EP0036833A1 - Process for the cleaning of textil material - Google Patents

Abstract

Process for cleaning clothes at home with the aid of solvent, by A. treating the article of clothing with a cleaning agent comprising at least one organic solvent, and then B. laying the article of clothing flat on an absorbent sheet, and C. laying the article of clothing+absorbent sheet flat on the interior circular surface of the drum of a washing machine in order to spin it. Operation A can be carried out in two successive stages using a stain-removing agent and a rinsing agent.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for cleaning clothes from home.

It is well known that clothes can be cleaned using the chemical cleaning process, using organic solvents such as trichlorethylene, which have a high solubility for most substances that often contaminate clothes and a low boiling point, which makes these solvents easy to recover allowed.

One of the disadvantages of this method is that, because of the toxicity of the vapors of these solvents, the chemical cleaning can only be carried out in specialty shops that are equipped with large and very expensive equipment and with good ventilation. The user must therefore go out to go to this business; furthermore, the clothes cannot be cleaned within a period of time that allows the user to pick them up and take them with them. The user therefore misses time and has to go from one place to another, which always costs money. In addition, the clothes will be handed over to a specialist who will treat them in the same bathroom with numerous others, whereby there is always a risk of infection from microbes such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, which are brought in by the clothes of third parties suffering from more or less serious diseases.

These disadvantages can be overcome by Eliminate a novel process that enables clothes to be cleaned at home in the shortest possible time without residue and without danger.

• A. das Kleidungsstück mit einem mindestens ein organisches Lösungsmittel enthaltenden flüssigen Reinigungsmittel behandelt, _.
• B. das Kleidungsstück flach auf einen saugfähigen Bogen legt und
• C. zum Abschleudern das Kleidungsstück und den saugfähigen Bogen zusammen flach auf die innere Kreisfläche der Trommel einer Waschmaschine auflegt.

The invention accordingly relates to a method for cleaning clothes with the help of a solvent, which is characterized in that one after the other in the following three stages:

• A. treated garment with a least one organic solvent containing liquid _detergents.
• B. puts the garment flat on an absorbent sheet and
• C. To spin off, place the garment and the absorbent sheet together flat on the inner circular surface of the drum of a washing machine.

The solvent or solvents present in the cleaning agent are selected from liquids known for their stain removal ability.

The cleaning agent used in stage A of the process preferably contains an alcoholic or ketonic solvent, an ether, a chlorinated solvent, a hydrocarbon or a mixture of two or more thereof.

The alcoholic solvent used alone or in a mixture with one or more other solvents is preferably used under alkanols having one to four carbon atoms, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, sec-butanol, tert-butanol and mixtures thereof Alkanols selected; the alcoholic solvent is preferably chosen from ethanol, propanol and isopropanol; this can also be benzyl alcohol.

The ketonic solvent used alone or in a mixture with one or more other solvents is preferably used under alkanones having three to six carbon atoms, such as acetone, butanone, pentanone-2, Pentanone-3, 2-methylbutanone-3, hexanone-3, 3-methylpentanone -2, 4-methylpentanone-2, 2-methylpentanone-3 and mixtures of these ketones; Cyclohexanone can also be present as the ketonic solvent; the preferred ketonic solvent is selected from acetone and butanone.

The ether used alone or in a mixture with one or more other solvents is preferably selected from oxaalkanes and their hydroxy-substituted derivatives, Y-dioxaalkanes and their hydroxy-substituted derivatives, bis-Y-trioxaalkanes with at most ten carbon atoms and mixtures of these compounds .

Examples of oxaalkanes are diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, diisopropyl ether, butyl ether and isobutyl ether. Hydroxy-substituted oxaalkanes are, for example, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, 2-isopropoxyethanol, 2-methoxypropanol, 2-ethoxypropanol and 2-isopropoxypropanol.

Examples of Y-dioxaalkanes are dimethyl, diethyl, dipropyl and diisopropyl ether of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and butylene glycol.

Hydroxy-substituted Y-dioxaalkanes are, for example, the monomethyl, monoethyl, monopropyl and monoisopropyl ethers of diethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol.

Examples of bis-Y-trioxaalkanes are the dimethyl, diethyl, dipropyl and diisopropyl ethers of diethylene glycol and the dimethyl and diethyl ethers of dipropylene glycol.

Preferably, the ethers have an evaporation index less than a hundred times that of the ethyl ether, which index is proportional to the time required to completely evaporate the solvent applied to a filter paper.

The chlorinated solvent used alone or in a mixture with one or more other solvents is preferably one of the di- to tetrachlorinated derivatives of methane, the di- to pentachlorinated deri Data of ethane and ethylene, the mono- to trichlorinated derivatives of cyclohexane and monochlorobenzene selected. Examples of solvents of this type are methylene chloride, 1,1-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, trichlorethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, tetrachlorethylene, pentachloroethane, monochlorocyclohexane, 1,4-dichlorocyclohexane, monochlorobenzene and mixtures of these compounds.

The hydrocarbon used alone or in a mixture with one or more solvents is preferably selected from saturated cyclic, aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic or alkylaromatic hydrocarbons, terpene hydrocarbons with 10 carbon atoms and mixtures of these hydrocarbons.

The aromatic and alkylaromatic hydrocarbons used alone or in a mixture with the other hydrocarbons are selected, for example, from the following: toluene, ethylbenzene, ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, para-xylene, isopropylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, cumene, Pseudocumene, 1,4-diisopropylbenzene, tetralin, 1-methyltetralin, 2-methyltetralin and mixtures thereof.

The saturated hydrocarbons used alone or in a mixture with the other hydrocarbons are selected, for example, from the following: 2-methylheptane, octane, ethylcyclohexane, nonane, isopropylcyclohexane, decane, undecane, dodecane, decalin, 1,2-dimethylcyclohexane, 1,3 -Dimethylcyclohexane, 1,4-dimethylcyclohexane, 2-methyloctane, 2-methylnonane and their mixtures.

Commercially available mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons and their mixtures with saturated hydrocarbons are also suitable. The following are examples of such mixtures, with percentages of aromatic hydrocarbons given in parentheses: Panasol RX-5 (70%), RX-21 (99%), RX-22 (94%), RX-34 (100%), Amsco LEP Solvent (18.5%), Amsco mineral spirit (17%), Amsco 140 Solvent (17%), Amsco 460 Solvent (18%), Lactane Esso (21.5%), Varsol 1 Esso (18%), Varsol 2 Esso (31.5%), Varsol 3 Esso (15%), Solvesso 100 (99%), Solvesso 150 (97%), 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%), Dilutine M 5 Shell (<5%), Dilutine 21 Shell (17 %), Tetrasol G Shell (<5%), Sangajol B Shell (17%), Solnap BP (3%), Supersol BP (97%), Petrole normal BP (15%), Exsol D. 45/100 Esso ( 1.2%), Esso D. 60/95 Esso (1.2%), Exsol D. 70/100 Esso (1.2%), Exsol D. 100/130 Esso (4%), Exsol D. 100 / 160 Esso (4%), Exsol D. 145/195 Esso (5%), Varsol 145/195 Esso (17%), Essence speciale E Esso (9%), and Essence speciale F Esso (12.5%).

The terpene hydrocarbons used alone or in a mixture with the other hydrocarbons are selected, for example, from the following: pinene, limonene, dipentene, terpinene, terpinolene, menthene, myrcene, sabine, ocimene, phellandrene and mixtures thereof.

Optionally, but preferably, the detergent may further contain up to 60 percent by weight of the detergent. In this case it is useful, but not absolutely necessary, that a surfactant is present with the water. If desired, this can also be present in the absence of water.

Surfactants which can be used according to the invention can be selected from all known anion-active, cation-active, amphoteric or non-ionic surfactants. Typical surfactants are described in "McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers 1969 Annual, [McCutcheon's Surfactants and Emulsifiers Yearbook 1969]", where these compounds are listed in an orderly fashion. Other suitable surfactants are described in Surface Active Agents and Detergents, [Surfactants and Detergents], Volume II, by Schwartz, Perry and Berch (Interscience Publishers, 1958).

Suitable anion-active surfactants are, for example, soaps and synthetic sulfonated and sulfonated surfactants, in particular anion-active surfactants with about 8 to 26 and preferably about 10 to 22 carbon atoms in the molecule. The soaps are generally water-soluble soaps of long-chain fatty acids each with 10 to 18 carbon atoms and their mixtures.

Sulphonated and sulphonated surfactants are also known in the art and can be prepared from suitable sulphonatable organic substances (whereby "real" sulphonation and / or sulphonation can take place). Among the wide variety of suitable sulfates and sulfonates, preference is given to using aliphatic sulfates and sulfonates with about 8 to 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, preferably with 12 to 18 carbon atoms.

The wash-active alkyl aromatic sulfonates in question can be mononuclear or polynuclear in structure.

In particular, the aromatic nucleus can be derived from benzene, toluene, xylene, phenol, cresols, phenol ethers, naphthalene or phenane derivatives. It has also been found that the alkyl group can be varied in a similar manner. For example, the alkyl groups can have a linear or branched chain (linear chains being particularly preferred), and this can include, for example, dodecyl, tridecyl, pentadecyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl or undecyl residues, mixed alkyls derived from fatty products, Olefins from cracked paraffin wax or polymers of lower monoolefins. The number of sulfone groups at the nucleus then fluctuates, but usually only one of these groups is present in order to maintain the best possible balance between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts of the molecule and to achieve effective surface activity.

Further specific examples of suitable alkyl aromatic sulfonates are linear alkyl benzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains 10 to 18 carbon atoms, for example about 10 to 15 carbon atoms on average; specific examples are sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium tridecylbenzenesulfonate and higher sodium alkylbenzenesulfonates in which the alkyl has 10 to 15 carbon atoms and contains an average of 12.5 carbon atoms in the molecule.

Other suitable agents are sulfated or sulfonated, surface-active aliphatic compounds with preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms. The following fall under this definition: sulfuric acid esters of polyalcohols incompletely esterified with long-chain fatty acids, for example the monosulfate of coconut fat monoglyceride and the monosulfate of tallow glyceride, pure or mixed long-chain alkyl sulfates, for example lauryl sulfate and cetyl sulfate, hydroxy-fatty acid-esterified long-chain fatty acids such as long-chain fatty acids Isethionic acid, sulfates of fatty acid ethanol amides of aminoalkyl sulfonic acids (for example the laurylamide of taurine), and olefin and paraffin sulfates. In particular, sulfated aliphatic compounds with at least about 8 carbon atoms, especially those with about 12 to 18 or 22 carbon atoms in the molecule, are preferably used. If a phosphorus content is permissible, the corresponding organic phosphates and phosphonates can also be used in addition to or instead of the surface-active aliphatic and aromatic sulfates and sulfonates.

Long-chain quaternary alkylammonium compounds, for example quaternary cetylammonium salts, are suitable as cation-active surfactants. This group includes cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and cetylpyridinium - Diethylenaminodthyloleylamid.

Nonionic surfactants include: polyoxyethylene ethers of hydroxy-substituted alkyl aromatic compounds (e.g. polyoxyethylene alkylphenols), polyoxyethylene ethers of hydrophobic propylene oxide polymers and higher alkyl amine oxides such as lauryl dimethyl amine oxide. According to the invention, it is also possible to use amphoteric agents; Examples include: salts of higher alkyl-ß-aminopropionic acids, for example the sodium salt of N-lauryl-ß-alanine, betaines substituted by higher alkyl groups, for example lauryldimethylammonium acetic acid, and compounds of the imidazoline type, for which the disodium salt of 1- (2 Hydroxyethyl) -1- (carboxymethyl) -2- (hendecyl) -4,5-dihydroimidazolinium hydroxide may be mentioned as an example.

The anion-active and cation-active surfactants are generally used in the form of their water-soluble salts. As far as synthetic anion-active compounds are concerned, the alkali salts (for example the sodium and potassium salts) are preferred, but it is possible to use other salts if desired, for example ammonium salts, lower alkylamine salts (ie salts of mono- and trialkylamines with 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, for example methylamine, diisopropylamine and tributylamine), salts of lower alkanolamines (for example ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine and isopropanolamine) and also alkaline earth metal salts and salts of similar metals, for example calcium and magnesium salts. In the cation-active surfactants, chloride, sulfate, acetate and the like may be present as anions.

In the process according to the invention, preference is given to using alkyldimethylamine oxides and acylaminoalkyldimethylamine oxides, such as dodecyldimethylamine oxide and 3-lauroylamidopropyldimethylamine oxide, alone or in a mixture with an anionic surfactant, such as a sodium alkyl sulfate or alkyl ether sulfate, and / or one non-ionic surfactant, such as a polyoxyethylene alkylphenol, for example oxyethylene octyl or nonylphenol with preferably 8 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide.

When using a surfactant, this is preferably present in the cleaning agent in a proportion between 0.1 and 25 percent by weight.

If the cleaning agent contains water, the composition thus formed may be homogeneous without the need for stirring, or it may have to be stirred in order to mix the constituents and to obtain a suspension which is suitable for at least the period of treatment with Security is stable.

Any water present in the detergent is soft water of any origin (river, spring or rain); preferably a water of low hardness or particularly preferably demineralized water is used. In the presence of water in the cleaning agent, its proportion is preferably between 5 and 60 percent by weight.

The cleaning agent can optionally also contain a chlorofluorinated compound having one or two carbon atoms, which is selected from compounds which are liquid at room temperature, such as trichlorofluoromethane and trichlorotrifluoroethane;

If desired, the cleaning agent can also contain an antifoam, a perfume, an antistatic, an aerosol propellant and / or a bactericide.

If the cleaning agent contains several organic solvents, then preferably an alcoholic solvent is chosen; this is particularly preferably made of isopropanol.

If the alcoholic solvent is not the only solvent in the cleaning agent, it is preferably present in a proportion of 10 to 90 percent by weight in the case of an anhydrous composition and 3 to 60 percent by weight in the case of an aqueous composition

If the ether is not the only solvent in the cleaning agent, it is preferably present in a proportion of 2 to 90 percent by weight in the case of an anhydrous composition and 0.5 to 40 percent by weight in the case of an aqueous composition.

If the ketonic solvent is not the only solvent in the cleaning agent, it is preferably present in a proportion of between 0.2 and 10 percent by weight.

If the chlorinated solvent is not the only solvent in the cleaning agent, it is preferably present in a proportion of between 3 and 45 percent by weight.

If a hydrocarbon is not the only solvent in the cleaning agent, it is preferably present in a proportion of between 3 and 60 percent by weight.

In the presence of the chlorofluorinated solvent in the cleaning agent, this is preferably used in a proportion between 5 and 50 percent by weight.

The cleaning agent used in the implementation can be applied in any way, such as by soaking or spraying; Spraying is by far preferred, however, because it is simpler and more economical. This is done by using a container containing the cleaning agent, such as a flexible bottle that can be sprayed simply by pressing, or a container equipped with a direct-delivery pump or a pump that has been pressurized beforehand. An aerosol can can also be used, the propellant added to the cleaning agent being selected from those known to the person skilled in the art, for example propane, butane, dichlorodifluoromethane, di-nitrogen monoxide and carbon dioxide; 20 to 100 parts of propane, butane or dichlorodifluoromethane or 3 to 10 parts of di-nitrogen monoxide or carbon dioxide are used per 100 parts by weight of detergent, for example.

If the garment to be treated has localized stains, you can spray a large amount of detergent on these stains and then rub it with a suitable material such as a rag or a piece of felt. This substance can be permanently attached to the container containing the detergent so that you can spray and rub at the same time with your own hand.

According to an advantageous variant of the method, stage A is carried out in two steps, in which both a special cleaning agent is used and which consist in that Al. the localized stains are treated with a stain remover and A2. treated the garment as a whole with a detergent.

The stain removal and detergent correspond to the above description of the detergent; they may be similar to one another, but it is generally preferable to use a more active product for the stain remover than for the detergent.

A particularly advantageous stain remover is, for example, a composition which contains several solvents, water and a surfactant.

For example, a stain removal composition may include:

• ketonisches Lösungsmittel: 2 bis 20%

This stain removal composition will very particularly preferably also contain one or more of the following components:

• ketonic solvent: 2 to 20%

The detergent may be particularly advantageous, for example, a composition containing several solvents, water and a surfactant in proportions other than the stain removing agent.

For example, a rinse composition will contain:

Most preferably, this rinse composition will also contain one or more of the following ingredients:

The stain removing agent is preferably contained in a container equipped with a fibrous or porous substance constituting a friction rag as indicated above. This fabric suitably consists of wool felt and / or cotton and / or solvent-resistant synthetic fibers.

In an advantageous embodiment, the stain removing agent is enclosed in a container of elongated cylindrical shape, to the opening of which the porous material representing the friction flap is attached; this substance is in contact with the stain remover above the inner part, and because of the porosity it therefore reaches the outer end which is to come into contact with the item of clothing.

The detergent is preferably contained in a container with a manual, mechanical or propellant spray system.

In stage B of the process, the garment is placed flat on an absorbent sheet. Of course, the garment can be spread on the absorbent sheet according to a variant of the method before treatment A. have been.

The absorbent sheet consists of any known, porous or fibrous, flexible material. Specific examples of absorbent sheets are preferably weakly sized or unsized paper, cotton fabric, plant fiber nonwovens, felts and cellulose wadding in one or more layers. An absorbent sheet can also consist of a layer of absorbent powdered material between two layers of fibrous material or between a layer of fibrous material and a layer of permeable material such as a polyethylene. Dry clay, kaolin, montmorillonite, natural or synthetic silica or ground vegetable fibers can be considered as the absorbent powdery substance.

The thickness of the absorbent sheet depends on its absorbency; in practice the thickness used should correspond to a density between 15 and 200 grams per square meter and preferably between 30 and 100 grams per square meter.

The dimensions of the absorbent sheet depend, on the one hand, on those of the washing machine drums and, on the other hand, on those of the garment (s) treated. In practice, the strip used for a tie or a scarf will be 5 to 15 cm wide and for several ties or a scarf up to 150 cm wide.

For the treatment of trousers, a jacket or a Gabardin raincoat, the strip used should have the largest width and length permitted in the washing machine. The absorbent sheet preferably has a length between 30 and 150 cm and a width between 5 and 40 cm.

For dresses of intermediate sizes, the dimensions of the absorbent sheet will also be in between and fit the size of the item of clothing being treated.

Of course you can use small pieces Place an absorbent sheet where the clothes are folded, such as on collars, cuffs, loops or cuffs.

If desired and depending on the degree of soiling of the previously treated clothes, the absorbent sheet can of course be used once or several times, e.g. after drying.

According to an advantageous variant, the absorbent sheet can consist of several layers, from which the one that has come into contact with the garment is removed before the next treatment. In order to give it special properties, the absorbent sheet can also have a special structure, such as a corrugated, pleated one. slightly embossed or satin.

In order to hold them well on the inside wall of the washing machine drum, the absorbent sheet and the treated garment (s) can be held together by means of a system of clips and / or sliders, the latter advantageously occupying the entire width of the absorbent sheet. You can also use a rigid plastic or metal strip on which the absorbent sheet is fixed together with the garment.

On the side away from contact with the item of clothing, the absorbent sheet can also be covered with a more or less rigid, impermeable film, which is selected, for example, from polyethylene, polypropylene and polyamide films and a multilayer complex.

According to a preferred variant, the impermeable film is obtained by hot coating the absorbent sheet and is integral with it.

According to another variant, the width of the impermeable film on one or both sides is greater than that of the absorbent sheet, so that it can be folded over on the side of the garment that is away from contact with the absorbent sheet.

According to a further variant, the impermeable film overlapping the absorbent sheet has a fastening system which makes it possible to keep it closed over the item of clothing or items of clothing; such a system can consist of snap fasteners, a zipper, a Velcro strip, hooks or the like. As a borderline case, such a system can be used to achieve a tight cover around the item or items of clothing, so that spinning is possible even in the presence of water in the washing machine.

According to a further variant, the film overlapping the absorbent sheet forms a sack which envelops it and the item of clothing.

According to another variant, the absorbent sheet in the form of a bag has gussets which make it possible to increase its capacity.

The purpose of the absorbent sheet is to collect the detergent after removing the dirt from the garment (s).

The purpose of centrifuging is to allow the cleaning agent to migrate as completely as possible into the absorbent layer. This process is the subject of stage C, in which the garment and the absorbent sheet as a whole, possibly together with the impermeable film, are placed flat on the inner circular surface of the drum of a washing machine, the garment inside the drum and the absorbent Arch of the perforated wall of the drum are facing. It is then sufficient to start the drum after turning off the water inlet.

If the washing machine has programming, set the program switch to spin. One spin may be sufficient, but it is generally preferable to do two.

The garment and the absorbent sheet as a whole can either be due to the inherent stiffness of the absorbent sheet and / or if present impermeable film or by means of a system of clamps, locking slides or ribs or any other suitable system against the wall of the drum.

At the end of the spin cycle, the whole thing is removed from the drum and the garment is separated from the absorbent sheet. The garment can be used in this condition, but it is generally preferable to let it dry. If the washing machine has a drying device, you can of course use it to finish the job. It is preferable not to completely cover the garment with an impervious film.

The advantage of the method according to the invention is illustrated by the following examples and experiments, which in no way constitute a restriction. Unless otherwise stated, parts and percentages, parts by weight and percentages by weight are based on the total weight of the respective cleaning agent.

Trial 1

• 1. Reinigungsmittel
  

A combination of a cleaning agent and an absorbent sheet is produced in the composition given below (values in percentages by weight):

• 1. Detergent
  

(a) N- (C-7/17) acyl amidopropyl-N'-dimethylamine oxide.

The detergent is placed in a bottle equipped with a small hand-operated pump which dispenses the composition in sprayed form; a piece of felt (so-called piano hammer quality), which can be used as a friction rag, with a diameter of 20 mm and a thickness of 8 mm is glued to the part of the pump opposite its opening.

2. Absorbent sheet

The absorbent sheet consists of a single layer of a 70 g / m ² light blue colored fleece 25 cm wide and one meter long.

The absorbent sheet is covered on one side with a 22 g / m ² impermeable polyethylene film obtained by hot coating; A 0.05 mm thick and 20 cm wide polyethylene film is welded over the entire length onto the edge of this impermeable film.

• Die Flecken besprühen und den Reiblappen benutzen (wobei das Gewebe auf den saugfähigen Bogen gelegt ist, um die Entfernung des Fleckens zu erleichtern);
• das ganze Gewebe allgemein besprühen;
• das Gewebe flach auf den saugfähigen Bogen (die nicht mit Polyäthylen beschichtete Seite) legen;
• das Gewebe mit der 0/05 mm Polyäthylenfolie bedecken;
• das Ganze gegen die Kreisfläche der Trommel einer Waschmaschine legen und mittels Hartpolyäthylenschiebern fixieren;
• zehn Minuten abschleudern;
• das Gewebe herausnehmen und 30 Minuten an der Luft trocknen.

The combination constructed in this way is used on a 25th 35 cm piece of pure virgin wool fabric to clean spots that are about 1 cm ^{2 in} size and come from the following products: sweetened coffee, soiled fat, black shoe polish, mulberry jam, black felt-tip ink, olive oils, spicy tomato sauce, mustard, pomegranate syrup, vinegar and red wine. You leave this Stains age for a few days and then apply the procedure as follows:

• Spray the stains and use the rubbing rag (with the fabric on top of the absorbent sheet to facilitate removal of the stain);
• spray the entire fabric generally;
• lay the fabric flat on the absorbent sheet (the side not coated with polyethylene);
• cover the fabric with the 0/05 mm polyethylene film;
• place the whole thing against the circular surface of the drum of a washing machine and fix it with hard polyethylene slides;
• spin off for ten minutes;
• remove the fabric and air dry for 30 minutes.

Afterwards it can be seen that all the spots have disappeared, and a comparison of the tissue treated in this way with an identical, unstained and untreated tissue shows no difference.

In parallel, stains are removed from identical pieces of tissue stained in the same manner using ten different commercial household stain removal products and ten industrial stain removal products. The treatment is completed by soaking in perchlorethylene (1,1,2,2-tetrachlorethylene) and then drying in air.

In all cases, it is found that the quality of the cleaning achieved is inferior to that obtained by the process according to the invention. In order to obtain a satisfactory result in a manner other than by the method according to the invention, it is necessary to use a special industrial stain remover for each stain.

Trial 2

The procedure is as in Experiment 1, using a wool / polyester fabric made of "Tergal" ®, and this is obtained

Trial 3

The procedure is as in experiment 1, using a natural silk fabric, and the same results are obtained.

Trial 4

The procedure is the same as in experiment 1, using an artificial silk fabric, and the same results are obtained.

Trial 5

The procedure is as in Experiment 1, using a cotton fabric, and the same results are obtained.

Trial 6

The procedure is as in Experiment 1, using a "Dacron" ® cotton / polyester fabric, and the same results are obtained.

Trial 7

The procedure is as in Experiment 1, the following compositions 7-A to 7-F being used in succession:

In all cases, the result obtained is identical to that of experiment 1.

Trial 8

The procedure is as in Experiment 1, with the two stains removed one after the other as the stain removal additives. used as follows:

The stain-removing compositions are each placed in a cylindrical container 28 mm in diameter, the opening of which is provided with a piece of felt which comes into contact with the composition and serves as a friction cloth.

The rinse compositions are placed in a cooler given, which is provided with a small hand-operated pump that allows the composition to be dispensed in a sprayed form.

First the spots are treated point by point with a stain removal composition and then the entire fabric is sprayed with a rinsing composition. In the end, the procedure is as in Experiment 1. In all cases, the same results are obtained as in Experiment 1.

Trial 9

• 1. Reinigungsmittel
  

A combination of a cleaning agent and an absorbent sheet is produced in the composition given below (values in percentages by weight):

• 1. Detergent
  

The stain removing composition is placed in a 28 mm diameter cylindrical container, the opening of which is provided with a piece of felt which comes into contact with the composition and serves as a friction rag.

The flushing composition is placed in an aerosol can.

2. Absorbent sheet

The absorbent sheet consists of three layers of 20 g / m heavy, bleached fleece and is 25 cm wide and 120 cm long so that it can be cut as required.

The absorbent sheet has a slightly embossed, white, impermeable, 25 g / m heavy and 25 cm wide polyethylene film that is welded on one side of the absorbent sheet over the entire length.

The device also includes a second, semi-rigid, impervious, 0.3 mm thick polyethylene film.

This second impermeable film has a width of 70 cm and a length of 120 cm; it is folded along its entire length with a gusset on both sides, so that it forms a 26 cm wide envelope which is to contain the absorbent sheet, the first impermeable film and the garment; the envelope thus formed can by. of a Velcro fastener system.

Combinations constructed in this way are distributed to housewives with instructions for use. After twelve days, surveys are made of the extent to which these have been used and how the housewife assesses the results obtained in comparison with the generally obtained results when she entrusts her clothes to a commercial cleaning company.

Claims (10)

1. Process for cleaning clothes with the help of a solvent, characterized in that one after the other in the following three stages: A. treating the garment with a detergent containing at least one organic solvent, B. puts the garment flat on an absorbent sheet and C. To spin off, place the garment and the absorbent sheet together flat on the inner circular surface of the drum of a washing machine. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the treatment stage A, a cleaning agent is used which contains at least one solvent selected from alcoholic and ketonic solvents, ethers, chlorinated solvents and hydrocarbons. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning agent contains water. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning agent contains a surfactant selected from anion-active, cation-active, amphoteric and non-ionogenic compounds. 5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning agent contains an auxiliary solvent selected from chlorofluorinated, at room temperature liquid methane or ethane derivatives. 6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning agent is in a container which is provided with a device for dispensing the agent in a sprayed form. 7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that stage A is carried out in two successive steps, in which both a special cleaning agent is used and which consist in that A1. localized stains on the garment with A2. treated the garment as a whole with a detergent. 8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the stain removal agent is located in a container which is provided at its opening with a fibrous or porous material which, when the container is reversed, allows the cleaning agent to flow through and is used as a friction cloth. 9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent sheet is selected from paper, cotton fabrics, plant fiber nonwovens, felt and cellulose wadding, wherein the absorbent sheet consist of one or more layers and can contain a powdery, absorbent material. 10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the garment and the absorbent sheet is held together by a rigid device on the wall of the drum of the washing machine.