EP0906390A1

EP0906390A1 - Cleaning compositions

Info

Publication number: EP0906390A1
Application number: EP97929872A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Laura Orlandini; Marco Petri; Giuseppe Sirianni
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1996-06-10
Filing date: 1997-06-06
Publication date: 1999-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-06
Also published as: ES2212112T3; DE69727567T2; EP0906390A4; CA2257955A1; WO1997047714A1; ATE259408T1; CA2257955C; EP0812904A3; EP0812904A2; EP0906390B1; DE69727567D1

Abstract

A cleaning composition is provided with effective cleaning performance and viscosity, said composition comprising a polycarboxylate polymer and a surfactant system containing a short chain surfactant and a long chain surfactant. The present invention further encompasses the use of a polycarboxylate polymer in a liquid cleaning composition, in a sprayed form, for preventing or reducing inhalation of said composition by the user as said composition is sprayed.

Description

CLEANING COMPOSITIONS

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to cleaning compositions, especially to thickened liquid cleaning compositions exhibiting effective cleaning performance and viscosity.

Background of the invention

Efficient cleaning performance and viscosity of the cleaning compositions are two requirements which drive consumer acceptance of cleaning products. Indeed, viscosity enables cleaning compositions to remain long enough on the surface to provide an effective cleaning action. Such a requirement is of particular utility in cleaning compositions intended to be applied "as is" to non-horizontal structural surfaces such as walls, windows and sanitary fittings such as sinks, baths, showers, wash basins and WCs. More particularly, viscosities of 10 cps to 4000 cps are suitable. On the other hand, effective cleaning is important, especially on greasy and oily soils and/or where the composition is thereafter diluted.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide cleaning compositions having effective cleaning performance and viscosity. The Applicant has now found that the combination of a surfactant system, comprising a short chain surfactant and a long chain surfactant, and a polycarboxylate polymer in a liquid cleaning composition fulfils such a need.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides stable compositions, especially in presence of a bleach component.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides liquid cleaning compositions which are safe to the user when said composition is sprayed onto the surface to be treated.

Summary of the invention

The present invention is a liquid cleaning composition comprising:

i)-a surfactant system comprising a short chain surfactant and a long chain surfactant, said surfactants comprising a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion, wherein the chain length of the hydrophobic portion of the short chain surfactant is CQ to Ci o ^{and tne} chain length of the hydrophobic portion of the long chain surfactant is C-| 1 to C20 carbon atoms; and

ii)-a polycarboxylate polymer;

with the proviso that where the chain length of the hydrophobic portion of the short chain surfactant is CQ to Cg, the short chain and the long chain surfactant are present in a weight ratio of said short chain to said long chain surfactant of less than 4: 1 .

The present invention further encompasses the use of a polycarboxylate polymer in a liquid cleaning composition, in a sprayed form, for preventing or reducing inhalation of said composition by the user as said composition is sprayed. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for cleaning a hard surface by applying on said surface an effective amount of a composition of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Surfactant system

A surfactant system is an essential feature of the invention. The surfactant system comprises a short chain surfactant and a long chain surfactant. All surfactants have in common that they comprise a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion.

For the purpose of the invention, where the chain length of the hydrophobic portion of the short chain surfactant is CQ to Cg, the short chain and the long chain surfactant are present in a weight ratio of said short chain to said long chain surfactant of less than 4:1 , preferably less than 2: 1 , more preferably less than or equal to 1 :1 .

Short chain surfactant

By short chain surfactant, it is meant herein surfactants which comprise a Cg-C-i Q alkyl chain as their hydrophobic portion. Such short chain surfactants are accordingly those conventionally used in this field, but with a shorter alkyl chain. Suitable short chain surfactants for use herein are selected from the group consisting of Cβ-Ci o ^alkY' sulphates (C6-C10SO4), alkyl ether sulphates (C6-C-j o(OCH2CH2)eSO4), alkyl sulphonates (CQ- C10SO3), alkyl succinates (C6-C10COCCH2CH2COOZ), alkyl carboxylates (CQ-C -\ QCOOM), alkyl ether carboxylates {C6-Cι o(°^CH2^CH2>e^cc,OM>' ^a|M sarcosinates (CR-C I OCON (CH3)R), alkyl sulpho succinates (CQ- C-_|oOOCCH(SO3M)CH2COOZ), capped alkyl ethoxylates (CQ- Cι o(OCH2CH2)fOR, capped alkyl ethoxylates carboxylates (CQ- Cι o(OCH2CH2)f(CH2)COOR, amine oxides (CR-C I ORR'NO), and betaines <^c6-^c10^{N +} (^CH3>2^CH2^co°-i\ In the formulae in brackets, e is from 0 to 20, f is from 1 to 16, preferably 1 to 5, Z is M or R, M is H or any counterion such as those known in the art, including Na, K, Li, NH4, amine, R and R' are C1 -C5 alkyl groups, possibly functionalized with hydroxyl groups, R and R' are preferably C1 -C3, most preferably methyl. The compositions according to the present invention may comprise any of the above surfactants alone, or any combination thereof, depending on the end use envisioned.

Preferred short chain surfactants for use herein are hypochlorite compatible, e.g surfactants which contain no functionalities (such as ether linkages, unsaturation, some aromatic structures or hydroxyl groups) which are susceptible of oxidation by the hypochlorite bleach. More preferably, the short chain surfactants for use herein are anionic short chains. Preferably, the anionic short chain surfactants comprise a C7-C9 alkyl chain as their hydrophobic portion. Preferred anionic short chain surfactants among the one above disclosed are the alkyl sulphates and alkyl sulphonates. Most preferred anionic short chain surfactants are selected from the C7-C9 alkyl sulphates, C7-C9 alkyl sulphonates and mixtures thereof. A most preferred short chain surfactants for use herein is octyl sulphate. Such short chain anionic surfactants can be made by well known sulphation or sulphonation processes followed by neutralisation, but said anionic short chain surfactants are more conveniently commercially available, for instance from Rhone Poulenc under the trade name Rhodapon® OLS, from Witco under the trade name Witconate ®, or from Albright and Wilson under the trade name Empimin®. A preferred commercially available compound is Empimin® LV33.

According to the present invention, the compositions comprise from 0.1 % to 5%, preferably 0.3% to 4% by weight, more preferably from 0.6% to 2.5% by weight, of short chain surfactants.

Long chain surfactants

Long chain surfactants for use herein are those which comprise a C1 1 -C20 alkyl chain as their hydrophobic portion. Suitable long chain surfactants are selected from Cn -^C20 ^alkY' sulphates (Ci i -C^~20^sO4)' alkyl ether sulphates (Cl 1 -C20(OCH2CH2)eSO4), alkyl sulphonates (C1 1 -C20SO3), alkyl aryl sulphonates {Ci ι -C20^arY^|S03)' alkyl succinates (Cn -

C20OOCCH2CH2COOZ), alkyl carboxylates {C-| 1 -C20COOM), alkyl ether carboxylates (Ci ι -C2θ<OCH2CH2)_eCOOM), alkyl sarcosinates (C-| -| - C2fjCON(CH3)R), alkyl sulpho succinates <Cπ -

C2θOOCCH(Sθ3M)CH2COOZ), capped alkyl ethoxylates (Cn - C2θ(OCH2CH2>fOR, capped alkyl ethoxylates carboxylates (Cn - C2θ(OCH2CH₂)f(CH₂)COOR, amine oxides {Ci ι -C20^RR'^NO>' and betaines (Cπ -C2θN ⁺ R1 R2R3COO-) wherein R1 , R2, R3 are independently C1 -C6 alkyl, hydroxy alkyl or other substituted C1 -C6 alkyl groups. In the formulae in brackets, e is from 0 to 20, f is from 1 to 16, preferably 1 to 5, Z is M or R, M is H or any counterion such as those known in the art, including Na, K, Li, NH4, amine, R and R' are C1 -C5 alkyl groups, possibly functionalized with hydroxyl groups, R and R' are preferably C1 -C3, most preferably methyl. The compositions according to the present invention may comprise any of the above surfactants alone, or any combination thereof, depending on the end use envisioned.

Preferred long chain surfactants for use herein are hypochlorite compatible, e.g surfactants which contain no functionalities (such as ether linkages, unsaturation, some aromatic structures or hydroxyl groups) which are susceptible of oxidation by the hypochlorite bleach.

More preferably, the long chain surfactants for use herein are anionic long chains. Preferably, the long chain anionic surfactants for use herein comprise a C-j 1 -C-| β» more preferably a C12-C14 alkyl chain as their hydrophobic portion or a Cn -C-| 8 alkyl aryl chain, more preferably a C1 1 -C18 alkyl benzene chain. Preferred anionic long chain surfactants among the one above disclosed are alkyl sulphates and/or alkyl aryl sulphonates. Most preferred are the C-| 2~Cl 4 alkyl sulphates and/or C1 1 -C14 alkyl benzene sulphonates. Preferred alkyl sulphates for use herein are selected from sodium tallow alkyl sulphate, sodium lauryl sulphate and mixtures thereof. A preferred commercially available compound is Empicol® 0298/F from Albright and Wilson. Preferred alkyl aryl sulphonates for use herein are commercially available from Albright and Wilson.

Other particularly suitable long chain surfactants herein are betaine surfactants of the formula Ci ι -C2θN ⁺ R1 R2R3COO- wherein R1 , R2, R3 are independently C1-C6 alkyl, hydroxy alkyl or other substituted C1 -C6 alkyl groups, preferably C1 -C4 alkyl, more preferably selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl and most preferably methyl. Suitable alkyl betaines are C-] 1 -C20 alkyl dimethyl betaine, preferably C-| 1 -C -| 4 alkyl dimethyl betaine such as pure cut C1 2 alkyl dimethyl betaine commercially available from Hoechst.

Compositions according to the present invention comprise from 0.1 % to 5%, preferably from 1 % to 3% by weight of the total compositions of said long chain surfactants.

Where amine oxide is used as a long chain surfactant, it is preferred for convenient use of the composition that the level of said long chain amine oxide surfactant is present at a level of from 0.1 % to 2% by weight of the composition. Above such levels, the composition may tend to be too viscous to be easily usable.

Furthermore, the use of long chain amine oxide surfactants in the cleaning composition of the invention which provide effective cleaning and viscosity performance is especially surprising as the Applicant has found that in the absence of a polycarboxylate polymer, a problem encountered with the use of such amine oxide is that the activity of the short chain surfactant is hindered by said long chain amine oxide surfactant, so that the cleaning performance of the short chain surfactant does not act to its best performance.

Not to be bound by theory, it is believed that the amine oxide surfactant, especially long chain amine oxides, and the short chain surfactant are trapped in the cylindrical micellar system, formed by the amine oxide surfactants, that generates the viscosity. As a result, the short chain surfactant is not completely free to move and loses part of its cleaning power.

The Applicant has now found that the use of a polycarboxylate polymer not only overcomes the problem but also supports the cleaning efficiency of the surfactant system, even in the presence of long chain amine oxide surfactants.

Polycarboxylate polymer Another essential component of the invention is a polycarboxylate polymer. The polycarboxylate polymers, contrary to cellulosic polymers such as guar gum or xanthum gum, are more stable in presence of hypochlorite bleach, provide better thickening efficiency and also a higher yield value. Such high yield value is of particular utility where the composition is packaged in a spray-type dispenser.

The polymers for use herein preferably have a molecular weight of from 200.000 to 5.000.000, preferably from 500.000 to 4.500.000, more preferably from 1 .000.000 to 4.000.000. Most preferred polymers for use herein contain from 0.5% to 4% by weight of a cross-linking agent, wherein the cross-linking agent tends to interconnect linear strands of the polymers to form the resulting cross-linked products. Suitable cross-linking agents include the polyalkenyl polyethers. Polycarboxylate polymers include the polyacrylate polymers. Other monomers besides acrylic acid can be used to form these polymers including such monomers as maieic anhydride which acts as a source of additional carboxylic groups. The molecular weight per carboxylate group of monomers containing a carboxylate group typically varies from 25 to 200, preferably from 50 to 150, more preferably from 75 to 125. Further other monomers may be present in the monomeric mixture, if desired, such as ethylene and propylene which act as diluents.

Preferred polycarboxylate polymers for use herein are the polyacrylate polymers. Commercially available polymers of the polyacrylate type include those sold under the trade names Carbopol®, Acrysol® ICS-1 , Polygel®, and Sokalan®. Most preferred polyacrylate polymers are the copolymer of acrylic acid and alkyl (C5-C10) acrylate, commercially available under the tradename Carbopol® 1623, Carbopol® 695 from BF Goodrich, and copolymer of acrylic acid and maieic anhydride, commercially available under the tradename Polygel® DB, Polygel® DV, Polygel® DA, from 3V Chemical company.

Mixtures of any of the polycarboxylate polymers, herein before described, may also be used. The polymer is present in an amount of from 0.1 % to 4% by weight, preferably 0.3 to 4% by weight, more preferably 0.4% to 1 .5% by weight of the composition.

The Applicant has now surprisingly found that the present polymer performs dual functions when it is incorporated in the composition herein, said functions being not only to thicken but also to support the cleaning performance of the surfactant system.

Optional components

The compositions according to the present invention may comprise a number of optional ingredients such as bleaching agents, fatty acids, radical scavengers, antimicrobial compounds, builders, chelants, buffers, bactericides, solvents, enzymes, hydrotropes, colorants, bleach activators, soil suspenders, dye transfer agents, brighteners, anti dusting agents, dispersants, dye transfer inhibitors, pigments, perfumes and dyes.

A highly preferred optional ingredient according to the present invention is a hypochlorite bleaching agent, preferably an alkali metal hypochlorite. Advantageously, the compositions of the invention are stable in presence of this bleaching agent. Although alkali metal hypochlorites are preferred other hypochlorite compounds may also be used herein and can be selected from calcium and magnesium hypochlorite. A preferred alkali metal hypochlorite for use herein is sodium hypochlorite. Compositions according to the present invention comprise said hypochlorite bleaching agents such that the content of active chlorine in the compositions is from 0.1 % to 4%, preferably from 1 % to 2% by weight.

Another optional component of the present invention is an alkali metal salt of a Cg-Cι g fatty acid. Said fatty acids are used as suds suppressors. Suitable fatty acids for use herein can be any Cβ-C-i β fatty acid, preferably fully saturated, preferably a sodium, potassium or lithium salt, more preferably the sodium salt. Suitable fatty acids may be selected from caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and mixtures of fatty acids suitably hardened, derived from natural sources such as tallow, coconut oil, ground oil and babassu oil. Compositions according to the present invention comprise from 0.1 % to 2%, preferably less than 0.6% by weight of the composition of fatty acids.

A further optional component of the present invention is a radical scavenger. Said radical scavengers are used as stabilisers. A suitable radical scavenger for use herein is the aromatic molecule containing a carboxylic group ring substitution. Suitable examples of radical scavengers for use herein include the meta and para-chlorobenzoic acid, benzoic acid, meta- ortho- and para- methoxybenzoic acid, meta nitrobenzoic acid, para bromobenzoic acid, salicylic acid, 5-sulphosalicylic acid, 3,5-dimethyl salicylic acid and paratoluic acid. Of the above materials, ortho-methoxybenzoic acid is preferred. Compositions according to the present invention comprise from 0.01 % to 1 .5% by weight, preferably from 0.1 % to 0.8% by weight and more preferably from 0.2% to 0.5% by weight of the composition of radical scavengers.

An optional requirement of the compositions according to the present invention is that the pH is greater than 10, preferably greater than 1 1 , more preferably greater than 1 2. This is achieved by the addition of from 0.4% to 2% of a caustic alkali. Suitable caustic alkalis for use herein include sodium and potassium hydroxide. Compositions according to the present invention comprising hypochlorite preferably have a pH greater than 1 2 for hypochlorite stability.

The compositions according to the present invention are preferably aqueous and preferably comprise from 80% to 95%, more preferably from 85% to 90% of water.

The compositions according to the present invention are prepared by methods well known in the art such as the methods described in GB 1 329 086 with the exception of the polymer being pre-dispersed in an acidic water solution of pH 3 and then neutralised up to pH 7 before starting adding the other components. The compositions according to the present invention can then be prepared by mixing all of the ingredients in a non-metallic apparatus at room temperature or in warm water. If fatty acid is used, it is melted before being added to the mixture. Preferably, the surfactant blend is first prepared by adding the short chain surfactant to the long chain surfactants. Other optionals such as perfume and the alkali metal hypochlorite are then added whilst stirring. Colourants, if present, are added after all the other ingredients have been mixed.

The compositions according to the present invention preferably have a viscosity of from 10 cps to 4000 cps, more preferably from 50 cps to 2000 cps, most preferably from 150 cps to 1000 cps measured with a Cammed Rheometer at a temperature of 25°C and a shear rate of 15-35 s"¹. Where the composition is in a sprayed form, the viscosity of said spraying compositions is preferably of from 15 cps to 40 cps.

The compositions of the present invention may be used for a variety of cleaning purposes such as cleaning hard surfaces whereby said compositions thickened nature results in longer adhesion to the surface than non-thickened compositions. By "hard surface" it is meant herein any surface like bathroom, sanitary fittings such as sinks, showers, wash basins and WCs, kitchen, sinks, cooker tops, table tops, refrigerators, walls, windows and the like.

Packaging form of the compositions

The compositions herein may be packaged in a variety of suitable detergent packaging known to those skilled in the art. The liquid compositions herein may desirably be packaged in manually operated spray dispensing containers, which are usually made of synthetic organic polymeric plastic materials. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses liquid cleaning compositions of the invention packaged in a spray dispenser, preferably in a trigger spray dispenser. Indeed, said spray-type dispensers allow to uniformly apply to a relatively large area of a surface to be cleaned the liquid cleaning compositions suitable for use according to the present invention; thereby contributing to the cleaning properties of said compositions. Such spray-type dispensers are particularly suitable to clean vertical surfaces. Surprisingly, the spraying of a liquid composition containing a polycarboxylate polymer, contrary to compositions which do not contain the polycarboxylate polymer, has been seen beneficial for preventing or reducing inhalation of the composition by the user as said composition is sprayed. The present avantage is preferably observed where the cleaning composition is as defined hereinbefore. Accordingly, the use of a polycarboxylate polymer in a liquid cleaning composition is provided, said composition being in a sprayed form, for preventing or reducing inhalation of said composition by the user as said composition is sprayed. Preferably, the liquid cleaning composition is as defined hereinbefore.

Suitable spray-type dispensers to be used according to the present invention include manually operated foam trigger-type dispensers sold for example by Specialty Packaging Products, Inc. or Continental Sprayers, Inc. These types of dispensers are disclosed, for instance, in US-4,701 ,31 1 to Dunnining et al. and US-4,646,973 and US-4,538,745 both to Focarracci. Particularly preferred to be used herein are spray-type dispensers such as T 8500® or T 8900®commercially available from Continental Spray International or T 8100 ® commercially available from Canyon, Northern Ireland. In such a dispenser the liquid composition is divided in fine liquid droplets resulting in a spray that is directed onto the surface to be treated. Indeed, in such a spray-type dispenser the composition contained in the body of said dispenser is directed through the spray-type dispenser head via energy communicated to a pumping mechanism by the user as said user activates said pumping mechanism. More particularly, in said spray-type dispenser head the composition is forced against an obstacle, e.g. a grid or a cone or the like, thereby providing shocks to help atomise the liquid composition, i.e. to help the formation of liquid droplets.

The present invention further encompasses a method for cleaning a hard surface by applying on said surface an effective amount of a composition of the invention. The said composition may be applied in its neat form or after having been diluted with water. Preferably said composition is diluted up to 200 times its weight of water, preferably into 50 to 1 50 times its weight of water and more preferably 75 to 95, before it is applied to said surface. When the composition is diluted prior to use (to reach a total active level in the order of 1 .2%), the composition will still advantageously provide effective cleaning performance. In the preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention wherein said composition is applied to a hard-surface to be cleaned in its diluted form, it may not be necessary to rinse the surface after the composition has been applied.

In the detergent compositions of the invention, the abbreviated component identifications have the following meaning:

C8 AS Octyl sulphate, available from Albright and Wilson, under the tradename Empimin® LV33

Alkyl C12 alkyl dimethyl betaine commercially available from betaine Hoechst

HLAS C1 1 -C14 alkyl benzene sulphonate available from Albright and Wilson

24 AS Sodium C-| 2 - C14 alkyl sulphate, available from Albright and Wilson, under the tradename Empicol® 0298/F

24E3S Cl 2 " ^14 ^sodium alkyl sulphate condensed with an average of 3 moles of ethylene oxide per mole

Amine oxide Cl 2 " ^14 amine oxide, commercially available under the tradename Genaminox® LA from Hoechst

Polymer Copolymer of acrylic acid and alkyl (C5-C10) acrylate, commercially available under the tradename Carbopol® 1623 from BF Goodrich or copolymer of acrylic acid and maieic anhydride, commercially available under the tradename Polygel® DA from 3V Sigma company.

Fatty acid Cβ - C-j β fatty acid nonionic Capped ethoxylated carboxylate of formula C12-

Ci 4(OCH2CH2>_xCH2COOR, wherein x is an integer ranging from 2 to 4

The invention is illustrated in the following non-limiting examples, in which al percentages are on a weight basis unless otherwise stated.

Example 1

The following compositions, according to the invention, were prepared:

Example 2

The following compositions are in accordance with the invention

Example 3

The following compositions are in accordance with the invention

Example 4

The following compositions were made and packaged in a spray-trigger dispenser T 8500®:

The above compositions, in a sprayed form, exhibited reduced inhalation of said composition by the user as said composition was sprayed as compared to compositions, in a sprayed form, which did not contain the polycarboxylate polymer.

Claims

1 . A liquid cleaning composition comprising:

i)-a surfactant system comprising a short chain surfactant and a long chain surfactant, said surfactants comprising a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion, wherein the chain length of the hydrophobic portion of the short chain surfactant is CQ to C -\ Q and the chain length of the hydrophobic portion of the long chain surfactant is Cπ to C20 carbon atoms; and

ii)-a polycarboxylate polymer;

with the proviso that where the chain length of the hydrophobic portion of the short chain surfactant is CQ to Cs, the short chain and the long chain surfactant are present in a weight ratio of said short chain to said long chain surfactant of less than 4:1.

2. A liquid cleaning composition according to Claim 1 , wherein said short chain surfactant is an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of aikyl sulphates, alkyl sulphonates and mixtures thereof, preferably alkyl sulphates.

3. A liquid cleaning composition according to either one of Claim 1 or 2, wherein said short chain surfactant contains from 7 to 9 carbon atoms.

4. A liquid cleaning composition according to any one of Claims 1 -3, wherein said short chain surfactant is in amount of 0.1 % to 5% by weight, preferably 0.3% to 4% by weight, more preferably from 0.6% to 2.5% by weight of the composition.

5. A liquid cleaning composition according to any one of Claims 1 -4, wherein said long chain surfactant is an alkyl betaine surfactant, an amine oxide surfactant and/or an anionic surfactant, preferably an alkyl sulphate surfactant and/or an alkyl aryl sulphonate, more preferably an alkyl sulphate and/or an alkyl benzene sulphonate.

6. A liquid cleaning composition according to any one of Claim 1 -5, wherein said long chain surfactant contains from 1 1 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably from 12 to 14 carbon atoms.

7. A liquid cleaning composition according to any one of Claims 1 -6, wherein said long chain surfactant is in amount of 0.1 % to 5% by weight, preferably from 1 % to 3% by weight of the composition.

8. A liquid cleaning composition according to any one of Claims 1 -7, wherein said polycarboxylate polymer is a polyacrylate polymer.

9. A liquid cleaning composition according to Claim 8, wherein said polyacrylate polymer is a cross-linked polymer.

10. A liquid cleaning composition according to any one of Claims 1 -9, wherein said polycarboxylate polymer is in amount of 0.1 % to 4% by weight, preferably 0.3 to 4% by weight, more preferably 0.4% to 1 .5% by weight of the composition.

1 1 . A liquid cleaning composition according to any one of Claims 1 -10, wherein said composition further comprises an alkali metal hypochlorite bleach.

12. A liquid cleaning composition according to Claim 1 1 , wherein said hypochlorite bleach is present in an amount such that the content of active chlorine in the compositions is from 0.1 % to 4% by weight of the composition.

13. A liquid composition according to any one of Claims 1 -12, wherein said composition has a viscosity of from 10 cps to 4000 cps, preferably from 50 cps to 2000 cps, more preferably from 150 cps to 1000 cps.

14. A liquid composition according to any one of Claims 1 -13, wherein said composition is packaged in a spray dispenser, preferably in a trigger spray dispenser.

15. The use of a polycarboxylate polymer in a liquid cleaning composition, for preventing inhalation of the composition by the user as said composition is sprayed.

16. The use of a polycarboxylate polymer in a liquid cleaning composition as defined in Claim 14, for preventing inhalation of the composition by the user as said composition is sprayed.

17. A method of cleaning a hard surface, wherein an effective amount of a composition as defined in any one of Claims 1 -14 is applied onto said surface.