Wash-durable, fluid absorbent substrate with antimicrobial properties and/or improved washability, and hygiene product such as reusable sanitary napkin

A substrate to which one or more stain release agents and one or more antimicrobial agents are adhered, wherein

• the substrate exhibits a reduction value of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 measured in accordance with AATCC test method 100-2012 of at least 99% within 1 hour of contact time;
• the substrate has a stain release rating, measured in accordance with AATCC test method 130-2010, of at least grade 3;
• the substrate has a water repellency rating, measured in accordance with AATCC test method 22-2014, of at most 50;
• the substrate has an oil repellency rating, measured in accordance with AATCC test method 118-2013, of at most grade 1;
• and
• the antimicrobial efficiency and the stain release rating are achieved even after at least 25 laundry washes in a laundry washing machine, for 10-15 minutes, using non-antimicrobial, non-ionic and non-chlorine containing laundry detergent.

A process for finishing a substrate, comprising the steps of:

• treating the substrate using an antimicrobial liquor application process like an exhaustion or padding process, wherein the liquor comprises one or more antimicrobial agents;
• drying the treated substrate;
• treating the dried substrate using a stain release liquor application process like an exhaustion or preferably a padding process, wherein the liquor comprises one or more stain release agents which are not capable of increasing the water or oil repellency of the substrate;
• and
• curing of the treated substrate, which curing is conducted at least partially at a curing ambient temperature of at least 170° C.

A washable hygiene product, in particular a sanitary napkin, panty or underwear liner, nappy, diaper, diaper liner, adult diaper, bed pad, or nursing pad, comprising

• a water repellent layer having a water repellency rating of at least 70 when measured in accordance with AATCC test method 22-2014, and
• one or more dispersion layers comprising a substrate to which
• two or more antimicrobial agents selected from the group consisting of an azole-based compound, metal, polyglucosamine, and polyhexamethylene biguanide are adhered, wherein the total amount of the one or more antimicrobial agents adhered to the substrate is at most 4.0%, preferably at most 3.0%, more preferably at most 2.5%, and most preferably at most about 2.0% on weight fabric of the substrate, and at least 0.1%, preferably at least 0.2%, more preferably at least 0.3%, and most preferably at least 0.4% on weight fabric of the substrate, or
• one or more stain release agents are adhered,
• wherein the substrate has a stain release rating, measured in accordance with AATCC test method 130-2010, of at least grade 3, a water repellency rating, measured in accordance with AATCC test method 22-2014, of at most 50, and an oil repellency rating, measured in accordance with AATCC test method 118-2013, of at most grade 1.