The cotton fabrics were treated with aqueous NaOH solution at $25^{circ}C$ and 9$0^{circ}C$, and the effects of NaOH concentration and treating temperature on the physical properties of fabrics were studied. Physical preperties such as tensile strength, tearing strength, abrasion resistance, wrinkle recovery, luster, and handle were better in hot mercerized fabrics than in conventional mercerization. Hot mercerization is also found to be advantageous in improvement of physical properties of durable press fabrics.