Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02224692 1997-12-15
W O 97/00990 PCTAUS96/10559
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ORGANIC COMPOSITIONS
The present invention relates to cleaning cc",posilions which are useful in dry-cleaning of
textiles and gannents. More particularly the present invention relates to cleaning col,lpo~ ions
useful in dry-cleaning of textiles and garments in a non-commercial c.lvhùlllllent, particularly in a
d~mestic env;-ùllllle~lt.
Various pl~(xesses also for the indivi(l--~li7~d dry cle~ning of g~rm~ntc in a d--mestic, i.e.,
home setting, have also been ploposed in the art. These include c~ ,..pos;l;( ns, apl)a~aLu:~ and
~ processes descli1,ed in the following patent do~u~ U.S. 3,432,253, U.S. 4,336,024; PCT
Patent application WO 91/14038; U.S. 5,238,587; European Patent application, EP 0429172; as
well as in GB Patent 1598911.
While these prior art clocnm~nte illustrate various alternative a~ .aches to providing
techniques for dry cle~ning of ~ L. ~l ~i in a du. l lcJl i~; envi, ol"..c.,l, each of these tc~lmi-lues is
not without its shortcomin~c and limit~ti--nc, which limit~tionc are add.~,i.s~,d and ove.~;ulllc by the
present applicants' invention.
It is the~irùl~e among the objects of the invention to provide an improved dry clç~ning
formul~t;on which may be used in a domestic or home dry cle~ning operation. Such formulations
feature good efficacy yet eim~ oucly feature ~ul~ hlgly low amounts of volatile organic
solvents; such new and improved fortnlll~tione are particularly suited to be used in a domestic dry
cl~ operation as they feature low ~mounte of vo!~~ili7~hle solvents.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a home dry cle~ning kit which
comprises a cont~intnent bag in conjull.,lion with the new and h~proved formnl~ti.~nc which may
be provided in a carrier device which are suitable for use in the practice of a dry cleaning process
in a domestic envi,u"...c.,l.
Also, the present invention includes arnong its objects improved l~uce~ s for the dry
cleaning in a domestic envhùi.. c.. L particularly dry cle~ning in a clothes dryer which process
includes the step of applying the new and improved f rmlll~tion5 to the soiled textile and/or
garment and ~ubse~lut;-llly tumbling said treated textile and/or garment which are contained in a
sealable co..l;~;-..--ent bag in a dryer a~ aldus.
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCTAUS96110559
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dry cle~nin~
composition which is particularly useful in a Aom~stic dry cle~ning operation which COnlpl;:._S a
liquid cleaning composition which COlllpl ise~,
0.01 - 5% noni-mic surfactant,
0.01 - 2.5% anionic ~ulr~ lL selected from alkyl sulfo~uccilldtes, alkyl
ether sulr(Jeucc;~ ~t~! s~ alkylamide sulru~ucuil, ~s, alkyl
sulfo~ucc;..~ 5 as well as salt forms thereof,
O- 1% flUUl-JSulr~CLal~l,
0.01 - 7% organic solvent selected from alcohols and glycol ethers,
to 100% water
wherein the p~ es inAi~t~d are ,.i~,les~ .IL~ e of parts by weight based on the total weight
of the cleaning ccilllposilion.
The cle~nin~ compositions may also include one or more optional c~ ; in minor
amounts including for G~npl~ pH adjusting agents including acids and bases, particularly buffer
colllposiliolls, fragrances and rl~.ancc adjuvants including fragrance solubilizers, preservatives,
as well as others not listed here. Such further optional co~ are typically present in only
minor amounts, generally they in total co,..l,. ise no more than about 2% by weight of the total
cle~nin~ c.~...;-os;l;onc being taught herein, and typically in total are present in the present
inventive cnmrocitionc in amounts of about 1% and less by weight.
The liquid cle~nin~ c-~.. -po~;lions accoldhlg to the present invention which are suited for
use a home dry cleaning col.lpo~ilions include specific amounts of one or more nonionic
Sul ri~cl;~ ;, of which are ~,.ef~ d water soluble nonionic alkoxylated alcohols and alkoxylated
phenols many of which are known to the art and available in nonionic ~u~r~,L~~ ,p~u~llions.
Such nonionic ~ulLcL~IlL~ are known to the art, and include one or more alkoxylated phenols, such
as ethoxylated phenols, as well as ethoxylated and/or propoxylated alcohols forrned by
cond~ncPti~n of either an alkyl phenol or an ~liph~tic alcohol with ~urr~cic.ll ethylene oxide
and/or propylene. Such ethoxylated alcohols, propoxylated alchohols and ethoxylated phenols,
are well known and may be formed by cond~nc~tion of an alkyl phenol, an ~lirh~tic alcohol, or
mixtures thereof, with ~urr~ ;c..- ethylene oxide to produce a cu---poul-d having a
polyoxyethylene. ~ r~,~.bly the number of ethylene oxide units are present in an amount
sufficient to insure solubility of the compound in an aqueous composition of this invention or in
any dilution thereof. More ~lerel~.bly the ethoxylated alcohols and phenols are produced by
cotl(lenc~tion of about 4-16 (more ~ rtrubly 8-13), moles of ethylene oxide with I mole ofthe
parent compound (i.e. alkyl phenol or ~liph~tic alcohol). As known to those skilled in the art, the
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
number of moles of ethylene oxide which are co~-leneed with one mole of parent co".poulld
depends upon the molecular weight of the hyd}ophobic portion of the con~l~nc~tio~ product. The
parent co~ )uu-lds that may be combined with the ethylene oxide may include one or more of the
following:
(A) an alkyl phenol having about 1-15, and preferably 7-10, carbon atoms (saturated
or ull~aLu~al~d) in the alkyl group [inclll~ling phenol, methyl phenol (cresol), ethyl phenol, hexyl
phenol, octyl phenol, dicylphenol, nonylphenol, dodecylphenol, and the like]; and
(B) a primary, tertiary, or seco~ y ~lirh~tir alcohol having about 10-20, and
preferably 11-15, carbon atoms, (including decyl alcohol, dodecyl alcohol, tridecyl alcohol,
h~Y~I.ocyl alcohol, octadecyl alcohol, and the like).
Illustrative examples ofthese ,.Jlefi,.lcd water soluble norlionic ethoxylated phenols and/or
ethoxylated alcohols :~UI raC~ include one or more of those available under the tradename of
NEODOL "Jl~3e~lLly cOllllll~ ;iâlly available from the Shell Oil Company; TERGITOL, IJlcse~
commercially available from Union Carbide, and POLYTERGENT, pl~se..lly COIlllll~, mially
available from the Olin Chemical Co., and IGEPAL ~lc;.,_.lLly commercially available from the
Rhône-Poulenc Co. Specific examples of such usefi~ll nonionic ~ulr~;lal~ include NEODOL 25-
3, which is believed to be a linear Cl2-CI5 linear primary alcohol cond.onced with 3 moles of
ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; NEODOL 25-7, which is believed to be a linear C~2-C~5 linear
primary alcohol con~ n.ced with 7 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; NEODOL 25-9,
which is believed to be a linear C~2-C~5 linear primary alcohol condeneed with 9 moles of
ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; NEODOL 25-12, which is believed to be a linear C~2-CIs
linear primary alcohol c~nd~ ed with 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol;
TERGITOL 15-S-7, believed to be a random seco~ y Cll-C,5 alcohol cor-l1en~ed with 7 moles
of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; TERGITOL I 5-S-9, believed to be an
alkoxypolyethylenoxyethanol which may be It;~ ;stl~t~,d by the formula Cl ~ l5H23
3,O(CH2CH2O)XH having a degree of ethoxylation on a mole/mole average of 8.9,
POLYTERGENT SL-22, believed to be an alkoxylated linear ~liph~tic alcohol; POLYTERGENT
SL-62, also believed to be an alkoxylated linear aliphatic alcohol, as well as mixtures thereof.
Exemplary alkoxylated alkyl phenols include those pl~s-~llly commercially available under the
trade name IGEPAL, and which are described to be octyl and nonyl phenols. Specific
colllposilions include: IGEPAL CA-210 which is de-scl;bed as an ethoxylated octyl phenol having
an average of 1.5 ethoxy groups groups per molecule, and IGEPAL CA-420 which is described as
an ethoxylated octyl phenol having an average of 3 ethoxy groups groups per molecule.
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCTAJS96/10559
Further useful nonionic surfactant C~ pO~ ionC which may be used include those
l)~es_.~tly commerically available under the trade name SURFYNOL from Air Products &
ChR~i~ ~lc, Inc. (Allentown, PA) and which incl~ s a variety acetylinic diols and acetylinic
diols, as well as others. Of this series of products, SURFYNOL 61 which is desc. il,ed as being
S dimethyl hexanol, SURFYNOL 104 de~"l ed to be tetramethyl decynediol, and SURFYNOL
104A described to be tetramethyl decynediol dissolved in 2-ethylhexanol are very advantageouly
used.
Preferably, the nonionic surfactant co~ .l is an alkoxylated alcohol conctihlRnt which
even more IJlGr~.dbly is one or more ethoxylated primary or secondary alcohols surfactant
C~ oe;~;onc
The nonionic surfactant cv-llpo~ilions, and in particular the ~ulGrGll~d nonionic
alkoxylated alcohol con~ are included in the home dry cle~ning co~ osilions in an amount
ranging from about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent, based on the total weight of the home dry
cle~nin~ compositions compocition Most ,~-Gr~.ably, the nnni~nir surfactant co...posilion is
employed in an amount ranging from 0.05 to about 1.0 weight percent, and most II.ef~ .clbly, from
0.1 to 0.15 weight percent.
The co...posil;nnc$cco.ding to the invention include an anionic surfactant conctih-~nt
which is selected from alkyl sul~uccin..t ,s, alkyl ether sulro~ucci..dlGs~ alkylamide
sulr~,~uccill~t~, alkyl s-~lfos~ - c~ t~C, as well as salt forms thereof. Generally, the alkyl or
acyl radical in these various c~ lC cc~ ,.ise a carbon chain co.. l;~ ;.. g 12 to 20 carbon
atoms. Many such anionic su~r~ ull~ are known to the art and are available from a variety of
sources, incl~ in~ materials ~.~se.llly cc,lll,.,e.~;ially available under the tr~Rn~tne ALKASURF
(Rhône-Poulenc Co., P~ h~c~ ton NJ) as well as those IJlG~ .llly commerically available under the
t~adename MONAWET (Mona Indu~l~ics, ~t,_.~on NJ). By way of illustrative example, these
include the following: ALKASURF SS-MA-80, which is described to be a sodium dihexyl
s--lros~,ccil.utG, ALKASURF SS-NO, which is dc~.ibed to be tetraco-li--m N-alkyls--lr~".,cc;..~ tç ALKASURF SS-O, which is described to be sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate,
ALKASURF SS-OA-HE described to be a ~~ico~ m oleyl amido polyethyleneglycol-2
sulru~ucci.lalG~ ALKASURF SS-TA, disclosed as being sodium N-octadecyl sulr~ uc~;;..z-m .tf 7
ALKASURF SS-L7DE, which is described as being a sodium sulru~ucch,ate ester of lauric
.liçth~- olamide, ALKASURF SS-L9ME, which is described as being a sodium sulfosuccinate
ester of lauric monoeth~nolamide, ALKASURF SS-L-HE, which is disclosed to be sodium di-
isobutyl SUIÇO~UCC;~ IG~ MONAWET MB-45, described to be diisobutyl sodium sulfosuccinate,
MONAWET MM-80, des-;.ibed to be dihexyl sodium sulfosuccinate, MONAWET MO-65-150,
CA 02224692 1997-12-15
W O 97/00990 PCTAJS96/10559
which is dc,s_.;l,ed to be dioctyl sodium sUIrvs~ccil.~t~ MONAWET MO-70 and MONAWET
MO-$0, both disclosed to be dioctyl sodium sulru~uc~ ,ut." MONAWET MT, described to be di-
tridecyl sodium sulro~u~c;l-dt~" MONAWET SNO-35, described to be a tetr~o~ m salt of N-
(1,2,dicarboxyethyl)N-octadecyl sulru~uccinil,...t~" as well as MONAWET TD-30, described to be
S an ethoxylated fatty aleohol, half ester of s~ll rc,s~.cc ~ e aeid.
Generally, this anionic surfactant co~ is a single ~ulrh~ , or is a mixture of such
surf~rt~nt~, and which is inch~ d in the home dry cle~ning coll.posilions in an amount ranging
from about 0.01 to about 2.5 weight percent, based on the total weight of the home dry cle~..i..~
cG...posilions composition. Most preferably, the anionic sulrhcl~ll eonctih~ont is employed in an
amount ranging from 0.01 to about 2.0 weight percent, and most IJlbr~.allly, from 0.01 to 1.0
weight pereent.
Optionally but in some cases desirably the liquid home dry comrosition~ acco--li"g to the
i"~,~,.,lion include a rluolu~u.riletant co~ - .I Desirably the inclusion of such a
fluorosurfactant co~ .. u . ~,s the wetting of the ~,.- - ... .l ~i or textiles being treated so to
improve the pe.. el,alion of the liquid home dry cG- ~po~ ns. Any of a number of known
nuo.u:,ulra,~ll cul--po~ilions may be used, and desirably those which are low fo~min~ are
l"efe.l.,d. Such useful fluo.( ~u-Lcl~.-l cu~posilions are generally contain at least one fluoro-
moiety. Of course, mixtures of two or more florosurfacants may be used.
Many useful lluolu~ul~ co~ t~ ; as known to the art. By way of non-limiting
example these include nuo.;.. dt~,d and p~.nuu.i.. at.,d alkyl carboxylates, fluorinated and
pe.lluol ~ alkyl alkoxylates, fluorinated alkyl esters, p~nuul;llaled alkyl sulfonates,
nuol;llat~,d and p~,.lluulhlat~d alkyl i l~llaly mmonillm iodides, fluG.i..~t~,d alkyl
polyoxyethyelene alcohols, 8s well as salt forms thereof, çspec;slly ammonium, alkali and
alkaline earth metal salts.
An t;~.llp' y useful fluorosurfactant is that p l~ .llly commercially available under the
tradename FLUORAD which includes among other materials various pellluulualkyl sulfonates,
perfluoroalkyl carboxylates and well as salts thereof, and fluorinated alkyl esters. One such
material is FC 170C (3M Company, Minn~arQlis MN), which is desc.;l,ed as a being a fluorinated
alkyl polyoxyethylene ethanol. This material
Further useful lluulu~ulr~;L~ll~ include those ~ s_.llly commercially available under the
-..e ZONYL (E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co., Wilmin~l-n DE).
When present the fluo.u~ulra~il~.l c.~ is present in an amount of up to about 1%
by weight, but is desirably present in only minor amounts generally in an amount of up to about
0.01% by weight and even less. Typically, the fluorosurfactant cGll.po~ilion has been found to be
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W 097/00990 PCT~US96/10559
effective in ~1ilutit~nc of from I - 5000 ppm (parts per million) based on the total weight of the
liquid home dry cc,.,.po.,;l ;onC, and amount of from about 100 - 2500 ppm have been found to be
effective.
The cvlllposilions accG.Jhlg to the invention include an organic solvent co~ ue..l which
is selected from water soluble alcohols and or glycol ethers. Exemplary water soluble alcohols
nre desirably a lower alkyl monohydric alcohol including but not limited to straight chained and
blanchcd Cl 6 alcohols which are plefe..~ d. Such alcohols, per se, are known to the art and are
widely commercially available. Any water soluble alcohol, particularly the p.~:f~ ,d Cl~
alcohols may be used and inco-l o~aled into the home dry cleaning cG---po~ilions being taught
herein and are desirably selected so to exhibit good aqueous solubility, efficacy as a solvent for
the removal of certain stains, and particularly desirably to be volatile so that once applied to the
soiled galln~,~lL or textile, readily volatilize the~rlulll.
The organic solvent co~ 1 of the home dry c!~ning co---po~ilions taught herein may
also be a glycol ether solvent co~ --l PlGrt,.~;d as the glycol ether solvent con~ J -~1
accorJh-g to the present invention are water soluble glycol ethers accol-ling to the general
~11 u~ilul~ Ra-O-Rb-OH, wherein E~a is an alkoxy of I to 20 carbon atoms, or aryloxy of at least 6
carbon atoms, and Rb is an ether condPncAtp such as of a propylene glycol and/or ethylene glycol
having from one to ten glycol monomer units. ~.,r~ d are C3-C20 glycol ethers are those having
one to five glycol monomer units. Further ~u"ples of particularly p,~rt;..~ d solvents include
propylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether,
propylene glycol isobutyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene
glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol phenyl ether, propylene glycol phenol ether, and mixtures
thereof. Ex~ pL.-y glycol ethers which may be very advAnt~geoucly employed as the solvent
conslilu~ ,.l is one or more of the solvents of the group cm~ l ;..g of diethylene glycol methyl
ether, ethylene glycol n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol hexyl ether,
diethylene glycol hexyl ether, and mixtures thereof. These materials are ~ ..Lly con.~.~e,~;ially
available under the trA~l~nAm~ DOWANOL from the Dow Chemical Co. (Midland MI);
ARCOSOLV from the Atlantic Richfield Co., as well as CARB~TOL or CELLOSOLVE, both
from Union Carbide Corp. (Danbury CT).
The organic solvent con~ may be one or more water soluble alcohols, one or more
glycol ether solvent con~ , or mixtures of one or more alcohols and one or more glycol
ethers. The organic solvent co~ l is generally included in the home dry cleAningco...posilions in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 7 weight percent, based on the total
weight of the home dry clçAning co~ os;l ;ons being taught herein. However, the alcohol
---- 6 ----
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97100990 PCT/US96/10559
couxl;l~.~ .1 is desirably included in lower p,~,ln,lliOlls, and pl~r~.ably it is utilized in an amount
ranging from about 0.05 to about 5 weight pereent, and most ~)rcrelably~ from 1.0 to 5.0 weight
percent.
Where the organic solvent col.~ includes one or more glycol ether solvent
S co~ .1 is preferably employed in an amount sufficient to sl~ffir;~ntly solubilize the home dry
cleaning cc"l~l o~ilions co~po~ilion so that it is not overly viscous or gellatious in nature, but
rather, exhibits a flow viscosity similar to lower alkyl alcohols or water. Generally the likelihood
of forming a composition which has such a viscous or gellatious is minor due to the fact that a
5..1.~1;...l;~1 proportion ofthe comroeition is water, however such a likelihood is possible and is
desirably to be avoided, as lower viscosity ch~ . islics are particularly bell~rlcial when the
home dry cleaning compositions cu.llposilion is provided in a package or .I;~ .,c~. which
includes a ~1icpçncing pump or nozzle. Also, lower viscosity chala t~l ;slics facilitate the
absorption of the home dry cleaning cc~ )os:' ion amongst the fibers of a textile or garment. The
desired low viscosity ch~ lic may be achieved in part by the careful selçction of one or
more glyeol ether solvents with particular ;~ .I;o n to their solubility ch~act~ lics in water, as
well as their molecular weights. For GA~..llpl-, a formulation within the present invention's scope
may have it viscosity lowered by the inclusion of a greater amount of a lower molecular weight
glycol ether solvent. At the same time, care should be taken in the selecti~n of the glycol ether
solvents so ensure that good stain solubilization plul~,. Iies, including those normally a--a
with higher molecular weight glycol ethers by desirably ensuring that they are inc!~ d in the
home dry cleaning COlllpO~;I ;ol~c as well. Thus, with a view to these considerations the selection
of a good glycol ether solvent cou~l ;l u .l may be made experimental evaluation techniques
familiar to those skilled in the art.
As is noted above, the comros;tionc acconlillg to the invention are aqueous in nature, as
waterformsthemajorcou~l;lu~ Thewater,itisl,lef~,.ably~ul,~ llyfireeofanyundesirable
impurities such as organics or inorganics, ecrecislly minerals salts which are present in hard water
which may detract from the Op~"alivll ofthe one or more ofthe e~Clonti~l col.cl;l.~- -,1; acco,~ing to
the invention, as well as any other optional cu...~ which may be inclll-ie~l Water is added to
in ~urrlCi~llt ~molmtc so to provide 100% by weight of the cleaning cullll)o~ on. Desirably, the
water forms at least about 90% by weight, and more desirably at least about 92% by weight of the
total weight of the home dry cleaning co...roc;l ;.~nc being taught herein.
As has been denoted above, the home dry cleaning compositions accol.li"g to the
invention may culll~ e one or more of the following optional co."pon~ the total weight of
suchoptionalconcl;l.l~ul.~;noteYree~1ingabout2%byweightofthetotalweightofthe
7--
CA 02224692 1997-12-15
W O 97/00990 PCT/US96/10559
co.nposilion, more p. ,f~,.. bly not .~ reed;..g about 1% by weight and is most preferably less than
about 1% by weight based on the tota1 weight ofthe co...l)o~ilion. Such optional cnnetitll.ont~ may
be one or more of the following: coloring agents, fic.~ ces (whether natural or synthPtir~lly
produced), r~..6~a.lce adjuvants and/or fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents,
thirL ~n~rs, gelling agents, optical bright~ning agents, pH a~1jucting agents such as acids or bases
and especi~lly pH buffers, water softening agents, biocides and ~,.es_. ~dIives. By way of example
but not by way of limitS~tion, CGIull~ ic&lly available cc po~ nc useful as p.~ise. valives for the
home dry cle ~ing cG..-posilions being taught herein include those marketed under the tr~d~n~mec
KATHON (Rohm & Haas Co., Philadelphia PA), DOWICIL (Dow Chemical Co., Midland MI),
BUSAN (Buckman I -' u~.Ltulies, Memphis TN) and DANTOGARD (Lonza Chemical Co.,
Fairlawn NJ).
Such col-~l;lu~ as desc.;bcd above, including the nonionic surf~rt~ntc, anionic
~UlÇ~ t ~ i, llul~ul ra ,tauL~ and solvents, as well as optional c- nctih~.ontc including those recited
above are well known to the art, and are preferably selected so as not to detract from the other
adv~nt~geol-c features ofthe hlv~ , co-llpoeiLions. Such materials are des.;libcd, for example
in McCutcheon 's D~ and Emulsif ers, Vol. 1, North American Edition, 1991; as well as in
in McCutcheon 's F1- on~ Materials, Vol. 2, North American Edition, 1991, the contents of
which are herein hlcc.ltJ~,lal~;d by ~ ,..cc.
The present inventive co...po~ilions have ~u~ ingly been found by the inventors to be
~lr~çllPnt cleaners to perform well as a cleaning cc .l.po~ilion for use in a domP!stic dry cleaning
process as is to be des~,.;l,cd in more detail below. This is particularly ~u~ ing as water is found
to be a major co-l!u;l~ -.1 ofthe composition, and that only minor amount of ~u~ra~i~ nts and other
solvents are present, yet good dry cle~ning effects have been observed. The present inventive
co..~po~ilions have also been found by the h.~ to leave little, but generally no residues or
residual marks on treated g~ , residues or rings which have been known to the art and are
typically ~ll. il..~d to the surfactants cont~inPd in such prior art cu~ osiLions. The present
inventive co-l.posilions have also been found to be good general cleaning cG...posilions on a wide
variety of textiles, such as wool, cotton, synthetic fibers such as rayon, and silk which is
particularly difficult to dry clean.
In acco.dance with a particularly p.efe.. d embodiment of the invention, there is provided
home dry cleaning co...posilion co .~;el;ug eee~onti~lly ofthe following cQn~
0.01 - 2.5%wt. nonionic alkoxylated alcohol,
---- 8 ----
CA 02224692 1997-12-15
W O 97/00990 PCTAUS96/10559
0.01 - 2.5% wt. anionic surfactant selected from alkyl sul~ucchl~hs,
alkyl ether slllr"~ucci"~t~s~ alkylamide sulr~,~uc~,i.. ~t~s, alkyl
sulfosucei~ te~, as well as salt forms thereof,
O - O. 1 %wt. ~luc~ v~u~ r~;la.. l,
0.01 - 7%wt. organic solvent selected from alcohols and glycol
ethers,
O - 1%wt. optional col.~l;l.,. .-1~i,
to 100%wt. water.
By way of nonlimitin~tA~Ilple;, such optional co~ include one or more selected
from pH ~.ljuctin~ agents such as buffers and acids or bases, L~allces~ La~ ce adjuvants and
solubilizers, ~.~,s~, vati-/es, coloring agents, and optical brighteners.
The present in~ live c~,...po~ilions may be simply produced as by mixing lll.,a~u.~d
amounts of individual COl.~liln~ to form a homogenous mixture ll~ rlu--l. This may be done
by well known t~hniques, and is desirably done in a simple paddle mixer, stirrer or other low
shear liquid mixing a~ ;u~ so to avoid u~desi~cid f~rnin~ of the co.. ~osilions.In accG.Iancc with one aspect of the process accordi..g to the invention, a soiled garment
is treated by applying an ~ , amount of the cleaning co...po~ilion directly to the surface of
the garment. This can be done in one or more of the following ways and such an application can
take place in a number of forms and using a number of devices. For example, in acco.d~.ce with
one embo~liment of the invention, the cle~ning cc.. po~ilion is provided to the con~.. e in a
conventional ~lisl)e ~ such as a spray bottle, squeeze bottle, aerosol, or other ~ n~.;l.E
container. In such a way, application of the cle~ning co...posilion is possible by the .c;.~ui~
pumping of the spray bottle, alternately s.ll~e ~; .g and ~ n~ g the cleaning composition from
me squee::e bottle or in a further alt~,.--dli~e by spraying from the IJ..,~u.i~,.,d aerosol co..l,.;.... the
2~ cle~ning composition. After an effective amount of the cleaning composition has been applied to
the surface of one or more ~,allllc.ll~ to be treated, the treated garment is men introduced into the
interior of a c~ bag. The garrnent may be introduced singly or can be in conjunction
with other articles to which the cle~ning composition has been applied in a similar fashion, or in
conjunction with other articles which have not been cont~rted with the cle~ning cornposition
accoldillg to the invention. Subse4u~ ~lly~ me cn.. l5~;1.. .c.. l bag is sealed so to retain the one or
more articles wherein, and then me sealed cnnt~iment bag with its contents are introduced into the
interior of a domestic dryer ~F alus Various c~ l,u-;lions for the sealable co 1;1;. ..~ I bag are
described in more particular detail below.
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCTAUS96/10559
Optionally, loc~li7~d stains may be cleaned separately by the c....~ - using a spot
cleaning co~posilioll prior to the application of the liquid clç~ning co,uposilions being taught
herein. Such spot cle~ning cullll/o~ ons include those known to the art, and include for example
one or more ofthe collll)osilions ,ci~r,nced in the prior art patents denoted above. A spot cleaning
cc""posilion may be adv .. l .~e~ cly employed to clean hard to remove as well as localized stains
on the garment to be treated.
A particularly adv ,, ~I spot cl~ning cc",lposilion is one COIll,~/lisillg the following
cn~ 0.1 - 10%wt. nonionic alkoxylated alcohol; 0.1 - 10%wt. nonionic alkoxylatedmono- and di-alkanol amide; 0.1 - 3.5%wt. anionic su~r~ ant especi~lly one or more selected
from alkyl sulru~uccillat.,s, alkyl ether sulfo~ucchldtt;s, alkylamide sulfosnccill ~s" alkyl
sulro~ucc;..~ tes, as well as salt forms thereof; 0 - 1%wt. nu,u~ulr~ctant; 0.01 - 7%wt. alcohol
solvent espeç;slly water miscible alcohols; 0.01 - 30%wt. glycol ether solvent, especi~lly water
miscible glycol ethers; to 100%wt.water. Optionally, this spot cleaning cGIll~oo~ilions may include
up to about 2%wt. of one or more COIl~ ~,ulional additives such as acids, bases, pH buffers,
coloring agents, rlagl_ CRC and the like. Desirably, these spot cle~ning colll,~)o:,ilions collll,l;se at
least about 70%wt. water. This advantageous spot cleaning colllpos;lion is very effective in the
removal of localized stains, leaves no disccl ;bl- deposits or residues when used prior to an in
conjuction with the cleaning co...po~;~;on being taught herein, and contain a relatively minor
proportion of volatile organic cu,,,poullds as these spot cleaning cc."lposilions desirably contain at
least about 70%wt. water.
Typically in acco,.l~lcc with the l~ucesses acco,d;"g to the invention, dryer al~lJalalu~
including those having a rotating drum which rotates about a ho~ ;~ullL~I axis, but in some cases
includes a drum which rotates about a vertical or other non-horizontal axis and such may be also
used. Generally, those having a drum which rotates about an apl~lox;~ ly horizontal axis are
I,lc,f~ ,d. Such hol ;~ulll~lly rotating drum ensures a good tumbling effect to the articles within
the sealed co~ nt bag and aids in the ~live and uniform di~LI ;t,ulion of the clç~ning
composition amongst the surfaces of the garments being treated.
Snl sc~lu~ -.1 to its introduction of the sealed co..lS~ .I bag into the dryer appa.~us, the
dryer appalalu~ is actll~ted and optionally, heated for surrl-~iellL time to allow the tumbling of the
treated garment and to diskibute the cl~ning composition onto the garment or textiles being
treated. As an ~h~rn~tive process and dti"~,.ldelll upon the available modes of operation of the
dryer ay~ualalu~, after the introduction ofthe sealed cont~inment bag Cu~ g the garments to be
keated, the rotating drum is act--~ted to operate for several minutes without the application of heat
to the rotating drum which permits tumbling of the cl nt~inm~nt bag and the di~ll;bulion of the
---- 10 ----
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
cleaning co...rosi~ nc of the instant invention more uniformly to the garments within the sealed
coll~illlll~,.ll bag prior to the ~ .,e~,iablc vol~tili7~tinn of the cle~ning compositions. Snbseqnent
to this process step, the dryer ~ dLus may then be aet-l~ted to apply heat to the rotating drum
and its CQ~ SO to volatilize at least a major portion of the cle~ning cullll)o~ilioll.
S Subsequently, the treated gallllC~llS may be removed and are optionally subjected to further
ll~a~ e~ll steps such as ironing, pressing and the like. The treated ~;l.. ~".l~ or textiles are
typically damp to the touch following this 1l~ "cnl step.
If desired, the thus treated garments and textiles may be treated with a fabric treatment
composition such as a sprayable fabric s~ ~,lhlg composition, or an ~ntict~tic composition.
The liquid cle~ning culllpo~ilions being taught herein are adv~nt~ol-cly used in a
process for home dry cle~ning wherein one or more ~ cllL~ or textiles are provided into the
interior of a cu,.l .. ;.. ent bag with a quantity of the co.. po~;lions, the bag is then closed and
inserted into a clothes dryer and the cu-~ bag and its contents are tumbled to ensure the
distribution of the liquid c~ nin~ co...po~ilion to the garments or textiles. The dryer dry cle~nin~
and rl~h~.;.. g system shown in Fig. I includes a cOl '~ bag having an opening
conveniently placed at one side thereof. With ~cf~.ence to co.. ~i.. Pnt bag it may be r~;cat~d
of a material which is vapor i,..p.,.".~,able material such as a plastic or polymer material such as
from a sheet or film which is sewn, as well as certain non-woven textiles and formed materials,
such as TY~IEK (DuPont Corp., Wilmin~ n DE) and the like. Such a cu,.~ l bag is
typically sealed or otherwise fastened on one or more edges in order to form said cont~inment
bag, and any conventional means for its prod..ction may be used. Such sealing or r5 s~-.;..g means
include for example sewing, welding, melt-bonding as well as other conventionally known means.
It is further to be understood that while a vapor impermeable material may be used in the
collsll u~ilion of the col.l;~;...U~nt bag, it is to be u"d~ lood that such a bag itself need not be totally
hermetically sealable itself and that the escape of vapors or gases from within such a co.. lS.;.. ~.. l
bag to its exterior, such as the interior space of a clûthes dryer is to be r~"~seen. Such an escape
of vapors may occur at seams of said co~t~inml?nf bag, particularly where sewn seams are present,
as well as from the sealable opening. All~lllut~.ly, the colll~hl~llent bag may be ral,l;caled of a
material which is vapor permeable, such as a woven or non-woven textile material, which may be
made of naturally occurring or synthPt~ y produced fibers, as well as blends of two or more
dirr~,., .,l materials. Both the vapor permeable materials and the non-vapor permeable materials
may be a single layer material, or may be of a multilayer con~ll u~ilion such as two or more layers
of differing materials layered in register. Examples of such include a first layer of a non-woven
material which is used in the innermost layers of the cul~ nt bag, which is in turn layered
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
with a non-woven material such as a polymer film layer which desirably provides a vapor
impermeable barrier layer to the c.~ nt bag. A second example of multilayer cu~n ;...... ~ont
bag consl~ u-;Lion incll~des a first innermost layer which is a fibrous material, such as a non-woven
material and a second layer in register therewith of a non-woven vapor hll~ ..edble synthetic
S paper-like material such as TYVEK material which is used to form the exterior of the containment
bag. Such a collsll u.;lion provides the advantage of providing a vapor impermeable colll~ ..ent
bag, which has a durable exterior layer which in turn hlcl~,ases the Ol)cilalillg life of such a
cont~inment bag. Further, the exterior material made of TYVEK or a similar material is readily
printable using known art techniques which permits the printing of a legend, logo or instructions
for use on this exterior surface of the cont~inm~nt bag. A third l,ler~ ,d material of conbll u~;lion
useful in the fabrication of a cC~nt~inm~ont bag is a two or three layered consll u~ition, wherein the
first and innermost layer of the cont~inment bag is of a non-woven, fibrous material such as of a
syntheti~ ~lly produced fiber, which in turn in bonded to a second spun bonded polymeric textile
material, which imparts strength to such a conls~;.. ent bag con~ .;lion. Optionally, but
desirably a third layer of a non-woven, fibrous material is bonded to the rçm~ining side of the
spun bonded polymeric textile material and thus forrns the exterior of the cont~inm~nt bag. The
fibrous material used in the formation of this third layer may be of the same synthetic~lly
produced fiber of the first, innermost layer or it may be of a different fiber.
A further and most plef~ ,d material of construction for the fabrication of the
col~ nt bag is a vapor impermeable or poorly vapor p~,.lueable bilayered material which has
on its first layer a polymeric film, which is bonded to a second layer of a polymeric spun bonded
nonwoven textile material. Both the polymeric film and the polymeric spun bonded nonwoven
textile material may be produced from a variety of known art polymers and copolymers including
for example nylons, polyalkylene terephth~l~t~c, rayon, as well as polyalkylenes especially
polyethylene, polypropylene and polybutylene being of particular advantage due to their low cost
and ready rabl;calion into both vapor impermeable films as wall as nonwoven textile materials.
The bonding between these layers may be accomplished by virtually any known means, including
for example heat bonding, resin bonding which may require the use of a bonding material or film
intermediate to the first film layer and second film layers, as well as uill~sollic bonding methods
which provide effective binding between these two materials and which may be practiced to
produce an attractive dimpled appealallce on the final material. In accordance with this most
plt;r~ ;d embodiment, the co..l ;"",~nt bag is constructed such that the first film layer is forms
the interior of the co.. l~.;.. .I bag and thereby, and the second film layer forms the exterior of the
co..l~ ....ent bag. A first advantage of this most ,~ f~ ,d colll~ill",ent bag co~ u-;lion is that the
--- 12 ----
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
interior film layer of the bag is both vapor ;,l")~,..l.~,able and is nonabso.1,~ of the liquid cl~slning
composition and thus the m~ximnm cle~ning efficacy of these co,.,l)osilions is available to the
clothes or other textiles being treated in the process acco..l;..g to the invention. A second
advantage of the p,~,fe.,cd co~ u~;lion is the inventors' obsc, valion that such a cont~inmPnt bag
S billows sufficiently during the tumbling and heating it e- ~o.. ~ in the dryer a~ ualu~ yet
permits the escape of vapors produced or c~ )ed within the cc~ bag to escape at an
~cc~ I le rate. A third advantage enjoyed by the p. ~r~ d consl, u~;lion is the durability of such
a co..l;.;...nent bag as the nonwoven film layer which forms the exterior of the bag is le~i~l~ll to
tearing, and at the same time the soft tactile cllal~..,t~l ;slics of this layer make the bag especially
attractive from the 1~ .i"~ of the CQ~
Other advantageous materials of consl- u~il;on for the fabrication of co~ -Pnt bags I
which are alternative çcpeci~lly ~,~f~ d embodimPnt~ having a vapor i...~ I,Ie or poorly
vapor perrneable bilayered material which has on its first layer a polymeric film, which is bonded
to a second layer of a textile material include for example: a first vapor impermeable layer of a
copolymer film for a film formed from a blend of polymers including for t;Aal~ )le: polyethylene
l""~ tP, - polybutylene terephth~l~tP, polyethylene terepht~l~tP - rayon which are in turn
bonded to second layer of a polymeric nonwoven textile material which may be for PY~mpl~
rayon, and spun bonded or melt blown polyethylene or polypropylene textile materials. Such
materials of consl,l-~;lion useful for the fabrication of co..~ .... ~.1 bags I which may be produced
from these ;.. e~l; .t~ Iy above recited include: a first layer of a polyalkylene film, such as
polyethylene or polypropylene bonded to a second layer of a textile material based on a blend of
rayon and polyethylene ~ hlh~lte; and, a first layer of a polyalkylene terephalate film, bonded
to a second layer of a rayon textile material.
It is to be und~ lood that in any of the con~l, u~ilions recited which include one or more
polymeric materials, that minor amounts of conventional additives may be incl~lded in
conventional amounts including but not limited to: colorants, heat stabilizers, ultraviolet
stabilizers and filler materials. Such are, per se, known to the art.
Both the first layers and the second layers may be of the same or dirr.,.~..l thicknesses,
and it is required only that the cunl;~ bag formed from these materials be flexible. Most
desirably however, the thirL ~.c~e5 of both the first and second layer are less than about 20 mils,
more desirably the thirL ness of the first, preferably vapor impermeable layer is S mils and less,
especially 3 mils and less, while the thirkn~ss of the second layer and any further layer is about 5
mils and less.
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCTAUS96/10559
The dimPneiQns of the c~ rnt bag and its internal volume may vary considerably.
Desirably however, the co~ bag is ~urr ci~,.ltly large to contain at least one garrnent or
textile to be treated, but preferably 2 - 3 such ~ ;, as well as the abso, l.~. means being
taught herein, while at the same time not be overly large and thus be i.,coll~niclll for use in a
S dom~stic dryer app~u~llus. Ad~ ~ou~ly the cct.. ~ L bag has a volume of about 75 litres or
less, with sizes of about 50 liters, and about 30 liters being p.cf~ ,d.
The opening ofthe CQI.~ I bag is conveniently located at an edge ofthe co..~
bag, but it may be located elscwl.~,.c.. The opening may be a simple slit or ~I;cc~ y in the
material of the bag's CQIl~ll u~,tiOIl or it may take a more complex form such as further including a
foldable flap to close the bag, or may also use r t,~ -.;.. g means. Suitable f~ct~ning means may be
any useful f~cteninp means known to the art in~ ing but not limited to one or more of the
following: zippers, hook-and-loop type Ç~hnc.~ (VELCRO~)), buttons, clips, pins, snaps,
adhesive skips, as well as resealable plastic sealing elemçntc such as two strips, one on each
margin of the opening when pressed together i.,tc. Iock to form a flexible seal. Such resealable
plastic sealing elements are known to the art dealing with plastic bags and pouch~c, and are
sometime referred to as ZIP-LOCK~ type closures. Suitable r it~ n;~g means also includes the
use of a simple d~ ll h~g to pull the opening shut, the use of a single deformable wire-type
"twist tie" to close the opçning as well as the use of one or more f~ct.oning means in conjunction
with a flap. Further conventionally known fPct~ninE means ~Ithollgh not elucid~led here may also
be used. In accol dance with the convenient p~ m~?nt of the opening at or near an edge of the
contl-inment bag, the f~ct~ning means is placed at or about the edge of the bag as illustrated on
Fig. 1. It is only required that the selected f~ct~ning means be ~rr~ e onto the materials of
construction used to r~b. - the co..lS~ ...f ~-l bag, and that it form a relatively secure closure
Desirably, the cUl~n~ l bag is closeable to provide a liquid seal to minimi7o the !eakage of any
liquid cle~ning composition out of said bag and into the dryer, which in turn ensures that
maximum cle~ning effect is ;~ ,~ tcd to ~ t~ or other textile materials being treated
In a cont~inment bag consl-u-.ilion, the use of a fibrous material to form the innerrnost
surface of the c~ll~illlllclll bag may be desired as such a fibrous material is suited to entrap and
entrain particles which may be released from a garment or textile being cleaned and/or absGIbillg
of the cl~ning col,lposilion being provided herein. Such a Coll~ lllent bag may be desired as
they may be amenable to laundering by the consumer. Following such a laundering operation, the
entrained/entrapped par~icul~t~s~ soils, as well as any residual c!e~ning composition may be
removed from the cont~inment bag and as such, the bag may be reused in a further dry cleaning
operation.
---- 14 ----
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCTAUS96/10559
One alternative embodiment of the process according to the instant invention, the
cleaning co~2-l-o~;l ;onc are used in conjunction with a .li'~p~ n~ g CGIllaillcl, or other C~ f ~,
which corlt~inC the cle~ning composition as well as an absull,clll sheet. Such absollJ~,.ll sheets
may be produced from any fibrous or cellular flexible material which exhibits surrici~nL thermal
stability for use in a clothes dryer. For example, such sheets may be non-woven materials such as
those which have bonded fibers in a web accorded fiber structure and/or those which cc,lll~,.;se
fibrous mats in which the fibers are diDLlil/-~t~,d in a random array. Such a fibrous can be naturally
produced fibers including wool, silk, cotton, linen, hemp, sisal, ramie or may be syntheti~lly
produced such as syntheti~lly spun fibers of polymers. Examples of such synthetic fibers include
rayon, cellulose, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyesters, as well as polyamides. Of course,
mixtures of two or more dirrc.c.,~ fibers may be used in the production of such non-woven
materials. P~cr~ably such sheets are s~ ciently strong such that they will resist tearing or
separation when used in a clothes dryer as described in the processes taught herein. These sheets,
when used, may be of any ~lim~nci~n but are plcrcldbly sheets having an area of at least one
square ccllLilll~,tc~ and greater. Sheets having larger areas, i.e., those having areas of at least 50
squareck..l;,..c~ -Dandgreaterare~)..,r~ ,dfromtheviewpointofeaseofuseandh~n-lling
Such larger sheets are generally l,lcrc.l~,d as ~--l-~e~ to the home dry cle~ning plùcesses being
taught herein. They may be readily sellalated from the treated garment and easily discarded.
From this p~,.DI,e~ e then it is clear that an overly large sheet such that which would resist the
tumbling operation of the garments being treated and/or would tend to clump or bundle during the
tumbling operation of the clothes dryer are to be desirably avoided. As a function of the sheet is
to act as an absGll,~,nl ~ubDlldl~ for the cle~ning co~ os;l i~ n and/or to act as a llallD~ul l vehicle
wherein cleaning cu,l.poDilion abs-,.l ed upon the surface of the sheet may tumble and ultimately
reCollt~rt a dirrt;,~ l region of the garment or textile material to be treated. In view of the
foregoing then it is p~cr~-dble that an intermediate size sheet and/or a plurality of interrnediate
sheets"~lcrc.ably those having an area of at least about 50 square ce"li,llcters are to be used.
In accc,l ddl~ce with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a system optionally
in kit form which includes a c~ bag as dcDcl ibcd above, a quantity the liquid cleaning
cclllpoDilion as taught herein, and a .li~ means. Such a dispenser means may be a ball-
shaped ~lic~ e, which may be sepal.. t,_d into h.omi~phçres and which includes in one of the
h~nnicphF~res a vessel for the cont~inment of the cle~ning composition taught herein in a measured
c amount. The vessel also includes a fluid commllni~z~tion means such as one or more perforations,
preferably small p~,. r,lalions and/or a semi-permeable wall or sealing cap which permits for the
flow of the cleaning culllposilion from the interior of the vessel to the exterior of the ~1icpçn~er
--- 15 ---
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCTAUS96/10559
such that it may be co..~ d with a garment or textile. The advantage of such a di~,ense. is that
it may be produced as both a single use .I;~p....~ and disposed after a single dry clç~ning
operation or it may be produced as a refillable and multi-use tliep~neer wherein the consu...~,. may
refill the lliep~ne~or between dry cleaning operations. The f~ Jf ~e~ may also be produced as a
refillable .I;~ c_,.
In yet a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a system, optionally in kit
form which incln-les a co .~ nt bag as described above, a quantity the liquid cleaning
co,..po~ilion as taught herein, and a tli~ ;..g CGI~ C . The ~ Je--~;..g container may take a
variety of forms, including a variety of known devices including resealable bottles with or without
.I;~I.e~.~;.. g elements such as manually pumpable di~l, c- ~, bottles or flasks supplied with flow
directing nozzles, as well as being supplied with recloseable caps. Aerosol type disp~".sing
CC~ ;IIGI ~ may also be used. The ~ g cont~in~rs may also be of known single opening
types, including sealed pouches or p~C~gee wherein the package's integrity is destroyed once it is
opened and the complete contents are eYrect~d to be used ~ l,se~lu~ .t to opening. Such include,
fo m;;Aallll~lC sealed pouches formed of single layer or multilayer constructions, particularly
consl,u~;lions which utilize one or more polymeric films, as well as single opening ampoules,
flasks or vials which once opened are not deci~sd to be readily recloseable. Single use
~liepencing containers are advant~geollely used as they permit for the p~'L ~g; .g of controlled
amounts of the cleaning c~....l.o~:~ ;ons being taught herein which are snbsequently to be used by
the Conc~n-~?r,
In acco.dallce with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a system optionally
in kit form which inclu-l~e a cont~inm~nt bag as desc.ibed above, a quantity the liquid cle ~ning
co...i)osilion as taught herein, and a ~ IJ ~ee~ means.
An exemplary 'I;~IJ . - means is one which is formed of a porous material which is
suited to be i... ~,.c~;~.dt~,d with the liquid cleaning co~.posilion acc~,.lil.g to the invention. In one
aspect accordi... g to this embodiment, the porous diepeneer may be one or more spherical or other
generally ball-shaped di~ formed of a porous material which is adapted for the retention of
the cleaning composition within, yet when ~ub;e~,t~d to sudden motion and agitation such as is
~pected in a drying a,Jpa dlus, release their hllplegllàted Cle~ning c- mpoeitjon Of course, other
conr~gu.alions such as disks, cubes, or other g~ l.;es are also useful and may be produced,
however a spherical geometry is preferred as being least likely to be undesirably snagged or
trapped by tumbling ~,allll~,.ll~ or textiles during the cle~ning process where it is present within the
cont~inm~nt bag which assures the likelihood that a more even delivery of the cleaning
composition to the garments and textiles occurs. Such a ~ IJ~ being of a porous nature
-- 1 6 --
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
permitsfortheflowofthecle~ningco.,.posilionfromitsinteriortotheexteriorofthe~lie~ c~,,
i.e., its surface such mat it may deliver the cleaning cc,.."~osilion to a garment or textile by
physical contact thc.~,~ ilh. Materials which may be used for the production of such a porous
ce~ include foamed polymeric materials which are resilient and flexible, as well as certain
S porous but less resilient consl,u~;lions formed from polymeric materials, such as may be formed
~, by sintering polymeric material. Useful polymers for such Cu11.711 u~ilions may be based on
virtually any polymer which may be formed into such a porous ~licp., .~ means, of which
polyolefins, and polyamides, sspecislly polyalkylenes inclur~ing polyethylene, polybutylene and
polypropylene are advantageously used. Porous ~I;cl.. .~el means may be produced by sintering a
quantity of commin~ted polymer particles, such as in the forms of pellets, puwd~,.. " prills or the
like under applol .;al~ conr1itionc to a~plc-m~-ate the polymer particles into a formed article which
non.,ll rlcce retains a porous nature. An çspecislly useful polymer for this purpose is a polyolefin
such a high density polyethylene which is readily commercially available at a leason~le cost, and
which is readily sinterable to form such a porous ~ ,. .c~ . It is to be u--d~,. ,I ~od however, that
l 5 other polymers may be used.
The advantage of such porous ~ . means are that they may be produced as both a
single use ~ .~~c~ and disl~osed after a single dry cle~ning operation or it may be produced as a
refillable and multi-use .1i~ l wherein the co{lcl.m~r may refill the tli!~ between dry
cleaning operations by reill,~ the porous ~ ...c~.~ with the cle~ning cQ~..pos;l ;on such as
by i.. ~. 7h~g the ~ , in a volume of said cle~nin~ cc ---posilion Such systems which
include a cont~inm~nt bag as desc. il,cd above, a quantity the liquid cleaning composition as
taught herein, and porous /1;~ v. means.
In acco~ ce with a yet further aspect of the invention, there is provided a system
optionally in kit form which includes a co..l~;~....c..l bag having an absc,.l,~,.ll interior surface as is
described above, a quantity the liquid cleaning cc .pc~;l;c-n as taught herein. In accc,.dal.ce with
such a system, the liquid cle~ning composition is provided to the abs~,.l.~..L interior of the
cont~inm~nt bag and the c< n~ ,,-L bag is further provided with one or more textiles or
garments to be treated in accc,.dancc with the process being taught herein. The abso.l,~.,L interior
which is advantageously a fibrous or fleecy material acts both to distribute the liquid cleaning
composition to the ~ allll~,~lL, and the to trap or entrain loosened soils from the treated g~""~ L~,.
As used throughout this specification and in the claims, the use of the terms "garments"
and "textiles" are used to describe for example finished articles such as pants, shirts, blouses,
scarves, other articles of clothing, apparel, coats, and the like. In the case of the former term,
while in the case of the latter term, textiles which are produced but have not been as of yet
-- 17 --
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
produced into either pieced goods or finished articles such as articles of clothing or apparel is
intPn~lPd to be meant by the latter term. In either case, as the present invention is equally
applicable and useful without r~ictinrtion or regard for both textiles and/or garments, they are to be
understood as to hllcl~ gP~hle terrns with respect to the cleaning operations and cle~ning
compositions according to the instant invention.
What is to be understood by the term as "dryer" or "dryer a~ Jald~u~" is a rotary dryer
which generally is typical of a domestic rotary dryer. The only l~ uh~.llent is that the drum be
configured so as to retain g...lll~,.lL~ and/or textiles therein, to be rotdtdble, and that the interior of
the drum may be heated to at least the lelllp.,.alule at which the lowest boiling point conctituPnt
vol~tili7Ps Domestic clothes dryers, as well as co.llll~ ,;al clothes dryers, particularly of the
rotary type and most particularly those which rotate about a non-vertical axis are to be clearly
understood as encv~p~cced within the scope ofthe instant invention.
As used throughout this specification and claims, l~,r~.~nccs to "parts by weight" and
"weight percent" and "%wt." are considered to be hllc~cl~ blc and to lcl,.e3e..l the weight
percent of a particular col~cl;l~.- -.l with ~crcl.,.~cc to a totdl cvll,po~ilion within which it is
included, where such totdl cv.llpo~ilioll is considered to have lO0 parts by weight. In acco~dancc
with the ;...r..r.~ PIy plCCe~edil~g description, all of the C;VI~ of each of the forrm-1~tionc
described in the examples below are recited in parts by weight and are based on 100 parts by
weight of a particular fc-rrnnl~ti~ n, unless specified to be otherwise.~0
F~r~nlples:
To demonstrate the compositions accor~Jillg to the invention, various form--l~tionc were
prepared having the co~ ; which are i~ t~ d on Table l below wherein the ~mollntC given
are the weight percent of each respective c~-n~
Preparation ofthe formulations were pe,rv... llcd in a routine manner, which was generally
in accv.dallce with the following protocol. To a large glass beaker placed on a m~gn~tic stirrer
~yal~ s was added less than the total amount, or the total arnount of deionized water. The
temperature of the water, as well as that of the rem~ining c- n~ was a~.~,.vAi...atcly room
lclllp~,~alulc (_68~F, ~20~C) The stirrer app~ualus was activated, and to the water was added
measured amounts of each of the conctitllentc While order of addition of the concti~l~ntc is not
believed to be i-llpVl l~l, generally the ~ulracla~ are preferably added first. After the addition of
the final conctituent~ the contents of the beaker were allowed to stir for a period of S to l 5 minutes
to ensure homogeneous mixing and the production of a uniform formulation. Each of the
formulations was obs~ ,d to be shelf stable for period of weeks and months.
-- 18 ---
CA 02224692 1997-12-15
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
3 o o I ~, ~ ~, g
xl ~ o I ~ I o ~ I O
~1 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ N o I ~
~ O I ~ ~ ~ O o
~ ~ , , , o ~o o g
o o ~ o o o
I ~ o ~ o o o
o ~ , , , o ~ , ~ , , , ~
C~ o ~ o ~ ~ ~
~L o o ~ o o
~1 o o ~ I I ~
N
n ~ ~ O ~ ~ ~0~ sO aE ~ Y ca ~
_ 1 9
CA 02224692 1997-12-15
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
~~
~n
o I ~ ~, o. ~ ~ ~ ~ o C
~ ~ O ~ O O O ~y
~ O o ~ O E
xl ~ ~ ~ ~ c
~ ~ o ~ o ~ ~ o ~
o o o ~ o o
~ o ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~
~ O ~ ~ ~ O ~ ~
LL o o O ~ o ~
X
~ ~ E~ o o n ~ 3 _ 8
a, 1~ c ~5 C s s ~ 3 c c~ o a
~ o O o ~ ~ O s~ o c~ as ~ O
Q Q cn tn N o ~ ~' Y m ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-- 20 -
CA 02224692 1997-12-15
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
The specific i~ ;l ;es of the cc.~ in~ t~d on Table I above are listed in Table 2, below.
Table 2
PolyTergent SL-62 alkoxylated linear aliphatic alcohol [1 00%wt.
actives]
PolyTergent SL-22 alkoxylated linear aliphatic alcohol [1 00%wt.
actives]
Surfynol ' 04A no, . 011 c slll rdcldl~l [50%wt. activesl
Surfynol ~ 1 r,o~ Ol~ c s~., L~ildl)l [1 00%wt. actives]
Zonyl FS300 fluoros~,- rdl~t~ L 150 - 1 00%wt. activesl
Monawet SNO-35 a l~l-dsodium salt of N-(1,2,dicarboxyethyl)N-
s~;t~ yl sulfosuccinamate [35%wt. actives]
Kathon CG/ICP, Kathon CG/ICP ,~.ropri~lary preserva.ive composition
3usan 1504 ,~J~upr e :~ly preserva .ive compos ~ on
~owicil 75 propre-ary preserva-ive C0111,~05 .on
~antogard Plus propr e-ary preserva-ive compos - on
fragrance propr e .ary fragrance C~GI ~ OSiliO
ethanol ethanol ~100%wt. actives]
deionized water deionized water
Utilizing the example forml-lAti~ne de~,~,.il,ed in detail on Table 1, cleAning tests were
performed in order to evaluate their efficacy.
Cleaning Example I
An evaluation of the properties of the fonnulAtiQn according to Exarnple 6 was pc~ .lcd
in accordance with the following general protocol.
A clean off-white 100% silk blouse as stained in with 0.003 grams of a lipstick
composition. The stain was pArmitted to set for 15 minutes so to ci~n-llAtA an actual consumer
staining c- n~liti~n Subsequently, a clean disposable paper towel was laid on a hard nonabsoll,~.ll
surface and the stain was laid facing the paper towel. A quantity of a spot cleAning colllpo~ilion
according to the particularly advAntA~o~le spot cle~ning composition described above was
applied to the silk fabric surface using an absG,l,~,.lL tipped ~ ,c .eA~ in a brush stroking fashion to
impart linear strokes. In such a fashion, the major portion of the spot clA~ning composition was
supplied to the locus of the stain and lesser amounts of the spot cleaner were supplied to the edges
beyond the stain. In such a manner, a ''f~c.LL~.~d'' application of the spot cleaning co,llpo~ilion
was provided. It is to be noted that a circular or swirling application pattern was not applied to
the blouse in order to minimi7P the likelihood of deforming the textile. The spot cleaning
composition was applied in such a manner until a ~u~s~ ;AI portion of the lipstick stain was
---- 2 1 ----
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCTrUS96/10559
loosened and llall~ d to the paper towel. and the silk blouse in~l.e~ l A minor amount ofthe
lipstick was observed to still be present at the location of the stain.
ImmRAi~tRly ~..I.se;~ a quantity of the formulation according to Example 6 was
applied to evenly wet the area of the lipstick stain and the thus treated garment was supplied to the
S interior of a cc,.. ~.;u.. -.1 bag formed of a vapor i.. p~,.. eâble material. The bag was sealed, and
inserted into the interior of a horizontally rotating domestic dryer a~J~alalus. The said a~JlJalalus
was activated to operate on a "low" cycle for 30 minlltec, and the c~ ;.. ent bag and its co.. lt;.. l~
were removed. The silk blouse which had an overall moist ap~.~a._nce was then hung on a hanger
and permitted to dry.
In~pectiQn of the location of the treated stain revealed no ~IiccRrnible stain or residue.
The thus treated silk blouse could be lightly ironed ~I.se~u~ to cleaning in order to
remove any wrinkles from the g~rmRnt
It is to be understood that other spot cle~ning co...posilions, may be used in place of that
utilized above. It is further to be understood that the process as desc.;l,ed could be pc.r~i....cd on
a garment or textile without a spot cl~ning ll~alll~ ll step wherein a general cle~ning and
frçih~nin~ effect is desired.
Cleaning Example 2
The efficacy of the liquid cleaning cc~...pos;~ ;on accol~illg to the invention and the process
dcs_l ;bed above was evaluated in a process wherein the "r.~ ~1.. in~" of a garment was a primary
objective to be desired.
According to this _ . Ie, two identir~l ladies' blouses made of a 60% acetate/40%
rayon blend were utilized. To the interior of first a c~ ....Rnt bag formed of a single layer
vapor h..l)~....cable polymer film were provided a small amount, i.e., "two squirts" from a hand-
holdable trigger .1 ;~IJ~ C~, of an aqueous 0.2% isovaleric acid composition which was provided to
~imnl~t~ body odor. To a second j~lRntir~l cc!..l~;-....~nt bag, a i-lenti~ ~l amount of the aqueous
acid co---posilion was also provided. Subse~luelllly one of each blouses were provided to the
interior of the cQnt~inment bags which were Lll~ rh~ sealed. The blouses were allowed to
remain in these bags for a period of 10 minutes, this allowed for the conditioning of the blouses
with the acid composition such that the blouses became malodoured.
As a "co---pa- ali~/e" example, one of the blouses was removed, introduced into a second
new containment bag of the same a single layer vapor impermeable polymer film con~ ion
which was subsequRntly sealed. Afterwards this co--~;,....c.ll bag and its contents were provided
to the interior of a domestic dryer alJp~alu~ which was operated for 20 minutes on a "fluff" cycle;
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
no heat was applied. The co--~n;.. ~ bag was then removed, its cc.. ln;.. ed blouse was also
removed and the blouse was laid on a hard surface from whence it could be co~ a..,d by a panel
of individuals as to its appc~ ~ce and odiferous cl~alact~;slics.
The second blouse was removed from the bag co..ln~ .-g the acid composition and it was
S h~l~uduced into the interior of a new cont~inm~nt bag of the same a single layer vapor
a impermeable polymer film COl.~l- u~;lion as used to produce the colllpa~dlive example blouse. To
this co.. l~;.. ent bag was also provided a single, applox;.--~ely 2-1/2 inch square, co.. lp~cssil)lepolymeric foam cube which had been provided with 30.03 grams of a liquid cleaning cul..po~ilion
accu..li~g to Example 12, after which the col.ln;~ bag was sealed. In a like manner to that
described with .cr~ ,nce to the cu.. l,~.. dli~e example blouse, the cu~ln;n.~nt bag and its contents
were inserted into the interior of a dryer ~ Jalalu~ which was operated for 20 minutes on the same
fluff cycle after which the cont~inm~nt bag and its contents were removed. During this step, it
was observed that the ct nt~inm~nt bag was found to billow, and its contents was elre~ilivcly
tumbled within
After opening of the co--l~ l bag, the blouse was removed from said c~ .. I;.i.. ~ .l bag
and laid side-by-side with the co...p di~re ~A~ ..p~e blouse for c~...pal ;SOll of its visual and
odiferous ch~ t~ i~lic. The foam cube was removed and it was determined that conee~lu~ -~l to
the 20 minutes of tumbling, that it had released al)plo~ ..5;1f3ly 59% of the liquid home dry
cle~ning composition which it had originally CQ- ~ni..cA namely 17.69 grams of its liquid cle~ning
culll~Jo~ilion~ which was further a~p e.-l from the a"pea~ance of the blouse which was damp to
the touch.
These two blouses were cOlllpa.~,d; and it was observed that the blouse treated with the
composition according to Example 12 had a si~,..ir.ca..lly reduced level of malodor than the first,
control blouse.
Cleaning Example 3
An evaluation of the properties of the liquid cleaning co...posilions acco~di..g to the
formulation of Example 13 was performed in accurdànce with the following general protocol.
A clean white rayon blouse was applied at one location with 3 grams of the particularly
advantageous spot cleaning composition described above, which was applied with a pipette. The
spot cleaning formulation was allowed to spread and thus formed a wetted circular area. The spot
c!~ning forrnulation was then manually worked in by stroking it in using a clean abso~b~..l paper
towel so to ensure that it was well i~le~ ~I,c.~ed among the fibers of the white rayon blouse.
CA 02224692 1997-12-1~
W O 97/00990 PCTAUS96/10559
Sul?se~lu~ -~lly, a small quantity of a liquid cle~ning comrocition acco.dillg to Example 13
was applied to this wetted area as well as in the surrounding area with a hand-holdable bottle with
a manually pumpable spray fl;~ bottle so to wet both the area treated by the spot cleaning
forrmll~tion and its surrounding vicinity. Subse4u~,..lly, the thus treated blouse was inserted into
S the interior of a cc. -/~ bag which was formed of a single-layer polymeric material which
was then sealed, and it with its contents were inserted into a dQmestic dryer. The dryer was b
Opcilalcd on a "low" setting for 30 minutes where it was ob3e. ~/cd that the bag was found to
billow, and the white rayon blouse was crr. ~ , Iy tumbled within.
The bag was then removed, and the blouse was withdrawn and observed. The blouse was
damp to the touch, and it was observed that no yellowing or any residual deposits were discernible
in the area of application of the spot cle~ning composition.
Cleaning Example 4
An evaluation of the properties of the formulation nccordil,g to Example 14 as utilized in
the process described above was evaluated in acco~ i,ce with the following general protocol.
A clean red-colored knitted sweater, having a fiber content of 70% lambswool, 20%
angora, and 10% nylon, and ;.--lic~J~ d by the m~nuf~ctllrer as "dry clean only" on its label was
laid on a hard flat surface. To four non-conti~ouC regions of the sweater were applied 0.2 grams
of a liquid make-up co",l,osilion, 0.0015 grams of a lipstick co...l~o~;l;orl, 0.10 grams of a tomato
sauce CG~ .. pO~ ;on and 0.10 grarns of a salad dressing co,.. l.o~:~ ;ons. These stains were permitted
to set in to the ~;~",e"l overnight.
As a control eval - 1, a duplicate garment as de3~;, ;bed above, i.e., a "control sweater",
was stained in the same manner and likewise these stains were permitted to set overnight.
The following m~rning, the control garment was sent offto a commercial dry cle~ning
establishment where it was ~ .c~,ssed acco.ding to co"~ lion metho~c and returned at a later
date.
The r~m~ining sweater was laid with the stained surface down upon laying of abso.l,c,-l
paper towels and through the obverse side, or back side of the sweater from the stained areas were
applied a sufficient quantity of a spot cl- ~g composition accc,.di"g to the ~ospeci~lly pl~r~ d
spot cleaning composition described above. This spot cleaning composition was applied utili7ing
an absc..l,_..l tip rl;c~ c- ~ in a brush stroking fashion to impart linear strokes; application of the
spot cleaning co""oosilion co..l ;..ued until it was observed that ~ul.~ lly all of the stains were
removed from the stained garment and llall~r~ d to the clean paper towel which acted as an
absorbing and stain tllllahlillg ~ul~ alc It is to be noted that cle~ g the stains using the spot
-- 24 --
CA 02224692 1997-12-15
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
cle~ning co.l.pos;lion through the obverse side of the sweater did not force the mi~tion of the
soil or stain through the textile, but rather forced the stains directly from the sweater's surface to
the surface of the paper towel.
Snbseq~Rntly was provided a single, d~ 5~t~ 1y 2-1/2 inch square, co~ ible
polymeric foam cube which had been provided with 29.83 grams of a liquid cle~ning composition
r according to Example 14 described above. This liquid clr~-.i.. g co.. ~posilion was ideally suited
for the home dry cle~ning process des~libcd herein. This cube was lightly dabbed in the regions
of the areas wherein the spot cleaning co---l)o5ili~,n had been applied, particularly at the
peripheries thereof in order to "feather" these wetted areas. TmmRAi~t~ly the~ rt~ ~, the cube and
the thus treated red sweater was inserted into a c~ bag formed of a non-vapor p~.l.. eable
material which was then sealed. The sealed cont~inmRnt bag and its contents were then inserted
into the interior of a domestic dry cl~nin~ A~ which was then operated on a "fluff" cycle
for 20 minutes to allow the tumbling of both the red sweater and the liquid c!e~ning cc,ll.po~ ion
c.llldi..ed polymeric foam cube during this interval. During this time, no heat was applied to the
new bag or its cG-ltc--L~. by the dryer ~ .-tu-., and the co.. ~ .l bag was obscl ~_d to expand
or billow which permitted effective tumbling of the foam cube and the co--~ d red sweater.
Subsequently, the co..~ bag was withdMwn from the dryer ~)a.~ tus its contents
were also removed and f~Y~mined It was obs_. ~ _d that 53%wt. (or 15.76 grams) of the liquid
cl~ning co...posilion of Ex. 14 had been released from the cube during the L~id~ nl process.
The visual appca.~lce and the odiferous ~ -tc. ;.. lics of this thus cleaned red sweater were
observed. It was noted that no shrinkage or color change was a~ ,nl to this g~nn~nt but that it
was damp to the touch. It was also observed that each of the four stains formed by the liquid
make-up, lipstick, tomato sauce and salad dressing were all totally removed and further that there
were no discernible residues or residual fronts from the stained spot cleaning cG...po~ilion. While
the sweater was slightly damp to the touch, it did not require i~Dning and could be hung to dry on
a conventional clothes dryer. No u..~ scent was obs.~ _d.
This sweater was co...p~ed to the control sweater which had been cleaned by a
conventional dry cle~ning establichm~nt Also, no ~ ~ or color change was obse. ~,d in this
g~nn~nt and the four stains were also effectively removed.
By C<jlllp~l ;SOII, it can be seen then that the use of the liquid comrosi~iol C and the
p.~.ce~.es being taught herein are very favorably ~ Dm~ ~blc to that which is provided by a
conventional dry cleaning a~)pd dlus, but notably the c.~... j~o~;l ;OllS and ~,. occsses of the invention
may be ~,ld~iliced by a con~ in a much shorter span oftime and in the con~_.li~nce and
approved sanitary envi.~,.,l..c--L of their own dryer al)p~ualu~..
--- 2s ---
CA 02224692 l997-l2-l~
W O 97/00990 PCT~US96/10559
Cleaning Example 5
An evaluation ofthe plop_-lies ofthe formulation acco~.li..g to Example 14 as utilized in
the process de3_.ibcd above was evaluated in aec-,.Ja..cc with the following general protoeol.
S A clean white blouse, having a fiber eontent of 6% aeetate and 40% rayon and d~o~ign~t~d
by the ...... .....5 .~r~ . as "dry elean only" on its label was laid on a hard flat surfaee. To four non-
eontiguous regions of the sweater were applied 0.2 grams of a liquid make-up eo...,uo:~ilion~
0.0015 grams of a lipstiek co---,vosilion, 0.10 grams of a tomato sauce co~po~ilion and 0.10 grams
of a salad dressing co...~,osilions. These stains were permitted to set in to the garment overnight.
As a eontrol ev~ an ifl~nti~l elean white blouse as des.;.;l,ed above, i.e., a "eontrol
blouse", was stained in the same manner and likewise these stains were permitted to set overnight
The following morning, the eontrol blouse was sent offto a eommereial dry ele~ning
establishment where it was p.uccs ,ed ~ Jh)g to eonvention methods and returned at a later
date.
The .~ blouse was laid with the stained surfaee down upon laying of absG.l._.. l
paper towels and through the obverse side, or back side of the sweater from the stained areas were
applied a suffieient quantity of the espee~ y advantageous spot eleaning co...;-o~ n de3~-. ;l.ed
above. This spot cl~ning co...posilion was applied ~Itili7ing an abso~b-nl tip .1;~ in a brush
stroking fashion to impart linear strokes; applieation of the spot clç~ning co~-~posiLion cu--l;--ued
until it was observed that ~ lly all of the stains were removed from the stained gprm~ nt
and llall~Ç~ d to the clean paper towel which acted as an absc,.l,;l.g and stain c~lllai~ lg sul,~ dte
It is to be noted that ele~ning the stains using the spot ele~ning eomposition through the obverse
side of the sweater did not foree the migration of the soil or stain through the textile, but rather
foreed the stains direetly from the sweater's surfaee to the surfaee of the paper toweh
2~ Snbseqçntly was provided a single, al)plvx;~ t~?ly 2-1/2 ineh square, cu.. l~ ;blc
polymeric foam cube which had been provided with 29.61 grarns of a liquid eleaning cc,. . .ro~ n
aeeording to Example 14 deseribed above. This liquid ck g c~....ros;l;~ n was ideally suited
for the home dry cleaning process described herein. This cube was lightly dabbed in the regions
of the areas wherein the spot cle~ning cu...l)os;liu-- had been app1ied, partieularly at the
pe. ;ph . ;cs thereof in order to "feather" these wetted areas. 1~ ly the~ rt~ the cube and
the thus treated blouse was inserted into a colllailllllent bag formed of a non-vapor porm~ble
material which was then sealed. The sealed c~ ;.. ent bag and its contents were then inserted
into the interior of a dornestic dry clç~ning appalalus which was then operated on a "fluff" cycle
for 20 minutes to allow the tumbling of both the blouse and the liquid clç~nin~ composition
CA 02224692 1997-12-15
WO 97/00990 PCT/US96/10559
entrained polymeric foam cube during this interval. During this time, no heat was applied to the
new bag or its co.~t~ by the dryer ..~ ;us, and the CO~ bag was observed to expand
or billow which permitted effective tumbling of the foam cube and the cont~in~d blouse.
Sub3e~lu~,..1ly, the c~ bag was withdrawn from the dryer cl~JalaLus its contents
were also removed and ~Y~mined It was observed that 57%wt. (or 16.81 grams) of the liquid
cleaning composition of Ex. 14 had been released from the cube during the treatment process.
The visual appeal ancc and the odiferous châl acl~- ;SliCS of this thus cleaned blouse were observed.
It was noted that no shrinkage or color change was atJ~ Il to this garment, but that it was damp
to the touch. It was also observed that each of the four stains formed by the liquid make-up,
lipstick, tomato sauce and salad dressing were çccentizllly totally totally removed and further that
there were no readily discernible residues or residual fronts from the stained spot cleaning
composition. While the sweater was damp, almost moist to the touch, but did not require ironing
and could be hung to dry on a co--~ lional clothes dryer. No unpleasant scent was observed.
This blouse was cu~ ,a.c,d to the control blouse which had been cleaned by a
conventional dry cle~ning establi~ih.. ~ Also, no shrinkage or color change was observed in the
control blouse, and the four stains were also effectively removed.
As in the prior cleaning example, it can be readily ap~ ci~.t.,d that the use of the liquid
c<:,...~o~ilions and the p.ocesses being taught herein are very favorably cc.ll.y~ ble to that which is
provided by a collv~lllional dry cle~ning a~ alus, but notably the cu...pc)~ one and processes of
the invention may be practiced by a consumer in a much shorter span of time and in the
convenience and approved sanitary e..~/i-u..-,-c.-l of their own dryer ap~ lus~
