Abstract: A process for desizing and cleaning fabrics and garments which produces a substantially desized fabric or garment while holding the dye that is removed from the garment in suspension in the bath is disclosed. The process includes the steps of immersing the woven fabric or garments in an aqueous bath containing from about 1.0% to about 8.0% owg of a desizing agent and maintaining the fabric in the desizing bath for a time sufficient to desize the goods while minimizing the removal of dye present in the goods. The desizing agent includes from about 1.0% to about 100% by weight of the desizing agent of a clay and up to about 10% by weight of the desizing agent of at least one surfactant.