Specular reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has been used to follow the chemical changes in cellulose when cotton cloth was aged for 2, 4, 7, 11, 14, 23, and 31 hours at 190°C in air and in nitrogen. The infrared absorptions of carbonyl and carboxylate groups were measured from the 1600-1750 cm^-1 region. After 31 hours of aging in air and in nitrogen, the extent of carboxylate formation was approximately the same although oxidation proceeded more rapidly in air. The rate of aging in nitrogen proceeded at a uniform rate over 31 hours whereas in air, a leveling-off point was reached after 11 hours. The dependence of the formation of carboxylate on the accessibility of OH groups is discussed. These results indicate the exceptional use of specular reflectance absorbance infrared spectroscopy for rapid, sensitive, and nondestructive detection of oxidation degradation in cotton textiles.