Method for abrading fabric garments

Claim 1

A method of abrading garments in a conventional household or commercial automatic washing machine which comprises the steps of: a. placing said garments in a receptacle of said machine capable of agitation of said garments within said receptacle; b. adding a predetermined amount of abrasive particles to said receptacle, said particles being less than 2 millimeters in diameter, said predetermined amount of particles sufficient to uniformly abrade said garments; c. further adding to said receptacle a first liquid sufficient to circulate said abrasive particles within said receptacle; d. agitating of said garments until said garments are uniformly abraded; e. draining said receptacle through said machine's conventional drainage system of substantially all of said first liquid and said abrasive particles; f. removing said uniformly abraded garments from said receptacle.

Claim 2

A method of abrading garments in a conventional household or commercial automatic washing machine which comprises the steps of: a. placing said garments in a receptacle of said machine capable of agitation of said garments within said receptacle; b. adding a predetermined amount of abrasive particles to said receptacle, said particles being less than 2 millimeters in diameter, said predetermined amount of particles sufficient to uniformly abrade said garments; c. further adding to said receptacle a first liquid sufficient to circulate said abrasive particles within said receptacle; d. agitating of said garments until said garments are uniformly abraded; e. draining said receptacle through said machine's conventional drainage system of substantially all of said first liquid and said abrasive particles; f. removing said uniformly abraded garments from said receptacle.

Claim 9

A method of abrading garments in a conventional household or commercial automatic washing machine which comprises the steps of: a. placing said garments in a receptacle of said machine capable of agitation of said garments within said receptacle; b. adding to said receptacle a sufficient amount of a first liquid to thoroughly soak said garments; c. a first agitation of said garments within said receptacle; d. further adding to said receptacle a predetermined amount of abrasive particles, said particles being less than 2 millimeters in diameter, said predetermined amount of particles sufficient to uniformly abrade said garments; e. a second agitation of said garments until said garments are uniformly abraded; f. draining said receptacle of substantially all of said first liquid and said abrasive particles; said draining step is accomplished through said machine's conventional drainage system and a filter means capable of separating said first liquid from said particles; g. removing said uniformly abraded garments from said receptacle.

Claim 10

A method of abrading garments in a conventional household or commercial automatic washing machine which comprises the steps of: a. placing said garments in a receptacle of said machine capable of agitation of said garments within said receptacle; b. adding to said receptacle a sufficient amount of a first liquid to thoroughly soak said garments; c. a first agitation of said garments within said receptacle; d. further adding to said receptacle a predetermined amount of abrasive particles, said particles being less than 2 millimeters in diameter, said predetermined amount of particles sufficient to uniformly abrade said garments; e. a second agitation of said garments until said garments are uniformly abraded; f. draining said receptacle of substantially all of said first liquid and said abrasive particles; said draining step is accomplished through said machine's conventional drainage system and a filter means capable of separating said first liquid from said particles; g. removing said uniformly abraded garments from said receptacle.

Claim 11

A method of abrading fabric garments in a washing machine which comprises the steps of a. placing said garments in an agitating compartment of said machine; b. filling said compartment with sufficient hot water to cover said garments; c. soaking and agitating said garments in said water in said compartment until said garments are thoroughly soaked; d. draining sufficient water from said compartment to enable said compartment to accept a predetermined amount of pumice sand and soap to uniformly abrade and clean said garments, said sand having a particle size less than 2 millimeters in diameter; e. adding said sand and said soap to said compartment; f. agitating said garments, said water, said sand and said soap in said compartment until said garments are uniformly abraded and cleaned; g. draining said compartment of substantially all of said water, said sand, and said soap; said draining step to be accomplished through said machine's conventional drainage system and a filter means capable of separating said sand from said water and said soap; h. refilling said compartment with cold rinse water sufficient to cover said abraded and cleaned garments; i. agitating said rinse water and said abraded and cleaned garments until garments have been throughly rinsed; j. redraining said compartment of substantially all of said rinse water, said redraining step to be accomplished through said drainage system and said filter means; k. removing of said abraded and cleaned garments from said compartment; and l. collecting said sand from said filter means for reuse in subsequent abrading operations.

Claim 12

A method of abrading fabric garments in a washing machine which comprises the steps of a. placing said garments in an agitating compartment of said machine; b. filling said compartment with sufficient hot water to cover said garments; c. soaking and agitating said garments in said water in said compartment until said garments are thoroughly soaked; d. draining sufficient water from said compartment to enable said compartment to accept a predetermined amount of pumice sand and soap to uniformly abrade and clean said garments, said sand having a particle size less than 2 millimeters in diameter; e. adding said sand and said soap to said compartment; f. agitating said garments, said water, said sand and said soap in said compartment until said garments are uniformly abraded and cleaned; g. draining said compartment of substantially all of said water, said sand, and said soap; said draining step to be accomplished through said machine's conventional drainage system and a filter means capable of separating said sand from said water and said soap; h. refilling said compartment with cold rinse water sufficient to cover said abraded and cleaned garments; i. agitating said rinse water and said abraded and cleaned garments until garments have been throughly rinsed; j. redraining said compartment of substantially all of said rinse water, said redraining step to be accomplished through said drainage system and said filter means; k. removing of said abraded and cleaned garments from said compartment; and l. collecting said sand from said filter means for reuse in subsequent abrading operations.