Application of fluorinated compounds to cotton fabrics via sol-gel

► Hydro and oil repellency conferred to cotton fabrics by surface functionalization with fluorinated compounds via sol-gel. ► Water/oil contact angles and drop absorption times showed superhydrophobicity and strong oil repellency with low add-ons. ► Pure reagents were compared with a commercial, low cost product, which yielded better results as treatment wash fastness. ► Long impregnation times and ironing improved treatment properties and wash fastness. ► Untreated, treated and washed samples deeply characterized by means of FTIR ATR, XPS, SEM.