CA2268863A1 - Aqueous lavatory surface rinsing and sanitizing composition and process for keeping showers clean - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is an aqueous lavatory shower surface rinsing and sanitizing composition and a process for keeping showers clean. The compositions are particularly useful in keeping vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces such as the shower stalls, bathtub enclosures, as well as other vertical or inclined surfaces clean which surfaces are prone to collect soap residues. The compositions are effective even when applied without manual scrubbing or wiping, and are not intended to be rinsed off immediately after application.

Description

Attorney File Ref: 08291/519001 AQUEOUS LAVATORY SURFACE RINSING AND SANITIZING COMPOSITION AND PROCESS
FOR KEEPING SHOWERS CLEAN
Provided is an aqueous lavatory shower surface rinsing and sanitizing composition and a process for keeping showers clean. The compositions are particularly useful in keeping vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces such as the shower stalls, bathtub enclosures, as well as other vertical or inclined surfaces clean which surfaces are prone to collect soap residues. The compositions are effective even when applied without manual scrubbing or wiping, and are not intended to be rinsed off immediately after application.
Recently the art has responded to the long felt need in the art for a such compositions however these compositions are not without particular shortcomings. In US Patent 5,536,452 to Robert H. Black titled "Aqueous shower rinsing composition and a method for keeping showers clean" therein is suggested a composition which is intended to be applied onto vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces without subsequent rinsing, but this composition does not provide any sanitizing or disinfecting benefit. This composition is also not expected to have any effectiveness against molds and mildews which are known to discolor lavatory surfaces, particularly at grout joints between tiles.
In a subsequent published patent application, PCTlCJS97/12278 (WO 98/02511) the same inventor has suggested formulations which may provide effective cleaning, but which also requires the presence of alcohols and anionic surfactants.
The compositions of the present invention overcome certain of the prior art shortcomings mentioned above, as well as provide further specific unique benefits.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an aqueous lavatory shower surface rinsing and sanitizing composition and a process for keeping showers clean. The compositions are particularly useful in keeping vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces such as the shower stalls, bathtub enclosures, as well as other vertical or inclined surfaces clean which surfaces are prone to collect soap residues. The compositions also provide a sanitizing benefit which is effective not only in the __ 1 __ sanitization of gram positive and/or gram negative microorganisms, but which also inhibit the growth of molds and mildew on lavatory surfaces, such as in grout joints.
These aqueous lavatory shower surface rinsing and sanitizing compositions comprise the following constituents, on a 100%wt. basis:
0.01 - 3%wt of a linear primary alcohol ethoxylate;
0.01 - 3%wt. of an amine oxide;
0.01 - 5%wt. of a glycol ether constituent wherein the one or more glycol ethers contain a propyl or butyl moiety and no ethyl moiety;
0.01 - 1.5%wt. of a quaternary ammonium surfactant compound which provides an antibacterial or antimicrobial function;
0.001 - 0.25%wt. of a chelating agent;
0 - 0.5%wt. of one or more optional constituents;
and the balance to 100%wt, water.
These compositions are further essentially free of other organic solvents, particularly free of water miscible alcohols, and are also free of anionic surfactants. In particularly preferred compositions the sole surfactants present are the linear primary alcohol ethoxylates, and the amine oxides indicated above, and only glycol ethers having a propyl moiety are included in the compositions.
According to certain preferred embodiments, the compositions consist essentially of the constituents recited above.
These compositions according to the present invention are particularly useful for removing deposits from tub and shower surfaces without any immediate rinsing, wiping, scrubbing or the like. The present invention makes use of the water mist formed by subsequent bathing or showering to help in the removal of undesirable deposits, such as soap scum, in conjunction with the earlier application of the inventive composition following an earlier bathing by the user.
These compositions are effective even when applied without manual scrubbing or wiping, and are not intended to be rinsed off immediately after application, but are intended to be applied to vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces prone to collect soap residues without subsequent rinsing.
__ 2 __ According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for keeping vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces (such as shower stalls, bathtub enclosures) clean from soap residues, by applying an effective amount of the composition described herein to such surfaces. It is noted that such soap residues are commonly referred to as "soap scum".
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for disinfecting or sanitizing vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces (such as shower stalls, bathtub enclosures), by applying an effective amount of the composition described herein to such surfaces.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for inhibiting the growth of mold or mildew on vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces (such as shower stalls, bathtub enclosures), by applying an effective amount of the composition described herein to such surfaces.
The compositions comprise from 0.01 - 3%wt of a linear primary alcohol ethoxylate, but more preferably from 0.25 - 1 %wt of one or more linear primary C12-Ci6 alcohol ethoxylates having between 7 and 12 moles of ethoxylation, more desirably having an average of 9 or 10 moles of ethoxylation per mole of alcohol.
Particularly preferred nonionic surfactants are C ~ 2-C ~ 6linear primary alcohol ethoxylates averaging about 9 or 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. These surfactants are available, for example, under the commercial name of Neodol 1-9, (from Shell Chemical Company, Houston, TX) , or in the Genapol~ series of linear alcohol ethoxylates, particularly Genapol~ 26-L-60 or Genapol~ 26-L-80 (from Clariant Corp., Charlotte, NC).
The compositions include from 0.01 - 3%wt. of one or more amine oxides, more preferably from 0.01 - 1 %wt. of one or more amine oxides. The amine oxides of the compositions of the invention are preferably selected from:
A) Alkyl di(lower alkyl) amine oxides in which the 'alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated. The lower alkyl groups include between 1 and 7 carbon atoms.
Examples include lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, myristyl dimethyl amine oxide, and those in which the alkyl group is a mixture of different amine oxides, dimethyl cocoamine __ 3 __ oxide, dimethyl (hydrogenated tallow) amine oxide, and myristyl/palmityl dimethyl amine oxide;
B) Alkyl di(hydroxy lower alkyl) amine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated. Examples are bis(2-hydroxyethyl) cocoamine oxide, bis(2-hydroxyethyl) tallowamine oxide; and bis(2-hydroxyethyl) stearylamine oxide;
C) Alkylamidopropyl di(lower alkyl) amine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated. Examples are cocoamidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide and tallowamidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide; and D) Alkylmorpholine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated.
Preferably the amine oxide constituent is an alkyl di(lower alkyl) amine oxide as denoted above and which may be represented by the following structure:
R~
R2-N--~O
R~
wherein each R~ independently is a straight chained CI-C4 alkyl group, preferably both Rl are methyl groups; and, R2 is a straight chained Cg-C1g alkyl group, preferably is C,2-C1g alkyl group.
Each of the alkyl groups may be linear or branched, but most preferably are linear. Technical grade mixtures of two or more amine oxides may be used, wherein amine oxides of varying chains of the R2 group are present. Such is expected when the hydrophobic portion of the amine oxide is derived from a natural source, such as cocoanut, soy, as well as animal fats such as tallow. Most preferably the amine oxide constituent is a cocoamidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide.
The amine oxides of the compositions of the invention are preferably present in an amount of from 0.01 - 0.25%wt. based on the total weight of the composition.
__ 4 __ The compositions are free of anionic surfactants, such as sulfates and sulfonates, and in certain further preferred embodiments are free of other nonionic surfactants not particularly mentioned above.
The inventive compositions include from 0.01 - 5%wt, preferably from 1- 3%wt.
of a glycol ether constituent wherein the one or more glycol ethers contain a propyl moiety or a butyl moiety, but contain no ethyl moiety. Examples of preferred solvents include one or more selected from: propylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, propylene glycol isobutyl ether, propylene glycol phenol ether, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, and mixtures thereof. These glycol ethers are presently commercially available in the Dowanol~ "P" series of glycol ethers.
Of these, it is preferred that there be present at least one glycol ether which exhibits poor aqueous solubility, i.e., less than about 18 ml /per 100 ml of water. These include: propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, and propylene glycol phenyl ether.
According to further more preferred embodiments, the glycol ether constituent comprises dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether and a further glycol ether containing a propyl moiety or a butyl moiety, but which contains no ethyl moiety. Yet more preferably the glycol ether constituent comprises dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether and a further glycol ether selected from the group consisting o~ propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, and propylene glycol phenyl ether.
Most preferably the sole glycol ether present is dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether.
The present inventor has unexpectedly found that glycol ethers which include an ethyl moiety are prone to deleteriously attack acrylic surfaces which are becoming increasingly present in domestic and commercial (hotels, institutional) installations. Such a deleterious effect is particularly exacerbated when the compositions are used frequently, and not rinsed off shortly after application. As an aspect of the invention is the repeated use of the inventive compositions, the presence of glycol ethers which include an ethyl moiety is to be avoided especially when used on acrylic and certain other __ 5 __ synthetic polymeric surfaces. While glycol ethers containing ethyl moieties are commonly found and used in hard surface compositions, their use is to be avoided in the types of compositions which the present inventor provides.
The inventive compositions also further essentially free of other organic solvents, particularly free of water miscible alcohols. While it is understood that one or more of the solvents may be provided in an aqueous or aqueous alcoholic medium, no further additional water miscible alcohols are to be added.
It may be desirably to include a minor amount of a further water soluble glycol ether containing a propyl or butyl moiety but containing no ethyl moiety, be included in the compositions.
For providing a primary disinfecting or sanitizing benefit to the compositions, there is included from 0.01 - 0.15%wt. of at least one a quaternary ammonium surfactant compound which provides an antibacterial or antimicrobial function. Desirably the germicide constituent is at least one cationic surfactant which is found to provide a broad antibacterial or sanitizing function.
Examples of preferred cationic surfactant compositions useful in the practice of the instant invention are those which provide a germicidal effect to the concentrate compositions, and especially preferred are quaternary ammonium compounds and salts thereof, which may be characterized by the general structural formula:
R, Rz-N~ Rs X-Ra where at least one of R~, R2, R3 and R4 is a alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl substituent of from 6 to 26 carbon atoms, and the entire canon portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of at least 165. The alkyl substituents may be long-chain alkyl, long-chain alkoxyaryl, long-chain alkylaryl, halogen-substituted long-chain alkylaryl, long-chain alkylphenoxyalkyl, arylalkyl, etc. The remaining substituents on the nitrogen atoms other than the abovementioned alkyl substituents are hydrocarbons usually containing no more than 12 carbon atoms. The substituents Rl, R2, R3 and R4 may be straight-chained or may be branched, but are preferably straight-chained, and may include one or more amide, ether __ 6 __ or ester linkages. The counterion X may be any salt-forming anion which permits water solubility of the quaternary ammonium complex.
Exemplary quaternary ammonium salts within the above description include the alkyl ammonium halides such as cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, alkyl aryl ammonium halides such as octadecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium bromide, N-alkyl pyridinium halides such as N-cetyl pyridinium bromide, and the like. Other suitable types of quaternary ammonium salts include those in which the molecule contains either amide, ether or ester linkages such as octyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, N-(laurylcocoaminoformylmethyl)-pyridinium chloride, and the like. Other very effective types of quaternary ammonium compounds which are useful as germicides include those in which the hydrophobic radical is characterized by a substituted aromatic nucleus as in the case of lauryloxyphenyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, cetylaminophenyltrimethyl ammonium methosulfate, dodecylphenyltrimethyl ammonium methosulfate, dodecylbenzyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, chlorinated dodecylbenzyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, and the like.
Preferred quaternary ammonium compounds which act as germicides and which are be found useful in the practice of the present invention include those which have the structural formula:

Rz-N~ Rs X-wherein R2 and R3 are the same or different Cg-Cl2alkyl, or R2 is C12_I6alkyl, C8_ l8alkylethoxy, C8_~galkylphenolethoxy and R3 is benzyl, and X is a halide, for example chloride, bromide or iodide, or is a methosulfate anion. The alkyl groups recited in R2 and R3 may be straight-chained or branched, but are preferably substantially linear.
Particularly useful quaternary germicides include compositions which include a single quaternary compound, as well as mixtures of two or more different quaternary compounds. Particularly useful quaternary germicides include which are described as being a blend of alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides; BARDAC~ 205M, BARDAC~ 2050, BARDAC~ 2080, BARDAC~ 2250, BTC~ 812, BTC~ 818 and __ BTC~ 1010 which are described as being based on dialkyl(Cg-Clo)dimethyl ammonium chloride; BARDAC~ 2250 and BARDAC~ 2280 or BTC~ 1010 which are described as being a composition which includes didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; BARDAC~
LF and BARDAC~ LF 80 which are described as being based on dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; BARQUAT~ MB-50, BARQUAT~ MB-80, BARQUAT~ MX-50, BARQUAT~ MX-80, BARQUAT~ OJ-50, BARQUAT~ OJ-80, BARDAC~
208M, HYAMINE~ 3500, HYAMINE~ 3500-NF, BTC~ 50, BTC~ 824, BTC~ 835, BTC~ 885, BTC~ 2565, BTC~ 2658, BTC~ 8248 or BTC~ 8358 each described as being based on alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (benzalkonium chloride);
BARQUAT~ 4250, BARQUAT~ 4280, BARQUAT~ 42502, BARQUAT~ 42802, BTC~ 471, BTC~ 2125, or BTC~ 2125M each described as being a composition based on alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride and/or alkyldimethylethylbenzyl ammonium chloride; BARQUAT~ MS-100 or BTC~ 324-P-100 each described as being based on myristyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride; HYAMINE~ 2389 described as being based on methyldodecylbenzyl ammonium chloride and/or methyldodecylxylene-bis-trimethyl ammonium chloride; HYAMINE~ 1622 described as being an aqueous solution of benzethonium chloride; as well as BARQUAT~ 1552 or BTC~ 776 described as being based on alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and/or dialkyl methyl benzyl ammonium chloride, BARQUAT~ 50-MAB described as being based on alkyldimethylethyl ammonium bromide and LONZABAC~-12.100 described as being based on an alkyl tertiary amine. Polymeric quaternary ammonium salts based on these monomeric structures are also considered desirable for the present invention.
One example is POLYQUAT~ described as being a 2-butenyldimethyl ammonium chloride polymer. (Each of these recited materials are presently commercially available from Lonza, Inc., Fairlawn, NJ and/or from Stepan Co., Northfield IL) The compositions also include from 0.001 - 0.25%wt. of a chelating agent which desirably also functions as a pH buffer so that the compositions remain in the alkaline range of pH of 10 - 11.5. Exemplary useful materials include alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal phosphates, alkali metal polyphosphates and alkali metal hydroxides.
Silicates are to be avoided. More specific examples include sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium polyphosphate, potassium __ g __ pyrophosphate, potassium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, as well as sodium hydroxide. Examples of further useful chelating agents which may also be used in the compositions include gluconic acid, tartartic acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, N-hydroxyethylethylenediamine triacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid, and their water soluble salts, especially the alkali metal salts and particularly the sodium salts.
The inventive compositions may include one or more optional constituents, such as colorants especially dyes, fragrances as well as fragrance solubilizing adjuvants, as well as other well known additives. These however must be present in only minor amounts so as to not deleteriously affect the stability or the cleaning and sanitizing performance of the compositions. When included such optional constituents are present in amounts from 0 - 0.5%wt.
Such materials described above are known to the art, including those described in McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents (Vol.l), McCutcheon's Functional Materials (Vol. 2), North American Edition, 1991; Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Ed., Vol. 22, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference For any particular composition, such optional ingredients should be compatible with the other ingredients present.
The inventive compositions are at least 90%wt. water, and preferably are at least 95% water. The water may be tap water, but is preferably distilled and is most preferably deionized water. If the water is tap water, it is preferably substantially free of any undesirable impurities such as organics or inorganics, especially mineral salts which are present in hard water which may thus undesirably interfere with the operation of the constituents present in the aqueous compositions according to the invention.
The aqueous compositions according to the invention are particularly useful in the treatment of hard surfaces wherein soap scum is prone to occur, particularly hard surfaces associated with lavatories, including lavatory fixtures and appliances.
The compositions according to the invention can be desirably provided as ready to use products in manually operated spray dispensing containers, or may be supplied as aerosol type products discharged from a pressurized aerosol container. Known art propellants such as liquid propellants based on chloroflurocarbons or propellants of the __ 9 __ non-liquid form, i.e., pressurized gases, including carbon dioxide, air, nitrogen, as well as others, may be used, even though it is realized that the former chloroflurocarbons are not generally desirable due to environmental considerations.
The aqueous compositions of the invention are intended to be used after showering to prevent the build-up of deposits on vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces where soap scum is prone to collect. Such surfaces specifically include shower stalls, and bathtub enclosures. The inventive compositions are advantageously sprayed onto the shower surfaces with a pump or pressurized sprayer. Desirably the compositions according to the invention are applied to wet surfaces before the deposits, such as soap scum deposits, are allowed to dry and set. While the rinsing solution does soften and remove dried deposits, its principal benefit is the removal of the deposits that are still wet. After application of the rinsing solution to the wet shower surfaces, the compositions facilitate the removal of these undesirable deposits down the wet shower surfaces. In subsequent uses of the shower of bathtub enclosure, the water and mist from bathing further aids in the removal of these undesirable deposits. Thus, a single cycle or repeated cycles of bathing or showering, spray application and drying of these lavatory surfaces, especially when later followed by the next cycle beginning with the next bathing, serve to convey deposits down to the waste drain in a semi-continuous fashion.
Water rinsing following spraying can be done, but is unnecessary. No scrubbing, wiping, or other mechanical action is necessary, in contrast to conventional cleaning agents which are used to remove deposits only after such deposits have dried.
Previously accumulated undesirable deposits, particularly of soap scum, that have already dried can be softened and completely removed, albeit gradually, with continued application of the inventive compositions after each bath or shower. While no wiping or other mechanical action is required to remove such previously dried and set deposits, gentle wiping accelerates the removal of these softened deposits that have accumulated over a period of time. Wiping or even scrubbing are permissible, but unnecessary. This aqueous composition is not a shower or tub cleaner in the conventional sense, but is a rinsing solution for maintaining lavatory surfaces clean, particularly shower stalls and bathtub enclosures.
-- 1 o --The inventive compositions are also effective in inhibiting the growth or molds and mildew on lavatory surfaces, and may be used to inhibit such growth by the manner of application described herein.
The inventive compositions are also effective disinfecting or sanitizing lavatory surfaces, and may be used to provide such a benefit in the manner of application described herein.
Furthermore, in contrast to simply rinsing the shower surfaces with plain tap water or soapy water, both of which leave deposits, the present invention prevents streaking and air-dries spot free. Thus, the present aqueous rinsing solution provides a product for maintaining tubs and showers clean with the minimum of effort.
This solution is also effective in maintaining bathtub surfaces and the like clean and spot-free even in the absence of a shower.
A further advantage of the inventive compositions is that in contrast to formulations which include alcohols or one or more glycol ethers, the present compositions are both effective and safe for use on acrylic and other synthetic polymer surfaces.
A still further advantage of the inventive compositions is they also provide an effective disinfecting benefit to the treated surfaces, which controls the spread of undesirable microorganisms, as well as controlling malodour by killing of undesirable mlcroorgamsms.
The following examples below illustrate exemplary and preferred formulations of the composition according to the instant invention. It is to be understood that these examples are presented by means of illustration only and that further useful formulations fall within the scope of this invention and the claims may be readily produced by one skilled in the art without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Throughout this specification and in the accompanying claims, weight percents of any constituent are to be understood as the weight percent of the active portion of the referenced constituent, unless otherwise indicated.

EXam l~eS
The following examples illustrate the formulation and performance of various compositions of the invention.
Exemplary formulations illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the inventive compositions and described in more detail in Table 1 below were formulated generally in accordance with the following protocol. The weight percentages indicated the "as supplied" weights of the named constituent.
Into a suitably sized vessel, a measured amount of water was provided after which the constituents were added in no specific or uniform sequence, thus indicating that the order of addition of the constituents was not critical. All of the constituents were supplied at room temperature, and any remaining amount of water was added thereafter.
Mixing of the constituents was achieved by the use of a mechanical stirrer with a small diameter propeller at the end of its rotating shaft. Mixing, which generally lasted from 5 minutes to 120 minutes was maintained until the particular exemplary formulation appeared to be homogeneous. The exemplary compositions were readily pourable, and retained well mixed characteristics (i.e., stable mixtures) upon standing for extended periods. The compositions of the example formulations are listed on Table 1.

Table 1 _ -_ Ex.1 Ex.2 Ex.3 Ex.4 ~

Genapol~ 26-L-80 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 r ......................~._..............._...Ø........................
Ammonyx CDO Special 0.5 1.0 0......_._....._._5 ~ (30%) ..
~ .5 ,,.
Dowanol~ DPnB (100%) 2_.1.................
x....._..._...2..1_.._.._._.__1 ; 2.1 2~........................

Dowanol~ PnP (100%) - ~7 v __ ~
~

Na2C03 (100%) .. ...................._.................Ø084 . 0.25 0.25 .. _ 0.25 ...........Ø......................................_._O......_O.__............
...............
BTC 65~ (50 /o) 0.172 .172 . _1.72 .172 _.__......
.

_.__................Ø.._....__._._...........
BTC 8358~ (80%) .... ...........Ø.027...........;.... .027 ~ : 0.027-..........
v ~27 fragrance ..... .........Ø2-.................
p.2............_._.2 _._ .
..
0.2 .

.......~.......................
DI water to..1_00.........to_._1..00.........:..._.....to_..l..o~.........'to .: 100 The identity of the constituents of Table 1 above are described in more detail on Table 2, below, including the "actives" percentage of each.

~..r!g~edient....O~...~"!eight..active) ...............................................................................
....................
_. _.__......._.
Ammonyx CDO Special cocoamidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide (30 /) surfactant (30%wt. actives) [Stepan Co.]
__._.................._._............_........._...............................
..
........._.............................................................
............ .

, Genapol~ 26-L-80 (100%).
......................................................................
..............._........_......._............_.................................
._.............___..._............._.__..............._ linear C,2-C,6alcohol ethoxylate, avg.
9 moles of EO, __..................._._..................................................._...
..._................................................~..~...~~../wt. actives) [Clariant Corp.]

_._... _. _.__.._..
Dowanol0 DPnB (100 dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether (100%wt.
%) actives) __.....................__........................Chem.
..._............................................................Dow ......
Co.
]

, Dowanol~ PnP (100%) .
....
.
....... _ _ propylene gIycol n-propyl ether (100%wt.
actives) ~ ~~

[Dow Chem. Co.]
.............................__......._........................................
................ .............. ..
............... . .............

o , sodium carbonate (100 ... ......... ...........
....._.._._........................___..............._.__........
/) sodium carbonate from General Chemical Co., Morristown NJ
_..........

.......a......................................._........... ,................
...................
........................................................... . _....., _..............................._.........._...._._...................._._.._..
............
BTC-.65..-(50./0)...................................................................quate rnary ammonium (50%wt. actmes ....... Ste an Co.
..............

.
BTC.._$358..(80%).
................................................................, ............................................................_....
....._quaternary ammonium (80%wt. actives Ste an Co.
...
_..

, fragrance....................................................__................
...................................., .... ........................................................
......Proprietary composition . _.__._......................_._..............._..
DI water deionized water Each of the formulations were alkaline, and had a pH in the range of from 10.4 to 11.3.
The formulations on Table 1 each exhibit good antimicrobial efficacy.
The formulations on Table 1 each exhibit good cleaning efficacy.
While described in terms of the presently preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be interpreted as by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, and that various modifications and alterations apparent to one skilled in the art may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
\\NYC\VOLl \USERS\ANP\FR\08291 \519001 \519PATUS.DOC

Claims (9)

1. An aqueous alkaline composition for disinfecting and for maintaining vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces where soap scum is prone to collect clean, comprising:
0.01 - 3%wt of a linear primary alcohol ethoxylate;
0.01 - 3%wt. of an amine oxide;
0.01 - 5%wt. of a glycol ether constituent wherein the one or more glycol ethers contain a propyl or butyl moiety and no ethyl moiety;
0.01 - 1.5%wt. of a quaternary ammonium surfactant compound which provides an antibacterial or antimicrobial function;
0.001 - 0.25%wt. of a chelating agent;
0 - 0.5%wt. of one or more optional constituents;
and the balance to 100%wt of water;
wherein the compositions are further essentially free of other organic solvents and are also free of anionic surfactants.

2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the linear primary alcohol ethoxylate a linear primary C12-C16 alcohol ethoxylate having between 7 and 12 moles of ethoxylation.

3. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the amine oxide is an alkylamidopropyl di(lower alkyl) amine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 10-20 carbon atoms.

4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the glycol ether constituent comprises at least one glycol ether which exhibits an aqueous solubility of less than about 18 ml/per 100 ml of water

5. A composition according to claim 4, wherein the glycol ether constituent comprises a glycol ether selected from the group which includes: propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, and propylene glycol phenyl ether

6. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the glycol ether constituent consists solely of dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether.

7. An aqueous alkaline composition for disinfecting and for maintaining vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces where soap scum is prone to collect clean, consisting essentially of:
0.01 - 3%wt of a linear primary alcohol ethoxylate;
0.01 - 3%wt. of an amine oxide;
0.01 - 5%wt. of a glycol ether constituent wherein the one or more glycol ethers contain a propyl or butyl moiety and no ethyl moiety;
0.01 - 1.5%wt. of a quaternary ammonium surfactant compound which provides an antibacterial or antimicrobial function;
0.001 - 0.25%wt. of a chelating agent;
0 - 0.5%wt. of one or more optional constituents;
and the balance to 100%wt of water;
wherein the compositions are further essentially free of other organic solvents and are also free of anionic surfactants.

8. A method for disinfecting and for maintaining vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces where soap scum is prone to collect clean, consisting essentially of a single cycle or repeated cycles of the steps of:
wetting surfaces of a vertical or inclined lavatory surface during the normal course of bathing;
spraying the wetted surfaces after bathing with an aqueous alkaline composition comprising:
0.01 - 3%wt of a linear primary alcohol ethoxylate;
0.01 - 3%wt. of an amine oxide;

0.01 - 5%wt. of a glycol ether constituent wherein the one or more glycol ethers contain a propyl or butyl moiety and no ethyl moiety;
0.01 - 1.5%wt. of a quaternary ammonium surfactant compound which provides an antibacterial or antimicrobial function;
0.001 - 0.25%wt. of a chelating agent;
0 - 0.5%wt. of one or more optional constituents;
and the balance to 100%wt of water;
wherein the compositions are further essentially free of other organic solvents and are also free of anionic surfactants;
whereby soap scum deposits resulting from bathing are removed, without scrubbing or wiping, and said inclined lavatory surfaces are subsequently allowed to air dry.

9. A method for inhibiting the growth of mold or mildew on vertical or inclined lavatory surfaces, consisting essentially of a single cycle or repeated cycles of the steps of:
wetting surfaces of a vertical or inclined lavatory surface during the normal course of bathing;
spraying the wetted surfaces after bathing with an aqueous alkaline composition comprising:
0.01 - 3%wt of a linear primary alcohol ethoxylate;
0.01 - 3%wt. of an amine oxide;
0.01 - 5%wt. of a glycol ether constituent wherein the one or more glycol ethers contain a propyl or butyl moiety and no ethyl moiety;
0.01 - 1.5%wt. of a quaternary ammonium surfactant compound which provides an antibacterial or antimicrobial function;
0.001 - 0.25%wt. of a chelating agent;
0 - 0.5%wt. of one or more optional constituents;
and the balance to 100%wt of water;
wherein the compositions are further essentially free of other organic solvents and are also free of anionic surfactants;

whereby the growth of mold or mildew is inhibited or removed without scrubbing or wiping of the applied composition, and said inclined lavatory surfaces are subsequently allowed to air dry.