Abstract: Soil release and stain resistance properties of cellulosic textile materials are improved by reacting a cellulosic textile material with a water-soluble synthetic polymer acid or anhydride. After impregnating the cellulosic material with a synthetic polymer acid or anhydride and an esterification catalyst, the impregnated material is dried and subsequently cured in order that the polymer may react with the cellulosic material in the presence of the esterification catalyst. The material is then washed to yield the finished product. This procedure is applicable to fibers, yarns and manufactured cloths of various hydroxyl-containing polymers such as cotton, cotton-containing materials and blends of cellulosic materials with various synthetics such as polyesters.