Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1
METHOD FOR CLEANING AND REFRESHING FABRICS
10
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to methods useful for cleaning and refreshing
fabrics in a
non-immersion cleaning process. Temperature and relative humidity are
controlled in the multi-
step processes of this invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Certain delicate fabrics are not suitable for conventional in-home immersion
cleaning
processes. Home washing machines, which provide excellent cleaning results for
the majority of
fabrics used in today's society, can, under certain conditions, shrink or
otherwise damage silk,
linen, wool and other delicate fabrics. Consumers typically have their
delicate fabric items "dry-
cleaned". Unfortunately, dry-cleaning usually involves immersing the fabrics
in various
hydrocarbon and halocarbon solvents that require special handling and the
solvent must be
reclaimed, making the process unsuitable for in-home use. Hence, dry-cleaning
has traditionally
been restricted to commercial establishments making it less convenient and
more costly than in-
home laundering processes.
Attempts have been made to provide in-home dry-cleaning systems that combine
the
fabric cleaning and refreshing of in-home, immersion laundering processes with
the fabric care
benefits of dry-cleaning processes. One such in-home system for cleaning and
refreshing
garments comprises a substrate sheet containing various liquid or gelled
cleaning agents, and a
plastic bag. The garments are placed in the bag together with the sheet, and
then tumbled in a
conventional clothes dryer. In a current commercial embodiment, multiple
single-use flat sheets
comprising a cleaning/refreshing agent and a single multi-use plastic bag are
provided in a
package.
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Unfortunately, these prior processes often involved only one step with regards
to
temperature and relative humidity. That is, the tumble dryer was set for a
particular temperature
and time. The humidity in the bag was a function of the moisture loaded in the
bag and the
temperature setting. But once the time and temperature were selected, the one
step process was
set. Moreover, when using a conventional tumble dryer, the consumer is often
limited to the
manufacturer's pre-set temperature conditions, which are established for
drying clothes, not for
cleaning and refreshing them. Often these manufacturer's conditions are sub-
optimal with respect
to one or more of dewrinkling, deodorizing, and optionally perfume deposition.
Moreover, such in-home processes are designed for use in a conventional
clothes dryer, or
the like apparatus. Such apparatuses are not always readily available, they
are often
uneconomical, and in many countries clothes dryers are simply unnecessary. For
example, in
many warm tropical regions people do not typically overt clothes dryers
because their clothes can
be dried year-round by hanging them outside in the sun. In the areas of the
world where people
do not typically own clothes dryers, products that require a heating
apparatus, such as a clothes
dryer, are of little or no value.
Steamer cabinets have also been utilized in the art to treat fabric articles
with heavy doses
of steam. Unfortunately, these high temperature, high relative humidity
processes can have
negative effects on fabric articles. In addition to the harsh effect on
fabrics, a drying step is often
required that puts even further strain on the fabrics. The drying step also
requires additional time
and energy, and often results in undesirable shrinkage. end finally, steamer
cabinets are typically
wasteful with respect to steam because it is only water.
Thus, there is a need to develop a domestic, non-immersion cleaning and
refreshing
process, and cleaning and refreshing compositions for use therein, which
provides acceptable
cleaning without the need for a tumble dryer.
It has now also been unexpectedly discovered that by regulating temperature
and relative
humidity within a container during a domestic, non-immersion cleaning and
refreshment process,
dry clean only fabrics are cleaned, dewrinkled and refreshed. The present
invention provides
such methods for cleaning and refreshing fabrics.
SUMMARY OF ~I~fiE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for treating
at least one
fabric article comprising the steps of: a) placing the fabnc article in a
container having an
opening and at least one wall that defines an interior void space; b) raising
the temperature and
relative humidity of the air within the interior void space of the container
to a predetermined first
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temperature and a predetermined first relative humidity and sustaining the
first temperature and first
relative humidity for a predetermined first period of time; and c) changing at
least one of the
temperature or the relative humidity of the air within the interior void space
of the container at the
end of the first period of time to a predetermined second temperature and a
predetermined second
relative humidity and sustaining the second temperature and second relative
humidity for a
predetermined second period of time.
In a preferred aspect of this invention, the fabrics are contacted with an
aqueous composition
prior to be placed in a container according to step a) defined below.
In another preferred aspect of this invention vapor is used to raise the
temperature and
relative humidity of the air within the interior void space of the container,
and more preferably the
vent remains open at all times. In another aspect of this invention the vapor
introduced into the
interior void space of the container comprises water and a perfume.
In yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for
treating a fabric
article comprising the steps of: a) placing the fabric article in a container
having an opening and at
least one wall that defines an interior void space; b) introducing ozone into
the interior void space for
a predetermined first period of time; and c) changing at least one of the
temperature or the relative
humidity of the air within the interior void space of the container at the end
of the first period of time
to a predetermined second temperature and a predetermined second humidity for
a predetermined
second period of time. The ozone can be generated by an ozone source, such as
an ultraviolet lamp,
or even a high voltage source, within the interior void space of the
container. Preferably, the level of
ozone that is provided within the container is between 0.5 and 200ppm,
preferably between 0.5 and
50ppm, more preferably between 0.5 and 20ppm. Levels lower than 0.5ppm are not
preferred as they
would not provide sufficient bleaching performance and consequently not
provide sufficient
performance of the benefit linked to the bleach property.
The present invention provides benefits over the prior art by defining the
optimal process
steps for cleaning and refreshing delicate fabric articles in an in-home non-
immersion cleaning
process. The methods of this invention can be carried out in any appropriate
container, such as a
plastic bag, a wardrobe, a cabinet, or a tumble dryer.
Unlike many prior processes, the methods of this invention involve at least
two distinct steps,
and preferably three steps. It has been surprisingly found that the optimal
conditions for deodorizing
a fabric article differ from the conditions that are best for dewrinkling.
Likewise, perfume deposition
onto a fabric article requires a third set of conditions for optimal
performance. In the multi-step
processes of this invention temperature, relative humidity or both can be
manipulated and controlled.
Alternatively, one step of the process can involve the
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introduction of ozone into the container to neutralize odor causing chemicals
on the fabric
articles being cleaned and refreshed.
Further the present invention provides a method of delivering an active
ingredient, for
example, perfume, to the fabrics being treated. Simultaneously, the methods
herein minimize the
amount of vapor delivered so that the actives are not wasted. And finally, the
methods herein are
designed to deliver only enough vapor to accomplish the fabric treatment
process, without the
need for additional mechanical drying.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides methods for cleaning and refreshing fabric
articles in a.
domestic, non-immersion process. The methods require at least two steps, and
preferably three.
The methods can be carried out in any appropriate apparatus wherein
temperature and relative
humidity can be manipulated and controlled. In another aspect of this
invention, one of the
method steps involves the introduction of ozone into the container to
neutralize odor causing
chemicals on the fabric articles being cleaned and refreshed.
A warm, humid environment inside the container volatilizes malodor components
in the
manner of a "steam distillation" process, and moistens fabrics and the soils
thereon. This
moistening of fabrics can loosen pre-set wrinkles, and because the fabric
articles are hung in the
container new wrinkles do not form. Proper selection of the amount of the
vapor, and
specifically the amount of water used in the process and, importantly, proper
venting of the
container in the present manner can minimize shrinkage of the fabrics.
Moreover, if the container
is not vented, the volatilized malodorous materials removed from the fabrics,
which are not
captured by the filter if present, can undesirably be re-deposited thereon.
Relative humidity is a well known concept to those in the fabric care arts. As
used herein,
"relative humidity" means the ratio of the actual amount of water vapor in the
air to the greatest
amount possible at the same temperature.
Temperature and relative humidity controllers are well known to those skilled
in the art,
as are passive and active controllers. As used herein, an "active" controller
is a controller that
reads an input and supplies feedback to the device being controlled and that
device adjusts based
on the feedback received. A "passive" controller, as used herein, is a
controller that turns a
device on or off, or opens or closes a device, based on a predetermined
setting such as time. For
example, a passive temperature controller would turn on a heating element or
close a vent to
increase the temperature in a given environment and after a certain period of
time the heating
element is turned off or the vent is opened. In contrast, an active
temperature controller reads the
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temperature and if, for example, the temperature is too low, the power to the
heating element is
increased or the vent is closed to increase the temperature.
Method
To properly clean and refresh a fabric article, one must address many aspects
of the
article's appearance. Specifically, the fabric article should at least be
substantially free of odor
and wrinkles after a cleaning and refreshing operation. It is often preferred
that the article be
perfumed to give it a pleasant odor, and it should be free of localized
stains. The methods of this
invention require at least two steps designed toward deodorizing, dewrinkling
and/or perfume
deposition on a fabric article. Additionally, a manual spot removal process
for removing
localized stains is provided, but the spot removal process is conducted
outside of the apparatus
The conditions for each of these methods steps are described in greater detail
below.
While the method steps of this invention can be carried out in any appropriate
order, the
deodorization step will be discussed first. Deodorization must be
distinguished from odor-
masking, which involves applying a pleasant scent to a fabric to mask, or
cover up the odors on
the fabric. Deodorization, as used herein, involves the actual removal or
neutralization of
malodor causing chemicals. When the malodor causing constituents are removed
or neutralized,
the fabric article should have little or no residual odor. This step of the
process can be carned
out with ozone, which neutralizes odors, or with high temperatures and
venting, and/or by filter
capturing, which removes the odor causing constituents. The advantages of
using ozone as a
bleaching system is that this component provides an overall satisfactory
colour safety, especially
on cellulosic fabrics, a malodour reduction, stain removal, as well as
sanitistion of the articles
treated therewith.
The deodorization step, is described herein as the first step as a matter of
convenience. It
is understood that the deodorization and dewrinkling steps can be carried out
in any order. If a
perfume deposition step is employed, it necessarily should follow the
deodorization step, so that
the perfume is not stripped off of the fabric immediately after it is laid
down.
Thus, when deodorization is the first step, the first temperature should be at
least about
45°C, preferably at least about 60°C, and most preferably at
least about 70°C and the first relative
humidity should be least about 20%. At these relatively high temperatures,
odor causing
chemicals are stripped off of fabrics, and then preferably removed from the
container via the
vent. Even more preferably, the vent comprises a filter so that the odorous
emanations do not
enter the environment outside of the container. When the first temperature and
first relative
humidity are reached, the process time, that is, the first time, can be from
about 2 minutes to
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about 20 minutes, preferably from about 5 minutes to about 15 minutes, and
even more preferably
from about 8 minutes to about 12 minutes.
The deodorization step described above can be supplemented, or even replaced
by
treating the fabric articles with ozone, preferably incorporated at room
temperature. The use of
ozone to neutralize odors causing chemicals and to sanitize garments, for
example, medical
gowns, is well known to the art. Specifically see, published patent
applications DE 24 33 909
and FR 2059 841. For purposes of the methods disclosed herein,
ozone can be introduced into the container from any appropriate
source, such as an ultraviolet lamp. One or more ozone sources can be used and
they can be
placed in any convenient place in, or adjacent the exterior of the container.
The ozone source
must be sized according to the volume of the container with consideration for
the surface area of
the fabric articles being cleaned and refreshed. Those skilled in the art will
know what type and
size of equipment to use for a given container.
The second step of the present invention is directed to dewrinkling, which
requires
relatively high temperature and relative humidity. Good air circulation is
.beneficial to the
dewrinkling step, but not necessary. For the second step, i.e. the dewrinkling
step, the second
temperature should be greater than "T" as defined by the equation: T = 60 -
(0.17 * RH2),
wherein RH2 is the second relative humidity in percent. RH2 is preferably of
at least SO%,
preferably of at least 75%, more preferably of at least about 85%, and even
more preferably at
least about 90%. Preferably, the second temperature is less than about
90°C, more preferably less
than about 80°C, and most preferably less than about 70°C. When
the second terriperature and
second relative humidity are reached, the process time, that is, the second
time, can be from about
2 minutes to about 20 minutes, preferably from about 5 minutes to about 15
minutes, and even
more preferably from about 8 minutes to about 12 minutes.
Finally, there is preferably a third step which involves a gradual cool down
of the interior
void space. As the temperature decrease, the amount of vapor that the air can
retain in the air
decreases, and when the air becomes saturated the vapors begin to condense.
Naturally, vapors
will condense on the fabric articles on the inside of the bag, and as these
articles dry, the active
ingredients, such as perfume, remain behind. As discussed briefly above, the
methods steps of
this invention are designed to deliver actives without undue waste and without
saturating the
fabrics to the point where they need additional drying. Preferably, during the
third step in the
process the temperature within the interior void space decreases to a third
temperature wherein
the third temperature is less than about 45°C, preferably less than
about 40°C, and more
preferably Less than about 35°C. This third step can last for a third
period of time, which can be
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from about 2 minutes to about 20 minutes, preferably from about 3 minutes to
about 10 minutes,
and even more preferably from about 3 minutes to about 5 minutes.
As discussed in greater detail below, the vapor inside the container is
preferably a
cleaning and refreshment composition. The cleaning refreshment composition can
be added to
the container directly, via a sheet/substrate, in a cartridge or any other
means that will be known
to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the cleaning and refreshment
composition is in a cartridge
that is introduced into the interior void space of the container and the
cleaning and refreshment
composition is released from the cartridge into the interior void space of the
container.
Apparatus
The methods of this invention can be conducted in any appropriate apparatus.
Such apparatuses require a container that substantially encloses the fabric
articles being cleaned
and refreshed. By "substantially encloses", it is meant that the fabric
articles are enclosed in the
container, but that the container can, and preferably will, include one or
more vents. The
container must have an opening to access the fabric articles, and preferably,
there is a bar, hook or
other device on which to hang the fabric articles. The garments hung in
treatment apparatus can
also be weighted or stretched to improve wrinkle reduction. Hanging weights
and stretching
devices will be known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, the garments to
be treated are
mechanically stretched after placing them into the container and before
starting the process. This
stretching or so-called tensioning of the garment helps the relaxation of
wrinkles during the
process. Preferred stretching systems include weighted clamps as well as light
weight
compactable or retractible stretching systems, wherein the system comprises a
tensioning device
like a spring. The latter systems have the benefit of not adding extra weight
to the cleaning and
refreshing apparatus, along with the possibility of adjusting tensioning force
and direction as
required. Preferably, these systems are mounted inside the container at its
bottom. One example
of such as system is a rollerblind that is conventionally used as sunfilter
for cars and
commercially available from Halfords. This system ~s a rollerblind which can
be extended or
compacted by means of a roll-up spring mechanism. Only slight modification of
this system are
needed to adapt it to the tensioning of garment. One preferred adaptation
involves attaching the
housing of this system at the bottom of the apparatus and providing one or
more clamp at the
other side so that the clamping and thus the stretching or tensioning of the
garment in the
apparatus is obtained. The tension of the spring can also be adjusted to the
desired stretching
force for a given garment. The size of the clamp can vary so that more than
one clamp are
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attached to this system. Still, another variation involves having only one
clamp which run along or
partly along the blind tensioning system located opposite the housing of the
system.
The container preferably has only one wall configured like an egg shell. It
has been
found that the vapor, and subsequently the active ingredients, preferentially
condense in the
corners and along the sharp edges of a more conventional rectangular shaped
cabinet. This is not
to say that the methods of this invention cannot be conducted in rectangular
cabinets; they can.
But the fewer sharp edges and corners the cabinet has, the more efficient it
is. Thus, cabinets,
wardrobes, and garment bags are all appropriate for use in the present
invention. Moreover, a
common tumble dryer may be an appropriate container, but these apparatuses do
not normally
have humidity controllers, nor do they have the ability to program a mufti-
step process with
respect to both temperature and humidity. Thus, with some additional
programming and
controllers, a common tumble dryer could be used for the methods of this
invention.
In addition to the at least one wall that defines an interior void space, the
containers of
this invention preferably comprise: a vent and/or filter; a heating element,
which is capable of
heating liquids to produce vapors and which can run dry to heat air; a
humidity provider; and an
air circulation device, for example, a fan. More preferably, the container
additionally comprises
an active temperature controller capable of changing and maintaining the air
temperature within
the interior void space of the container; a passive humidity controller
capable of changing and
maintaining the relative humidity of the air within the interior void space of
the container, and/or
a humidity sink like a condenser. Even more preferably, the air circulation
device is a fan and the
fan inlet is within the interior void space of the container so that at least
a portion of the air
within the void space of the container is recirculated. Preferably, for the
optimum deodorisation.
it preferred to have air velocities around the garment between 0.05 to 10 m/s,
more preferably
between 0.1 and 5, most preferably between 0.5 and 2 m.s-1. Also, there is
preferably provided a
filter in, or adjacent the exterior of the container
The water and actives, that is, the "cleaning and refreshment composition" can
be added
to the container in any appropriate way. The composition can be poured into
the bag, poured into
a reservoir that feeds into the heating element/humidifier, canisters can be
used to inject the
composition, or an absorbent substrate saturated with the composition can be
placed in the bag.
Substrates and compositions suitable for use in the methods of this invention
are described m
greater detail below. It is understood that those skilled in the art will know
of other methods of
adding actives to the container and those methods are within the scope of this
invention.
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CleaninglRefreshment Composition
The cleaning/refreshment composition preferably comprises water and optionally
a
member selected from the group consisting of surfactants, perfumes,
preservatives, bleaches,
auxiliary cleaning agents, shrinkage reducing compositions, organic solvents
and mixtures
thereof. The preferred organic solvents are glycol ethers, specifically,
methoxy propoxy
propanol, ethoxy propoxy propanol, propoxy propoxy propanol, butoxy propoxy
propanol,
butoxy propanol, ethanol, isopropanol and mixtures thereof. Fabric shrinkage
reducing
compositions that axe suitable for use in the present invention are selected
from the group
consisting of ethylene glycol, all isomers of propanediol, butanediol,
pentanediol, hexanediol and
ZO mixtures thereof. More preferably, the fabric shrinkage reducing
compositions are selected from.
the group consisting of neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-
propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, I-
octanol and mixtures thereof. The surfactant is preferably a nonionic
surfactant, such as an
ethoxylated alcohol or ethoxylated alkyl phenol, and is present at up to about
2%, by weight of
the cleaning/refreshment composition. Typical fabric cieaning/refreshment
compositions herein
can comprise at least about 80%, by weight, water, preferably at least about
90%, and more
preferably at least about 95% water.
The Examples below give specific ranges for the individual components of
preferred
cleaning/refreshment compositions for use herein. A more detailed description
of the individual
components of the cleaning/refreshment compositions, that is, the organic
solvents, surfactants,
perfumes, preservatives, bleaches and auxiliary cleaning agents can be found
in U.S. Patent No.
5,789,368, which issued on August 4, 1998 to You et al. Additionally,
cleaning/refreshment compositions are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,912,408,
in
the name of Trinh et al. And shrinkage reducing compositions for use in this
invention can be found in WO 00/11133 entitled "Cleaning Compositions that
Reduce Fabric Shrinkage".
Pre-treatment composition
In one embodiment of this invention, the cleaninglrefreshment composition can
be used to
pre-treat the fabrics before their placement into the container defined in
step a) of the present
invention. Indeed, this 1 pre-treatment of the fabrics has been found highly
beneficial for the
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removal of clay like horse mud as well as of creamy or pasty deodorant stains
that stick to
localised part of the fabrics articles, e.g. fabric underarm. Further, this
pre-treatment step has also
been found beneficial for improving the deodorising as well as the dewrinkling
performance of
the apparatus on the treated fabrics. Accordingly, there is provided a method
for treating the
fabrics, whereby the fabrics are contacted with a cleaning/refreshing
composition as defined
herein prior to being placed in the container defined in step a). Preferably,
the contacting occurs
by spraying the fabrics with a handspray bottle commercially available under
the reference
7292458 for the 1000m1 and 7292457 for the SOOmI from VEL or aerosol spray
like the
aluminium aerosol cans with polyethylene coating and a 18 bar pressure
resistance as
commercially available from Boxal part of the Algroup Wheaton. Suitable valves
for the cans are
aluminium cup spray valves from Seaquist. Preferably, the filling of the can
by propellant is done
with nitrogen at 10 bar for the initial pressure filling while the cans are
filled with the pre-
treatment composition up to 60% of the can total volume. Typical disclosure of
such spray
dispenser can be found in WO 96/04940 page 19 line 21 to page 22 line 27.
Optionally, for
1 S more improved deodorising performance, cyclodextrin can be used, in
particular (3-cyclodextrin
like the ~3-hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin or the (3-methylated cyclodextrin,
while for improved
dewrinkling, lubricant like the DS cyclomethicone from Dow Corning or diester
quaternary
ammonium compound like di(tallowyloxyethyl)dimethyl ammonium in the
cleaning/refreshment
composition. Typical levels of such cyclodextrin are of from 0.01, preferably
of from 0.1% to 5%
by weight.
Substrate
In one embodiment of this invention the cleaning/refreshment composition can
be
releasably absorbed in an absorbent substrate, herein after referred to as a
"substrate". The
substrate releasably contains the composition. By "releasably contains" means
that the
composition is effectively released from the substrate onto the soiled fabrics
as part of the
cleaning and fabric refreshment processes herein. This release occurs mainly
by volatilization of
the composition due to the heat from the supplemental heat source.
The substrate can be in any desired form, such as powders, flakes, shreds, and
the like.
However, it is highly preferred that the substrate be in the form of an
integral pad or "sheet" that
substantially maintains its structural integrity throughout the process. The
substrates and sheets
of this invention are sometimes referred to in the literature as "carriers" or
"absorbent carrier
sheets"; it is understood that all of these labels refer to liquid absorbing
materials that can be used
to conveniently transport liquids. Such substrates are described in detail in
U.S. Patent No.
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5,789,368, to You et al. The manufacture of these sheets forms no
part of this invention and is already disclosed in the literature. See, for
example, U.S. Patents 5,009,747, Viazmensky, et al., April 23, 1991 and
5,292,581, Viazmensky,
et aL, March $, 1994.
The substrate is intended to contain a sufficient amount of the
cieaninglrefreshment
composition to be effective for the intended purpose. The capacity of the
substrate for such a
composition will vary according to the intended usage. The size of the
substrate should not be so
large as to be unhandy for the user. Typically, the dimensions of the
substrate will be sufficient to
provide a macroscopic surface area (both sides of the substrate) of at least
about 360 cm2,
J O preferably in the range from about 360 cm2 to about 3000 cm2. For example,
a generally
rectangular substrate may have the dimensions (X-direction) of from about 10
cm to about 35 cm,
and (Y-direction} of from about 18 cm to about 45 cm.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the substrate is either a dark
material, or
is 'covered with a dark material, such as a black fabric. It is well known
that dark materials
absorb heal better than whiter materials. Thus, a dark substrate would tend to
absorb more heat
and volatilize more cleaning and refreshing composition if, for example, solar
radiation is used as
the supplemental heat source.
As discussed, the substrate can optionaiiy be covered with a fibrous,
preferably heat
resistant and, most preferably, hydrophobic, coversheet as described in detail
in U.S. Patent No.
5,789,368, to You et al. Additionally, U.S. Patent No. 6,576,323 in the name
of
Wise et al., describes certain improvements to the coversheets of this
invention.
Suitable combinations of the coversheets described in You et al. with the
improvements described in Wise et al. can be employed, according to the
desires of
the manufacturer, without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
Spot Cleaning Composition
The user of the present process can be provided with various spot cleaning
compositions
to use in the optional pre-spotting procedure of this invention. These
compositions are used to
remove localized stains from the fabtycs being treated, either before or after
the cleaning and
refreshing process defined herein. Necessarily, the spot cleaning composition
must be compatible
with the fabric being treated. That is, no meaningful amount of dye should be
removed from the
fabric during the spot treatment and the spot cleaning composition should
leave no visible stains
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on the fabric. Therefore, in a preferred aspect of this invention there are
provided spot cleaning
compositions which are substantially free of materials that leave visible
residues on the treated
fabrics. This necessarily means that the preferred compositions are formulated
to contain the
highest level of volatile materials possible, preferably water, typically
about 95%, preferably
about 97.7%, and surfactant at levels of about 0.1% to about 0.7%. A preferred
spat cleaning
composition will also contain a cleaning solvent such as butoxy propoxy
propanol (BPP) at a low,
but effective, level, typically about I% to about 4%, preferably about 2%.
Preferred spot cleaning methods and compositions are described in U.S. Patent
No.
5,7$9,368, to You et al. Additionally, spot cleaning methods and compositions
are
described in U.S. Patent No. 5,630,847, which issued on May 20, 1997, to
Roetker.
Treatment Member
1S In one embodiment, a treatment member is provided to assist in removing
localized stains
from fabrics. In a preferred aspect of this invention, the spot cleaning
composition is provided in
a dispenser, such as a bottle, and the dispenser has a distal tip that can
serve as the treatment
member. Additionally, the treatment member can comprise an absorbent base
material which can
be, for example, a natural or synthetic sponge, an absorbent cellulosic sheet
or pad, or the like. In
contact with and extending outward from this base material can be multiple
protrusions. Specific
examples of treatment members can be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,?89,368, to
You et al.
Absorbent Stain Receiving Article
An absorbent stain receiving article, sometimes referred to herein as a stain
receiver, can
optionally be used in the optional pre-spotting operations herein. Such stain
receivers can be any
absorbent material which imbibes the liquid composition used in the pre-
spotting operation.
Disposable paper towels, cloth towels such as BOUNTYTM brand towels, clean
rags, etc., can be
used. However, in a preferred mode the scam rrcetrer is designed specifically
to "wick" or
"draw" the liquid compositions away from the stained area. One preferred type
of stain receiver
consists of a nonwove~n pad, such as a thermally bonded air Iaid fabric
("TBAL"). Another
highly preferred type of stain receiver for use herein comprises polymeric
foam; wherein the
polymeric foam comprises a polymerized water-m-oiI emulsion, sometimes
referred to as "poiy-
HifE". The manufacture of polymeric foam is uey extensively described in the
patent literature;
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see, for example: U.S. Patent No. 5,260,345 to DesMarais, Stone, Thompson,
Young, LaVon and
Dyer, issued November 9, 1993; U.S. Patent No. 5,550,167 to DesMarais, issued
August 27,
1996, and U.S. 5,650,222 to DesMarais et al., issued July 22, 1997. Typical
conditions for forming the polymeric foams of the present invention are
described in
U.S. Patent No. 6,013,589 by T.A. DesMarais, et al., titled "Absorbent
Materials for
Distributing Aqueous Liquids". Additional disclosure of conditions for forming
the
polymeric foams for use in the present invention are described in WO 99/46319
by
T.A. DesMarais, et al., titled "Abrasion Resistant Polymeric Foam And Stain
Receivers Made Therefrom".
The various stain receivers described herein, and described in the references
incorporated
herein by reference, preferably comprise a liquid impermeable backsheet. The
backsheet can be
made of, for example, a thin layer of polypropylene, polyethylene and the
like. The backsheet
provides protection for the surface that the stain receiver rests on from the
spot cleaning
composition. For example, spot cleaning processes are typically performed on a
hard surface.
such as a table top. The stain receiver is placed on the table and the fabric
to be treated in placed
on the stain receiver. Spot cleaning composition is applied to the stained
area of the fabric and
then drawn into the stain receiver. But in the absence of a back sheet, the
spot cleaning
composition can leak onto the table top, possibly causing damage thereto.
The following Examples further illustrate the invention, but are not intended
to be
limiting thereof.
EXAMPLE I
Two extra-large men's jackets that have been exposed to cigarette smoke and
wrinkled
using standardized methods, are placed on clothes hangers. These jackets are
then hung on the
inside of a plastic bag that has two co-planer flat ends (the top and bottom}
with the side wafts
being cylindrical and slightly outwardly bowed near the center. For
illustration purposes only, the
bag can be thought of as shaped like an egg shell with the top and bottom cut
off. The container
has a door for accessing the interior, and the door is closed with a zipper. A
small slit near the
bottom of the bag serves as the vent and the vent remains open at all times
during this process.
On the interior of the bag is a fan, a heating element, a thermocouple and a
reservoir that
is in fluid communication with the heating element. Approximately 100 to 125
mls of
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composition comprising approximately 99% water and 1% perfume, by weight, is
poured into the
reservoir and the door is closed.
An exterior "on/off' switch is turned on to begin the fabric refreshment
process. The
switch is connected to a programmable microprocessor that controls the multi-
step process. First,
the temperature is raised to about 70°C with a relative humidity of
about 50%. This is
accomplished by running the fan and the heating element, with little or no
cleaning and
refreshment composition in contact with the heating element. This first step
lasts for about 10 to
minutes. For the second step, the temperature is reduced to about 50°C
and the relative
humidity is raised to greater than about 95%. This is accomplished through the
introduction of
10 the vaporized cleaning and refreshment composition. The fan continues to
run during this second
step, which lasts for about 7 to 9 minutes.
Finally, with the fan running the heating element is turned off and the
interior of the bag
cools naturally to about 45°C in less than about 10 minutes. The fan is
turned off automatically,
and an indicator light signals that the process is complete. The jackets are
removed and they are
15 substantially wrinkle free, deodorized and ready to wear.
EXAMPLE II
Two extra-large men's jackets that have been exposed to cigarette smoke and
wrinkled
using standardized methods, are placed on clothes hangers. The areas with the
most wrinkles were
then pre-treated with a hand-held spray commercially available under the
reference 7292457 from
Vel and containing demineralised water so that the wrinkled areas were
slightly damp but not
soaked. These jackets are then hung on the inside of a plastic bag that has
two co-planer flat ends
(the top and bottom) with the side walls being cylindrical and slightly
outwardly bowed near the
center. For illustration purposes only, the bag can be thought of as shaped
like an egg shell with
the top and bottom cut off. The container has a door for accessing the
interior, and the door is
closed with a zipper. A vent is provided near the bottom of the bag, but the
vent remains closed
when the ozone is present in the bag.
On the interior of the bag is a fan, an ultra violet lamp, a heating element,
a thermocouple
and a receptacle for receiving a cartridge that contains a cleaning and
refreshment composition.
The receptacle is in fluid communication with the heating element. The
cleaning and refreshment
composition comprises approximately 100 to 125 mls of a composition comprising
approximately
99% water and 1% perfume, by weight. After the cartridge is connected to the
receptacle, the
door is closed.
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An exterior "on/off" switch is turned on to begin the fabric refreshment
process. The
switch is connected to a programmable microprocessor that controls the multi-
step process. First,
the ultraviolet lamp is turned on to produce ozone. The lamp remains lit for
approximately 10
minutes. The fan is optionally run during this first step: For the second
step, the temperature is
raised to about 50°C and the relative humidity is raised to greater
than about. 95%. This is
accomplished through the introduction of the vaporized cleaning and
refreshment composition.
The fan continues to run during this second step, which lasts for about 7 to
12 minutes.
Finally, with the fan running the heating element is turned off and the
interior of the bag
cools naturally to about 45°C in less than about 10 minutes. The fan is
turned off automatically,
and an indicator light signals that the process is complete. The jackets are
removed and they are
substantially wrinkle free, deodorized and ready to wear.
EXAMPLE III
Cleaning and Refreshin~positions
While the cleaning and refreshment compositions of this invention can comprise
water
and perfume only, additional fabric treatment components can also be included.
For example,
fabric cleaninglrefreshment compositions according to the present invention,
for use in the
methods described herein, are prepared as follows:
Ingredient % wt.
Sheet Cartridge
TM
Emulsifier (TWEEN 20)* 0.5 0
Perfume 0.5 0.5
ICATHON~ 0.0003 0
Sodium Benzoate 0.1 0
Water Balance Balance
*Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan
monolaurate available from
ICI Surfactants.
Additionally, preferred compositions for use in the methods of this invention
are as
follows.
~edi~nt % wt. Ranee % wt.)
Water 99.0 95.1-99.9
Perfume 0.5 0.05-1.5
Surfactant* 0.5 0.05-2:0
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Ethanol or Isopropanol 0 Optional to 4%
Solvent (e.g. BPP) 0 Optional to 4%
Hydrogen peroxide 0 Optional to 4%
pH range from about 6 to about 8.
EXAMPLE IV
Spot Cleaning Compositions
A spot cleaning composition for use in the present invention, preferably with
a dispenser
as defined above, and with a TBAL or poly-HIDE foam stain receiver, is
prepared as follows:
INGREDIENT Anionic Composition (%)
Hydrogen peroxide 1.000
Amino tris(methylene phosphonic acid)* 0.0400
Butoxypropoxypropanol (BPP) 2.000
NH4 Coconut E 1 S 0.285
Dodecyldimethylamine oxide 0.031
Magnesium chloride 0.018
Magnesium sulfate 0.019
Hydrotrope, perfume, other minors, 0.101
Kathon preservative 0.0003
Water (deionized or distilled) 96.5
Target pH 6.0
* Stabilizer for hydrogen peroxide
Preferably, to minimize the potential for dye damage as disclosed hereinabove,
H202
containing pre-spotting compositions comprise the anionic or nonionic
surfactant in an amount
(by weight of composition) which is less than the amount of H202. Preferably,
the weight ratio
of surfactant:H202 is in the range of about 1:10 to about 1:1.5, most
preferably about 1:4 to about
1:3.
