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We tested 4 fabrics for bacteria twice by using a DIY incubator and a cooking substance called Agar. Before we started, we cleaned all of the fabrics with rubbing alcohol. To collect bacteria, we placed our hands in latex gloves under a heat lamp until they were wet with sweat. We then rubbed one side of each fabric in the glove. After that, we place fabric with bacteria into a petri dish face down in about 1/4 inch layer of Agar. Then we put the petri dishes upside down into a cooler. A heat lamp blasted down on the bacteria at around 85-100F. Since we did this in a school setting, we needed to turn the heat lamp off and wait overnight. After 3 days of this growth is seen around and on the fabric. Growth is basically white globs or strips of bacteria. When you see this on the fabric and you know the fabric is not at all anti-microbial. But as you will see below some fabrics repulsed the bacteria and stayed nearly completely clean!
Here are some other pictures of the experiment set-up.
Bacteria test team member Aiden preps the fabric for their incubation. In the background a cooler can be seen and above that a heat lamp shines down into it.
Since our work space is also our school library, it is important to make sure our team is the only one who manipulates the work space.
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