Antimicrobial compositions for hard surfaces

Details Antimicrobial compositions for hard surfaces Antimicrobial compositions for hard surfaces

2000-09-27

2003-05-06

Boyer, Charles (Department: 1751)

Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions

Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing

Specific organic component

C510S238000, C510S384000, C510S356000, C510S362000, C510S365000, C510S421000, C510S504000, C510S237000, C510S235000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06559116

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to antimicrobial detergent compositions for reducing microorganisms on hard surfaces and for cleaning hard surfaces, as well as methods of reducing microorganisms on hard surfaces and cleaning hard surfaces. The present antimicrobial compositions and methods minimize the amount of streaks left on the treated surfaces, even in situations where the compositions are not rinsed from the treated surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hard surface cleaning compositions having antimicrobial effectiveness are known in the art. Such compositions are able to both clean soils from surfaces and reduce microorganisms present on surfaces. However, many of these compositions are not suitable for many hard surfaces, such as ceramic tile, vinyl, linoleum, finished wood floors, laminates, and the like, because the compositions tend to leave significant filming and/or streaking of the surface, resulting in an appearance that is unacceptable to consumers. A number of attempts have been made to address the filming and/or streaking problems associated with these types of compositions.
For example, EP 342,997 B2 granted to Rennie et al. disclose a general-purpose cleaning composition comprising from 0.01 to 90% by weight of a nonionic surfactant, 0.005 to 50% by weight of a cationic surfactant which has a sanitising action, and 0.003 to 20% by weight of a non-anionic polymer which has an adsorptive affinity to hard surfaces. Rennie et al. teach that its compositions usually contain from 0.1 to 30% by weight of nonionic surfactant, and that its compositions should contain at least 1% of nonionic surfactant to obtain both reduced streaking and improved cleaning effects.
Others have developed compositions utilizing cationic polymer and antimicrobial biguanide compounds to provide sanitization of other types of surfaces, such as human skin. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,817, issued Apr. 4, 2000 to Ananthapadmanabhan et al. discloses an antibacterial cleaning composition containing from about 0.05% to about 1% of a cationic polymer having a charge density of 0.0025 or higher, from about 0.2 to about 5% of a zwitterionic surfactant, from about 0.2% to about 5% of at least one biguanide compound, optionally nonionic surfactant and a polymeric biocide compound, and has a pH of 7.5 or greater. The composition of the '817 patent is used for handwashing purposes and is said to exhibit improved mildness, while providing antimicrobial effectiveness.
However, antimicrobial hard surface cleaning compositions still lead to filming and/or streaking problems on hard surfaces that are unacceptable to consumers, especially when the compositions are left to dry on the surface without rinsing. As a result, consumers typically rinse such compositions from the treated surfaces with water in order to reduce the residue left by such compositions.
It has thus been desired to develop an antimicrobial, hard surface cleaning composition that is able to effectively clean soils from surfaces, reduce microorganisms on the surface (i.e. disinfect the surface), while leaving the surface essentially free of filming and/or streaking, even when such compositions are left to dry on the surface without rinsing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to antimicrobial, hard surface cleaning compositions that effectively clean and reduce microorganisms on a surface without resulting in unacceptable filming and/or streaking residue on the surface. The present compositions generally comprise (a) cationic antimicrobial active; (b) nitrogen-containing polymer; and (c) surfactant. Preferred antimicrobial, hard surface cleaning compositions of the present invention for use in no-rinse cleaning methods typically comprise (a) from about 0.001% to about 0.5%, by weight of the composition, of surfactant; (b) cationic antimicrobial active; and (c) nitrogen-containing polymer.
The present invention further relates to methods of cleaning and reducing microorganisms on hard surfaces comprising contacting the surfaces with such compositions and preferably allowing the compositions to dry on the surface without rinsing the composition from the surface using water or other rinsing solution.
The present invention further encompasses kits for cleaning and reducing microorganisms on surfaces comprising a container having therein such compositions and a disposable cleaning pad having a ti
1200
absorbent capacity of at least about 1 gram of water per gram of cleaning pad.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
I. Compositions
The present invention encompasses antimicrobial compositions for cleaning and/or disinfecting hard surfaces, especially household surfaces such as ceramic tile, vinyl, linoleum, finished wood floors, laminates, and the like. The antimicrobial compositions of the present invention generally comprise (a) cationic antimicrobial active; (b) nitrogen-containing polymer; and (c) surfactant. The present compositions can further comprise optional ingredients such as aqueous carrier, buffer, perfume, suds suppressor, and the like.
It has been found that incorporating nitrogen-containing polymers, especially certain types of modified polyamine polymers, in hard surface cleaning compositions containing cationic antimicrobial actives serves to substantially eliminate much of the filming and/or streaking residue left on surfaces by such compositions that do not contain nitrogen-containing polymers, especially when such compositions are used in “no-rinse” cleaning methods. As used herein, the term “no-rinse” refers to cleaning methods wherein the cleaning composition is allowed to dry on the surface being cleaned without rinsing the composition from the surface with water (or other rinsing solutions).
It has further been found that incorporating such nitrogen-containing polymers in hard surface cleaning compositions also significantly helps the wetting and spreading properties of the composition, to allow for better surface coverage and better cleaning and disinfecting performance. Indeed, the preferred compositions herein provide contact angles, as measured according to the Contact Angle Measurement Test Method as described in Section IV infra, of less than about 30°, preferably less than about 20°, and more preferably less than about 15°.
The antimicrobial, hard surface cleaning compositions herein relate to both traditional all-purpose cleaning compositions used in traditional cleaning methods, and also to low-surfactant compositions preferably used in no-rinse cleaning methods. Traditional all-purpose cleaning compositions tend to comprise a wide range of surfactant levels, as well as other components, and can be used neat or can be diluted to form dilute cleaning compositions. Such compositions are typically applied to the surface to be cleaned and then rinsed from the surface with water (or other rinsing solutions).
The preferred antimicrobial, hard surface cleaning compositions herein comprise relatively low levels of surfactant (i.e. levels of surfactant less than about 0.5%, by weight of the composition) and are preferably used in no-rinse cleaning methods. Such compositions can be applied to the surface to be cleaned and then allowed to dry on the surface without rinsing the composition from the surface with water (or other rinsing solutions). Even in such no-rinse cleaning methods, these compositions do not leave unsightly filming and/or streaking on the treated surface. As a result, such compositions are highly acceptable and desirable to consumers, since they are easy to use (e.g. no need for rinsing) and provide an acceptable end cleaning result.
A. Cationic Antimicrobial Actives
The compositions herein comprise cationic antimicrobial actives such that the compositions are capable of reducing or killing microorganisms on surfaces to be treated with the compositions. A variety of cationic antimicrobial actives can be used in the present compositions. However, as mentioned hereinbefore, compositions comprising cationic antimicrobial actives tend to leave unsightly filming and

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