In this study, the polyester (PET) fabric was hydrolyzed with alkali to increase the surface activity and enhance the nano titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) adsorption to produce higher functionality. The PET fabric was first treated with sodium hydroxide along with cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as a cationic surfactant and then dipped into an ultrasound bath containing nano-TiO2 followed by curing at high temperature. The weight loss, vertical wicking, and water droplet adsorption time were evaluated and are reported. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles deposited on the PET fabric was examined by the degradation of methylene blue as a model stain under daylight irradiation. The residual TiO2 on the fabric surface after 1 and 10 successive washings was determined to indicate the washing durability of the finished fabric. Also, the UV protection was assessed by UV reflectance spectroscopy. The scanning electron microscopy pictures and energy-dispersive X-ray spectra of some fabrics are also reported. The surface hydrolysis of the PET fabric with sodium hydroxide created some voids and hydrophilic groups on the fabric surface; this led to the higher adsorption of nano-TiO2 particles and enhanced the wettability, vertical wicking, and higher durability against repeated washings of the nano-TiO2 treated fabric. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012