and quilts is outside these Regulations |
See EU textile labelling, EU REACH, azo dyes and restricted substances, Canada textile labelling and UK furniture fire safety. For a market checklist, start with importing into the USA or importing into the EU.
Where home textiles are made in India
India exported US$6,595.1 million of cotton fabrics and made-ups in FY2025-26 (IBEF, updated October 2026). Several towns hold official status for the products on these pages:
| Town | Status (source) | Products on these pages |
|---|---|---|
| Panipat, Haryana | Town of Export Excellence for carpets, other textile floor coverings and bed linen, and separately for woollen blankets (DGFT Appendix 1B) | Bed linen, quilts, cushions, throws |
| Karur, Tamil Nadu | Town of Export Excellence for handlooms (DGFT); named by IBEF as a handloom export centre for bed, table, kitchen and toilet linen and curtains | Table and kitchen linen, curtains, bed linen, towels |
| Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Kannur (Kerala) | Towns of Export Excellence for handlooms (DGFT) | Handloom made-ups |
| Solapur, Maharashtra | Solapur Terry Towel, registered geographical indication (GI application 9) | Terry towels |
| Narsapur area, Andhra Pradesh | Narasapur Crochet Lace Products, registered GI (application 713, certificate dated 1 March 2024) | Crochet lace |
For cluster details, local inspection logistics and the 4-point fabric system, see home textile inspection in India. Clear To Load is based in Jodhpur, has inspectors in Delhi NCR and Saharanpur, both within reach of Panipat, and covers any town in India; travel is priced by travel band. The product pages below cover each item in detail.
Sources
- DGFT: Appendix 1B, Towns of Export Excellence
- IBEF: Cotton industry and exports
- IBEF: Handloom industry and exports
- IP India GI registry: Solapur Terry Towel (application 9)
- IP India GI registry: Narasapur Crochet Lace Products (application 713)
- Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and labelling
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462 (PFHxA, REACH entry 79)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment
- eCFR: 16 CFR 1120.3, substantial product hazard list (window coverings)
- California Code of Regulations, title 4, section 1126: law label requirements