Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-09
2003-02-04
Gupta, Yogendra N. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
For cleaning a specific substrate or removing a specific...
C510S297000, C510S303000, C008S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06514924
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to methods for spot treating discrete stained areas of fabrics with a bleach containing composition that is activated with heat. The fabrics can be cleaned and refreshed in a non-immersion cleaning process before or after the discrete stained areas of the fabric is treated.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Few things in life are as frustrating as noticing that your cloths are stained. But it is especially frustrating when you notice a stain on a freshly washed piece of clothing. Stain removal methods typically employ concentrated detergent compositions that, while generally good for removing stains, require that the clothes be further processed, for example, by washing, to remove the detergent composition. Therefore, a second washing cycle is often required when stains are not detected until after they have been laundered. Re-washing freshly laundered clothes, or other fabric articles, wastes valuable time and resources.
It is, of course, well known that alternating cycles of using and laundering fabrics and textiles, such as articles of worn clothing and apparel, will inevitably adversely affect the appearance and integrity of the fabric and textile items. Fabrics and textiles simply wear out over time and with use. Laundering of fabrics and textiles is necessary to remove soils and stains which accumulate therein and thereon during ordinary use. But the laundering operation itself, over many cycles, can accentuate and contribute to the deterioration of the integrity and the appearance of such fabrics and textiles.
Deterioration of fabric integrity and appearance can manifest itself in several ways. Short fibers are dislodged from woven and knit fabric/textile structures by the mechanical action of laundering. These dislodged fibers may form lint, fuzz or “pills” which are visible on the surface of fabrics and diminish the appearance of newness of the fabric. Further, repeated laundering of fabrics and textiles, especially with bleach-containing laundry products, can remove dye from fabrics and textiles and impart a faded, worn out appearance as a result of diminished color intensity, and in many cases, as a result of changes in hues or shades of color. All of these problems are exacerbated by re-washing “clean” fabrics to remove localized stains.
Moreover, after clothes and other fabric articles are washed they are often ironed to remove wrinkles that are a natural result of most fabric laundering processes. It is generally understood that the heat associated with ironing will increase the difficulty of removing most stains. That is, stains are “set” when they are ironed. And it has been shown that ironing over most stain removal compositions results in additional staining of the fabric. This additional staining is caused by the interaction of the surfactant in the stain removal composition and the heat from the iron. That is, the surfactant degrades in the presence of heat leaving behind an unsightly residue, which is typically difficult to remove. Thus, ironing a stained area of a fabric is regarded as a practice that is generally harmful to the fabric.
The problems described above are especially acute with certain fabrics, such as silk, linen, wool and other delicate fabrics that are not suitable for conventional in-home immersion cleaning processes. Consumers typically have their delicate fabric items “dry-cleaned”, a process that is typically inconvenient and expensive. Hence, when a dry-cleaned fabric article must be “re-worked” to remove a residual stain, substantial cost and inconvenience are often involved.
Arguably, dry-cleaning is generally superior to in-home immersion processes for stain removal. But dry-cleaning, unfortunately, usually involves immersing the fabrics in various hydrocarbon and halocarbon solvents that require special handling and 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. Unfortunately, such in-home processes generally require that discreet stains be pre-treated, and if the stain is not detected until after the in-home, non-immersion process, re-work may be required.
Thus, there is a need for a stain removal method that can be performed before or after fabrics have been laundered. Preferably, the spot removal compositions used in these stain removal processes can be performed without the need for laundering the fabrics again. And even more preferably, the processes can be used on delicate fabrics and in conjunction with a fabric ironing process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for treating a fabric having a discrete stained area, wherein the fabric has a first side and a second side, the method comprises the steps of:
(a) applying a spot cleaning composition to the discrete stained area of the fabric wherein the spot cleaning composition comprises, by weight;
(i) from about 0.01% to about 2.5%, preferably from about 0.05% to about 2.0%, most preferably from about 0.1% to about 1.0% of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and mixtures thereof;
(ii) from about 0.1% to about 4%, preferably from about 0.3% to about 3%, most preferably from about 0.5% to about 2% of a glycol ether solvent;
(iii) from about 0.1% to about 4%, preferably from about 0.3% to about 3%, most preferably from about 0.5% to about 2% of a bleach;
(iv) from about 91% to about 99% water;
(b) contacting the first side of the fabric adjacent the stained area with an absorbent stain receiving article;
(c) subjecting the second side of the fabric adjacent the stained area to a heat source;
(d) optionally, concurrently or consecutively with Step (a), contacting the fabric adjacent the stained area with a treatment member; and
(e) optionally, applying an aqueous rinsing solution to the fabric adjacent the stained area.
It has now also been unexpectedly discovered that certain bleach containing spot removal compositions, which are substantially aqueous, can be used to treat stains on fabrics with little or no re-work required. And, even more surprisingly, it has been found that the stain removal efficacy of these compositions can be enhanced by heat, such as the heat of an iron, which activates the bleach. Thus, the present invention provides methods for treating stains, and compositions for use in these methods, that are effective for removing most stains while simultaneously reducing the amount of re-work that is necessary. While not wanting to be bound by any one theory, it is believed that the heat activated bleach can overcome the tendency of some stains to be set by heat in the absence of bleach.
Moreover, the present invention provides an in-home, non-immersion fabric cleaning and refreshing process for use in conjunction with the present stain treating methods and compositions. When using the stain treating methods, compositions, and cleaning refreshing processes of this invention the stain removal and cleaning/refreshing efficacy is comparable to, and in some cases substantially better than, commercial dry-cleaning with a solvent immersion process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention comprises a method and a composition for treating stains on fabric artic
Gaaloul Sonia
Siklosi Michael Peter
Van Hauwermeiren Tim Maria Joris
Vandevenne Ann
Cook C. B.
Miller Steve W.
Petruncio John M
Procter & Gamble Company
Zerby K. W.
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