Formaldehyde is a common chemical found in our living environment, such as in carpets, cigarettes and paints. It has been applied in a variety of industries. The textiles industry has used it in the form of formaldehyde-based resins as finishes to make fabrics easy to care for such as wrinkle reduction in cotton fabrics.

Since formaldehyde can cause allergic reaction in some people, the pollutant of this chemical has aroused much attention as the living standard has increased. Although the standard formaldehyde test can provide an accurate and reliable measurement of the chemical content in textile products, the methods require special reagents, equipment and user training which are not easily accessible by the public.