Improving the photostability of bleached wool without increasing its yellowness

Bleached wool is rapidly yellowed by exposure to the UV radiation present in sunlight. The conventional application of a water-soluble hydroxyphenyl benzotriazole UV absorber (such as UVFast W) to bleached wool reduces its rate of photoyellowing but has a negative impact on the whiteness of the bleached wool, largely cancelling out the improvements in whiteness achieved during bleaching. However, if the UV absorber is applied to peroxide-bleached wool from a reductive bleach bath, white wool with improved photostability to sunlight and UV radiation can be obtained.