When applied with phosphorus containing catalysts, polycarboxylic acids produced cotton fabrics with excellent smooth drying properties. The strength retention values of the polycatboxylic treated fabrics were better than those obtained for fabrics treated with methylol derivatives of cyclic ureas. FTIR spectroscopy quantified the amount of butane tetracarboxylic acid on the cotton. The method also determined the amount of citric acid, another polycatboxylic acid, on cotton fabrics. 13 refs.