Although the topical application of fiber lubricants to weather-damaged cottons improves their processing efficiency, it does so at the expense of subsequent yarn and fabric strength. If it were practical to apply these lubricants during ginning, allow them to remain on during processing, then remove them later during finishing, it is believed that strength loss due to reduced fiber-to-fiber friction could be restored. Process washing frequently precedes bleaching, dyeing, or finishing. This washing operation should effectively remove most of the lubricants currently being evaluated in this study. Research was undertaken to compare the fabric properties of controls with washed and unwashed fabrics woven with topically lubricated filling threads. As expected, laundering was found to increase fabric tearing strength and breaking strength. This procedure makes possible the use of topical lubricants to improve processing efficiency of weather-damaged cotton fibers, but provides for their removal following weaving operations, thus giving stronger fabrics. Lubricant removal would take place during normal finishing operations.