Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) have been used to characterise butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) powder and BTCA modified cotton fibre surface. The wash durability of crease resist BTCA finish at the cotton surface has been demonstrated and enhanced binding of sodium cations to the carboxyl rich fibre surface observed. Similarly increased affinity of copper ions to the polycarboxylic acid treated cotton was observed. Domestic laundering of the copper impregnated BTCA fabric in a perborate containing detergent produced increased strength loss relative to comparably laundered unmodified cotton and DMDHEU treated cotton fabric. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.