This page explains what testing means at Faorms, what we do and do not test, and how test results are reported in our guides.
What testing means here
A test at Faorms is a hands-on trial of a method on a stated material, under stated conditions, with a stated outcome. For example: a stain treatment tried on a named fabric swatch, or a stitch worked with a named thread on a named ground fabric.
What we test
We test practical home methods: washing, pressing, stain treatment, stitching, mending, and storage steps that a reader can repeat with ordinary household tools and materials.
What we do not test
We do not run laboratory tests, professional conservation testing, or controlled wear trials. We do not test methods on valuable, historic, or unstable textiles. A result on one fabric, dye, or finish does not prove the same result on another.
How we report a test
When an article reports a test, it states the materials, tools, conditions, and outcome, and the limits of what the test shows. Where a method is general guidance rather than a tested result, the article says so.
Safety rules
Test any treatment on a hidden area before applying it to a visible part of a garment. Never apply an untested treatment to a valuable piece. For historic, fragile, or unstable textiles, ask a qualified textile conservator to assess the piece before any cleaning or treatment.
What happens when a test fails
When a method does not work, we say so and we do not recommend it. A failed test is reported as a failure, not softened into a partial success.
What is still missing
[TODO: publish test logs and step photographs for flagship guides. Owner to supply original test records and photographs. Until then, articles do not claim photographic proof of tests that were not documented.]