CA1191662A - Composition containing a scouring base and intended for cleaning hard surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

COMPOSITION CONTAINING A SCOURING BASE AND INTENDED FOR
CLEANING HARD SURFACES

Abstract Ready-to-use composition intended for cleaning hard surfaces and containing, as a scouring base, a sheet of ex-panded paper which is impregnated with cleaning liquid chosen from the group comprising aqueous solutions of deter-gent and organic solvents, which, if desired, can contain one or more adjuvants.

Description

Case 2-13275/AEH 118 COMPOSITION CONTAINING A SCOURING BASE AND INTENDED FOR
CLEANING HARD SURFACES

The present invention relates to ready-to-use corn-positions intended for cleaning hard surfaces and contain-ing a scouring base impregnated with cleaning liquid, wherein the scouring base consis-ts of a sheet of expanded paper.
It has been known for a very long -time to clean gl.ass, porcelain, ceramic, marble, metals and other hard surfaces using abrasive powders, but the application of these powders requires the addition of water and the use of a rag or a sponge. Liquids are also known which contain cleaning agen-ts in solution and scouring agents in suspen-sion; this technology is very fully described in U.S.
Patents 2,164,810, 2,196,992, 2,275,049, 2,739,129,

2,892,795, 2,920,045, 3,281,367 and 3,681,122, Belgian Patent 737,033, British Patents 1,303,810, 1,308,190 and 1,345,119, Canadian Patents 578,717, 635,321, 685,394 and 843,388 and French Patents 1,548,948, 2,161,963, 2,256,952, 2,283,952, 2,349,648, 2,349,649, 2,356,719, 2,383,229 and 2,405,990.
Scouring liquids represent a real advance, but their application still requires a rag or a sponge.
Products exist which comprise a scouring pad impreg-nated with a detergent composition such as a soap; apart from the -fact that these products require water at the time of use, they are not suitable for all purposes because -the scouring pad consists of wire, which can cause irreparable .
.~'.'~

damage to non-metallic surfaces by scratching them.
It has now been found -tha-t all these disadvantages can be e].iminated by -the use of a ready-to-use product which requires nei-ther water nor rags or a sponge and with which there is no danger of scratching the cleaned surfaces.
A product of this type is based on the use of a sheet of so-called expanded paper, i.e. paper forming a lat-tice in a single piece and obtained, without trimmings, by cutting the paper along parallel lines, close to one another, by means of short cuts repeated along each line and closely spaced, with lateral staggering of the cuts from one line to the next, and then by stretching the paper perpendicu-larly to the cutting lines. This gives a more or less transparen-t lattice, the structure of which varies as a function of the thickness and the na-ture of the paper, the length and the spacing of the cuts and the distance between the lines. By virtue of the oblique shape adopted by the strips surrounding the meshes of the lattice, an expan-ded paper of this type, impregna-ted with a cleaning liquid, possesses more or less pronounced scouring properties de-pending on the nature and the thickness of the paper.
The cleaning liquid is chosen from the group com-prising aqueous solu-tions of detergent and organic sol-vents, which, if desired, can contain an adjuvant chosenfrom the group comprising thickeners, colorants, fl.uorescent brighteners, alkalis, antiseptics, humectants, wa-ter repel-lents, perfumes and antistatic agents.
The characteristics of the sheet of expanded paper are not critical.
The paper can be made, in particular, from a pulp of chemical and/or mechanical origin, containing cellulosic fibres derived from wood, cotton, alfa, flax, cereals, old rags and/or waste paper; it can also be made from, or con-tain, fibres of wool, silk, glass, rock and polymeric mat-erials, for example those based on polyalkylenes, polyalka-dienes, polystyrenes, polyacrylic acid esters, polymeth-acrylic acid esters, polyes-ters, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyvinyl a]kanoates and/or polyvinyl halides; i-t can con-tain fillers for modifying its structure (density, abrasive-ness, permeabili-ty and mechanical strength), -these fillers being chosen, for example, from -the group comprising gums, gela-tins, resins, indus-trial starches, pigments and insoluble mineral powders such as silica, me-tal silicates, metal phospha-tes, metal carbona-tes, barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, titanium oxide, kaolin, kieselguhr, tin oxide, perlite and cristo-balite.
The -thickness of the paper can vary within limits compatible with the use in question, i.e. permitting a suf-ficient flexibility and the absence of an excessive tendency to tear; a suitable thickness is, for example, between 5 and 50 hundredths of a millimetre and, even more preferably, between 8 and 30hundredths of a millimetre. The length of the cuts is preferably between 1.5 and 8 millimetres;
even more preferably, this length is between 2.5 and 5 millimetres.
The space between two adjacent cuts along one and the same line is preferably between 1 and 4 millimetres;
even more preferably, this space is between 2 and 3 milli-metres.
The distance between two adjacent lines of cuts is preferably between 0.5 and 3 millimetres; even more pre-ferably, this distance is between 0.7 and 1.5 millimetres.
The dimensions of the sheet of paper are not criti-cal and depend on the use for which it is intended; for domestic use or for cleaning small pieces, it is possible, for example, to cut the sheet to dimensions containing bet-ween 1 and 10 square decimetres, whereas for industrial use, the sheet can be produced with large dimensions of several tens of square decimetres, or even in the form of long, folded or rolled strips arranged in a box serving as a dis-penser.
The expanded paper can be present in the composition either in its stretched form or in its unstretched form~ in which case the stre-tching is carried out by the user at the time of use.
If the cleaning liquid contains water, the origin of the water is generally not critical; it can be spring wa-ter, rain wa-ter, river wa-ter, softened wa-ter, deminera-lised water or dis-tilled water. It is generally preferred to use wa-ter containing rela-tively small propor-tions of calcium carbona-te and magnesium carbona-te.
The surfac-tants which can be used according to the invention can be chosen from the group comprising all the known anionic,cationic, amphoteric or non-ionic surfactan-ts.
Representative surfactants are described in ~'McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers 1969 Annual", in which these _ compounds are indexed according to their chemical formula and their tradename. Other suitable surfactants are described in Surface Active Agents and Detergents, Volume II~
by Schwartz, Perry and Berch (Interscience Publishers, 1958).
Examples of suitable anionic surfactants are soaps and also synthetic, sulfated and sulfonated surfactants, in particular anionic surfactants having about 8 to 26, and preferably about 10 to 22, carbon atoms per molecule. The soaps are generally the water-soluble, alkali metal or ammonium soaps of fatty acids each containing 10 to 18 car-bon atoms, and mixtures thereof.
The sulfated and sulfonated surfactants are also known in the art and can be prepared from suitable organic materials which can be sulfonated (i.e. which can be sub-jected to "true~' sulfonation and/or sulfation).
Amongst the wide variety of sui-table sulfates and sulfonates, it is preferable to use the aliphatic sul~ates and sulfonates having about 8 to 22 carbon atoms and also the alkylaromatic sulfonates containing about 8 to 22 car bon atoms in the alkyl group, and preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms.
The detergent alkylaromatic sulfonates in question can have a mononuclear or polynuclear structure.
More particularly, the aromatic nucleus can be L6~

derived from benzene, toluene, xylene, phenol, cresols, phenol ethers, naphthalene or phenanthrene deriva-tives.
The alkyl group can vary in a similar manner. Thus, for examp:Le, -the alkyl groups can have a linear or branched chaln (-the linear chains being very much preferred) and can be, for example, dodecyl, tridecyl, pentadecyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl or undeGyl radicals, mixed alkyls derived from fat-ty products, olefins consisting of cracked paraffin wax or polymers of lower monoolefins.
Although the numk,er of sulfonic acid groups present on the nucleus is not critical, it is preferable for only one of these groups to be present, so as to preserve as far as possible an equilibrium between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic par-ts of the molecu].e and to obtain an effec-tive surface activity.
Other particular examples of suitable surfaoe-active alkylaromatic sulfonates are linear alkylbenzenesulfonates in which -the alkyl group contains, for example, between 10 and 18 carbon atoms, more particularly between 10 and 15 carbon atoms on average; these include sodium dodecylben-zenesulfonate, sodium tridecylbenzenesulfonate and sodium (higher)alkylbenzenesulfonates in which the alkyl contains between 10 and 15 carbon atoms, i.e. on average 12.5 carbon atoms, per molecule.
Other suitable surfactants are sulfated or sulfona-ted, surface-active aliphatic compounds preferably having 12 to 22 carbon atoms. The following correspond to this definition: sulfuric acid esters of polyalcohols incom-pletely esterified.by higher fatty acids, such as coconu-t oil monoglyceride monosulfate and tallow glyceride mono-sulfate, pure or mixed, long-chain alkyl sulfates such as lauryl sulfate and cetyl sulfate, esters of hydroxysulfona-ted higher fatty acids, such as higher fatty acid esters of low molecular weight alkylolsulfonic acids, like fatty acid esters of isethionic acid, sulfates of fatty acid ethanol-amides of aminoalkylsulfonic acids, such as the laurylamide.
of taurine, or olefinsu].fonates and paraffinsulfonates.

, More particularly, jt is preferable to use sulfated alipha-tiG compounds containing at least about 8 carbon atoms, in particular those containing about 12 -to 18 or 22 carbon atoms per molecule. In addition to or instead o~ the surface-active, aliphatic and aromatic sulfates and sulfon-ates, i-t is also possible to use -the corresponding organic phospha-tes and phosphona-tes i~ -the presence of such organo-phosphorus compounds is permitted by the national regula-tions.
As cationic surfactants, it is also possible to use long-chain quaternary alkylammonium compounds such as qua-ternary cetylammonium salts. This group includes cetyl-trimethylammonium chloride and cetylpyridinium chloride.
Diethylaminoethyloleylamide is another compound which can also be used.
The non-ionic surfactants comprise, for example, polyoxyethylene ethers of hydroxylated alkylaromatic com-pounds (such as polyoxyethyleneated alkylphenols), polyoxy-ethylene ethers of long-chain aliphatic alcohols, polyoxy-ethylene ethers of hydrophobic propylene oxide polymers, and also (higher)alkylamine oxides such as lauryldime-thyl-amine oxide and 3-lauroylamido-propyldimethylamine oxide.
According to the invention, it is also possible to use amphoteric surfactants, for example salts of (higher)-alkyl-beta-aminopropionic acids, the sodium salt of N-lauryl-beta-alanine, betaines substituted by higher alkyl groups, lauryldimethylammonium-acetic acid and also com-pounds of the imidazoline type, such as the disodium salt of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-carboxymethyl-2-hendecyl-4,5-di-hydroimidazolinium hydroxide.
The anionic and cationic surfactants are commonly used in the form of their water-soluble sal-ts. As regards the synthetic anionic compounds, the alkali metal sal-ts (for example sodium and potassium salts) are preferable, although it is possible, if desired, to use other salts, for example ammonium salts, (lower)alkylamine salts (i.e.
salts of monoalkylamines and trialkylamines containing 1 to ~ carbon atoms in the alkyl group, such as methylamine, diisopropylamine and tributylamine), lower alkanolamine sal-ts (for example salts o~ ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine and isopropanolamine) and also alkaline earth rnetal salts and salts of similar rnetals such as cal-cium and magnesium. As regards -the cationic surfactants, -they can con-tain an anion such as chloride, sulfate or ace--ta-te. Preferably, if i-t exists, the surfac-tan-t is pre-sent in the cleaning liquid in a proportion of between 0.1 and 25 per cent by weight. If at least one is present in the cleaning liquid, the organic solven-t or solvents are chosen from the group comprising the non-caustic organic liquids known to those skilled in the art for their solvent power. Solvents of this type are described, in particu-lar, in "Solvents Guide" by MARSDEN & MANN.
They belong to various chemical classes, the pre-ferred classes for carrying out the invention being those which comprise alcoholic solvents, ketonic solvents, ethers, halogen-containing solvents, hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid esters.
The alcoholic solvents include, in particular, alka-nols, cycloalkanols, aralkanols and alkanediols, for example methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, iso-butanol, sec.-butanol, tert.-butanol, isoper.tanol, cyclo-hexanol, methylcyGlohexanols, benzyl alcohol, ethylene gly-col, propylene glycol, butylene glycol and propane-1,3-diol, and mixtures thereof.
The ketonic solvents include, in particular, alkan-ones having -three to six carbon atoms, such as acetone, butanone, pentan-2-one, pentan-3-one, 2-methylbutan-3-one, hexan-2-one, hexan-3-one, 3-me-thylpentan-2-one, ~-methyl-pen-tan-2-one, 2-methylpentan-3-one and mixtures of these ketones; the ketonic solvent can also include cyclo-hexanone.
The ethers include, in particular, oxaalkanes and their hydroxylated derivatives, gamma-dioxaalkanes and their hydroxylated derivatives, (bis-gamma-)trioxaalkanes having at most ten carbon atoms, and mixtures of these compounds.
Examples of oxaalkanes are die-thyl e-ther, dipropyl ether, diisopropyl ether, bu-tyl ether and isobutyl ether. Ex-amples of hydroxylated oxaalkanes are 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, 2-isopropoxyethanol, 2-methoxypropanol, 2-ethoxypropanol and 2-isopropoxypropanol. Examples of gamma-dioxaalkanes are the dimethyl, diethyl, dipropyl and diisopropyl ethers of e-thylene glycol, propylene glycol and butylene glycol. Examples of hydroxylated gamma-dioxa-al~anes are the monomethyl, monoethyl, monopropyl and mono-isopropyl ethers of diethylene glycol and dipropylene gly-col. Examples of (bis-gamma-)trioxaalkanes are the di-methyl, diethyl, dipropyl and diisopropyl ethers of diethy-lene glycol and the dimethyl and diethyl ethers of dipropy-lene glycol.
The halogen-containing solvents include, in parti-Gular, the dichloro to tetrachloro derivatives of methane, the dichloro to pentachloro derivatives of ethane and -the dichloro to tetrachloro derivatives of ethylene, the mono-chloro to trichloro derivatives of cyclohexane or benzene and the chlorofluorinated derivatives of ethane. Examples of solvents of -this type are methylene Ghloride, 1,1-di-chloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-tri-chloroethane, trichloroethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, pentachloroethane, monochlorocyclo-hexane, 1,4-dichlorocyclohexane, monochlorobenzene, tri-chlorotrifluoroethane and mixtures of these compounds. The hydrocarbons include, in particular, cyclic, aliphatic or alicyclic, saturated hydrocarbons, aromatic or alkylaroma-tic hydrocarbons, terpene hydrocarbons having 10 Garbon atoms, and mixtures of these hydrocarbons. The aromatic andalkylaromatic compounds, used by themselves or in a mix-ture with the other hydrocarbons, are chosen, for example, from the group comprising the following: -toluene, ethylben-zene, ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, para-xylene, isopropylben-zene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, cymene, pseudo-cumene, 1,4~diisopropylbenzene, tetralin~ 1-methylte-tralin, 2 methyltetralin and mixtures -thereof.
The saturated hydrocarbons, used by themselves or mixed with the other hydrocarbons, are chosen, for example, from the group comprising the ~ollowing: 2-methylheptane, octane, ethylcyclohexane, nonane, isopropylcyclohexane, decane, undecane, dodecane, decalin, 1,2-dimethylcyclohexane, 1,3-dimethylcyclohexane, 1,4-dimethylcyclohexane, 2-methyl-octane, 2-methylnonane and mixtures thereof. The commer-cially available mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons, and their mixtures with saturated hydrocarbons, are also suit~
able. The following are examples of these, -the propor-~ions of aromatic hydrocarbons being indicated in brackets:
Panasol*RX-5 (70%), RX-21 (99%), RX-22 (94%) and RX-34 (100%), Amsco*LEP Solvent (18.5%), Amsco mineral spirit (17%), Amsco 140 Solvent (17%), ~msco 460 Solvent (18%), Laktane*Esso (21.5%), Varsol*l Esso (18%), Varsol 2 Esso (31.5%), Varsol 3 Esso (15%), Solvesso*lO0 (99%), Solvesso 150 (97/0), Tolu-Sol*19 Shell (25%), Tolu-Sol 25 Shell (25%), Tolu-Sol 28 Shell (28%), Tolu-Sol 40 Shell (39%), Tolu-Sol 45 Shell (45%), Cyclo-Sol* 43 Shell (99%), TS-28*R Shell (73%), TS-28 Shell (75%), Cyclo-Sol 53 Shell (99.5%), Cyclo-Sol 63 Shell (99.5%), Mineral Spirits 105 Shell (28%), Mineral Spirits 110 Shell (27%), Nona-Sol*120 Shell (20%), White-spirit Shell (17%), White Spirit BP (18%), Dil~tine*
M 5 Shell (<5%), Dilutine 21 Shell (17%), Tetrasol* G Shell (<5%), Sangajol*B Shell (17%), Solnap*BP (3%), Supersol* BP
(97%), normal petroleum BP (15%), Exsol* D.45/100 ~sso (1.2%), Exsol D.60/95 Esso (1.2%), Exsol D.70/100 Es-so -(1.2%), Exsol D.lO0/130 Esso (4%), Exsol D.10/160 Esso (4%), Exsol D.145/190 Esso (6%), Varsol 145/195 Esso (17%), special E petrol Esso (9%) and special F petrol Esso (12.5%).
The terpene hydrocarbons, used by themselves or in a mixture with the other hydrocarbons, are chosen, for ex-ample, from the group comprising the follo~ing: pinene, limonene, dipentene, terpinene, terpinolene, ment~ene, *Tra~ Mark myrcene, sabinene, ocimene , phellandrene and mixtures thereof.
The carboxylic acid esters include, in particu]ar, those known for their use as solvents and chosen from the group comprising the esters formed between alkanols and monocarboxy].ic or dicarboxylic acids, between aralkanols and alkanoic acids, or between alkanediols, or -their mono-ethers, and monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acids, and mix-tures of these esters. Examples of esters of these types are ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl or amyl formates, methyl, ethyl, propyl,isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, amyl, iso-hexyl, 2-ethylbu-tyl or isooctyl acetates, ethyl, isopropyl or butyl propionates, methyl, ethyl or butyl butyrates, methyl, ethyl, butyl or amyl lactates, methyl, ethyl, propyl or isopropyl benzoates, diethyl carbonate, diethyl oxalate, dimethyl succinate, cycl.ohexyl acetate, methyl-cyclohexyl aceta-tes, benzyl acetate, ethylene glycol car-bonate, propylene glycol carbona-te, ethylene glycol diace-tate, 2-methoxyethyl, 2-ethoxyethyl, 2-isopropoxyethyl, 2-butoxyethyl, 2-me-thoxypropyl or 2-ethoxypropyl acetates and the acetates of diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethy-lene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether or dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether.
The thickeners which are present in the cleaning liquid, if desired, are chosen from the group comprising all the ones known to those skilled in the art, for example methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethyl-cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly-carboxylates, industrial starch, alginates, carrageenates, pol.ysaccharides, domestic and medicinal starches, gelatin, dextrin, natural or synthetic gums and the aluminium or magnesium salts of fatty acids. The alkalis which are present in the cleaning l.iquid, if desired, are chosen from the group comprising ammonia and salts giving an alkaline reaction, such as alkali metal, ammonium or aliphatic amine carbonates, borates, sil-icates, phosphates and polyphos-phates.

The humec-tants which are present in the cleaning liquid,if desired, are compounds which re-tain moisture;
they are chosen, for exampl.e, from the group comprising glycerol, sugars, hygroscopic salts such as calcium chl.or-i.de, and the monoacylated derivatives of glycerol.
The wa-ter repellents which are present in the clean-ing liquid, if desired, are film-forming compounds capable of remaining on -the treated surface in -the form of a very thin layer intended for protecting the said surface against atmospheric agents such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and mois--ture. They are chosen, for example, from the group com-prising natural animal, vegetable or mineral oils and fats, fatty alcohols, involatile alkanones, involatile alkenones, polyalkyl.ene glycols, involatile esters and polysiloxanes.
Examples of suitable fatty alcohols are hexadecanol, octa-decanol and octadec-9-enol.
Examples of invo].atile alkanones are caprinone, laurone, myristone, palmitone and stearone.
Examples of involatile alkenones are heneicosa-1,20-dien-11-one and oleone.
Examples of involatile esters are those chosen from the group comprising the following chemical families:
1) The monoesters formed between alkanols and monocarboxy-lated hydrocarbons, for example alkyl acetates such as hexa-decyl or octadecyl acetates, alkyl butyrates and isobutyr-ates, such as dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl or octadecyl butyrates and isobutyrates, alkyl hexanoates, alkyl octano-ates, alkyl decanoates, alkyl laurates, undecanoates, unde-cenoates and myristates, such as hexyl, octyl, decyl or dodecyl laurates, undecanoates, undecenoates and myristates, alkyl palmitates, oleates and stearates, such as propyl, butyl, isobutyl, amyl, hexyl or octyl palmitates, oleates and stearates, and alkyl benzoates, phenylacetates and phenylpropionates, such as hexylj octyl, decyl or dodecyl benzoates, pheny].acetates and phenylpropionates.-2) The diesters formed between alkanols and dicarboxylated hydrocarbons, for example dialkyl adipates such as dioctyl adipate, dinonyl adipate, didecyl adipate and didodecyl adipate, dialkyl sebacates such as dibutyl sebacate, di-pentyl sebacate, dioctyl sebacate and didecyl sebacate, dialkyl azelates such as dioctyl azelate and didecyl aze-late, and dialkyl phthala-tes such as dibu-tyl phthalate, diocty] phthalate, didecyl ph-thalate, bis-(undecyl) phtha-late, bis-(dodecy]) phthalate, bis-(-tridecyl) phthalate, bis-(tetradecyl) ph-thalate and dicetyl phthalate.

3) The diesters formed between alkyl-substitu-ted or unsub-stituted phenols and dicarboxylated hydrocarbons, for ex-ample diaryl phthalates such as diphenyl phthalate and dicresyl phthalates.

4) The diesters formed between alkyl-substituted or unsub-stituted cycloalkanols and dicarboxylated hydrocarbons, for example dicyclohexyl phthalate, bis-(methylcyclohexyl) phthalates, bis-(trimethylcyclohexyl) phthala-tes and bis-(tetramethylcyclohexyl) phthalates.

5) The diesters formed between phenylalkanols and dicar-boxylated hydrocarbons, for example dibenzyl sebacate, dibenzyl azelate and bis-(phenylpropyl) sebacates.

6) The diesters formed between alkanediols and monocarboxy-lated hydrocarbons, for example 2,2,4-trimethylpentane-1,3-diol diisobutyrate.

7) The triesters ~ormed between alkyl-substituted or unsub-stituted phenols and phosphoric acid, for example triphenyl phosphate, tris-(4-tert.-butylphenyl) phosphate and tri-cresyl phosphates.

8) The triesters formed between alkanols and phosphoric acid, for example trioctyl phosphate, tridecyl phosphate and tridodecyl phosphate.
The properties of the wa-ter repellents can be modi-fied favourably by the addition of a polymeric resin chosen, for example, from the group comprising polyalkylenes, poly-esters, polyacrylates, polyvinyl halides, polyvinyl alkano-ates and oxidised microcrystalline waxes.
The compositions according to the invention can be presented enclosed in any pack capable of preventing deterioration of the compositions; in particular, the packs must be capable of re-taining the volatile compounds of the cleaning liquid on the sheet of expanded paper.
Examples of sui-table ma-terials for this pack are metals such as tinplate or aluminium, and plas-tics not attacked by the cleaning liquid, such as high-density polyethylene and polyamides.
If the dimensions of the sheet of expanded paper are small and if it is desired to pack the shee-ts indivi~
dually, it is advantageous to use a ma-terial consisting of a laminated multilayer assembly which can be heat-sealed on at least one face and is known as a composite.
Ma-terials of this type are described, in par-ticular, in French Patents 1,568,983 and 1,580,871 and contain, in different orders, layers chosen from the group comprising paper, aluminium, polyethylene, polyamides, polyesters 9 ionomeric resins, hot-melt resins, polyvinylidene chloride and orien-ted polypropylene.
If it is desired to accommodate a large number of sheets in one pack, the shee-ts can be placed so that the removal of one sheet brings the next sheet through an ori-fice in the pack. Dispensing packs of this -type are des-cribed, in particular, in U.S. Patents 3,780,908, 3,994,417 and 4,138,034.
If the sheet of expanded paper is long, it can be accommodated rolled-up in a pack having a dispensing orifice, as described, in particular, in U.S. Patents 3,973,695 and 3,994,417, French Patent 2,224,110 and British Patents 1,305,928 and 1,419,167, or can be accommodated folded in a zig-zag fashion in a pack also having a dispensing orifice, as in U.S. Patents 3,973,695, 3,982,659, 4,002,264 and 4,017,002, French Patent 2,273,503 and British Patents 1,382,183 and 1,419,167.

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Claims (11)

What is claimed is-

1. In a ready-to-use composition intended for cleaning hard surfaces comprising a substrate impregnated with cleaning liquid, the improvement wherein said substrate has scouring capability and comprises a sheet of ex-panded paper, said paper being cut along parallel lines close to one another, by means of short cuts repeated along each line and closely spaced, with lateral staggering of the cuts from one line to the next and being stretched perpendicular to the cutting lines.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said staggering is substantially equal to half the sum obtained by adding the length of a cut and the space separating two adjacent cuts on one and the same line.

3. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid is selected from the group consisting of aqueous solutions of detergent, organic solvents, and aqueous solutions of detergent and organic solvents containing an effective amount of at least one of a thickener, colorant, fluorescent brightener, alkali, antiseptic, humectant, water, reppellent, perfume and antistatic agent.

4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the ex-panded paper consists of cellulosic fibres and/or fibres of wool, silk, glass, rock or synthetic polymeric material.

5. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the ex-panded paper contains a filler chosen from the group comprising gums, gelatins, resins, industrial starches, pigments and powders of mineral origin.

6. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the ex-panded paper possesses a thickness of between 5 and 50 hundredths of a millimetre.

7. A composition according to claim 2, wherein the cuts have a length of between 1.5 and 8 millimetres and the space which separates two adjacent cuts on one and the same line is between 1 and 4 millimetres.

8. A composition according to either one of claims 2 or 7, wherein the lines of cuts are separated from one another by a distance of between 0.5 and 3 milli-metres.

9. A composition according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning liquid contains a detergent chosen from the group comprising the known anionic, cationic, ampho-teric or nonionic surfactants.

10. A composition according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning liquid contains a solvent chosen from the group comprising the non-caustic organic liquids be-longing to the families of the alcoholic solvents, ketonic solvents, ethers, halogen-containing solvents, hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid esters.

11. A composition according to claim 3, which contains water, at least one surfactant and at least one organic liquid having solvent power.