This study was carried out to compare the effect of caustic soda with the effect of caustic potash on cotton fabric. Instead of caustic potash, sodium carbonate similar in chemical composition to caustic potash was used. The damage of cotton cellulose by repeated washing in various alkaline solutions at 8$0^{circ}C$, 60 rpm was examined. The damage of cotton cellulose by the variation of copper number, carboxyl content, degree of polymerization and retained tensile strength was estimated. The results obtained at this study are as follows; 1. The damage of cotton by caustic soda was severer than caustic potash. The retained tensile strength at 50 washing cycle in caustic soda was 59% and in sodium carbonate was 80%. 2. By adding soap to caustic soda, the damage of cotton fabric decreased because contact area between fabric and air diminished by foam. 3. Detergency of EMPA 101 in caustic soda was lower than sodium carbonate. Consequently, using caustic soda that damage fabric severely and have lower detergency for caustic potash is unreasonable.