Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Cleaning or laundering – Removing formation impurities from artifical fiber
Patent
1998-05-27
2000-04-11
Kopec, Mark
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Cleaning or laundering
Removing formation impurities from artifical fiber
8142, 510276, 510281, 510282, 510283, 510285, 510338, 510342, D06L 100, D06L 102, D06B 100, D06B 900
Patent
active
060483687
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method of removing spots and stains from textile fabrics.
Some stains are not always effectively removed by conventional laundry cleaning processes, for example in a washing machine. Such stains may be more effectively removed by pre-treatment, which herein means a cleaning treatment carried out before the conventional laundry cleaning process; and/or by post-treatment, which herein means a cleaning treatment carried out after the conventional laundry cleaning process. The present invention is concerned with a post-treatment cleaning method.
EP200807, published on Nov. 12, 1986, discloses an iron intended for cleaning clothes during ironing, i.e. a post-treatment. To achieve this objective the housing of the iron can be adapted with a recess to receive a brush (page 3, line 22 to page 4, line 1). The iron is also provided with vacuum cleaning means. There is no suggestion that cleaning compositions could be used to enhance the cleaning method.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,268, published on Jul. 24, 1973, discloses spot and stain removing detergent compositions. The compositions are intended primarily for cleaning carpets, although textile fabrics are also mentioned The patent suggests that a pre-treatment cleaning method comprising gentle rubbing action may be used to help work the detergent composition into the stain, followed by stain removal using a dry absorbent cloth. Water is then applied to complete the cleaning operation, optionally using an absorbent material to remove the soil and composition remnants.
Many textile fabrics, however, especially those made from silk or wool, are much more delicate than carpets. What may be considered as a gentle rubbing action when applied to a carpet could be considered as a harsh rubbing action when applied to a textile fabric. The very gentle treatment that is acceptable for delicate fabrics, however, may result in incomplete removal of stains.
DE-A-43 03 454, published on Aug. 11, 1994, describes a process for stain removal and a stain removal set. The process comprises the steps of applying a stain remover to a stain which is then activated and washed out with hot water. The hot water is applied by means of heating water in a sponge using a hot iron. This cleaning process results in water being applied to a large area of the fabric, i.e. and area corresponding at least to the area of the sponge, which can result in fresh, greasy stains being spread over the fabric rather than being removed. Furthermore, the presence of the sponge between the fabric and the iron prevents the heat from effectively reaching the region of the spot or stain. Simply applying more heat from the iron results in scorching or melting the sponge.
The object of the present invention is to provide a more effective method of treating a spot or stain on a textile fabric comprising the steps of: applying a detergent composition to the spot or stain; placing an absorbent layer adjacent to one side of the textile fabric in the region of the spot or stain; and applying heat, pressure, or heat and pressure so that some or all of the spot or stain is absorbed into the absorbent layer.
It is a further object of the present invention that the textile fabric should be dry and ready to wear at the end of the cleaning method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is achieved by applying the heat and/or pressure to the opposing side of the textile fabric in the region of the spot or stain preferably in the presence of a hydrophilic solvent or water. Without wishing to be bound by theory it is believed that the application of heat and/or pressure improves the cleaning efficiency by modifying the physical characteristics, such as viscosity, which promotes better penetration of the detergent composition into the stain, thereby improving cleaning efficiency. Furthermore the application of heat evaporates any residual water leaving the textile fabric dry.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention a method of treating a spot or stain on a textile fabric is provided
REFERENCES:
patent: 3748268 (1973-07-01), Loudas
patent: 3827857 (1974-08-01), Boulus
patent: 4336024 (1982-06-01), Denissenko et al.
patent: 5002684 (1991-03-01), Beck et al.
Tcheou Eric
Vega Jose Luis
Cook C. Brant
Kopec Mark
Mruk Brian P.
Rasser Jacobus C.
The Proctor & Gamble Company
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