EP0913117A1 - Method for washing and impregnating a ready-for-use cleaning cloth or mop - Google Patents

Abstract

An implement is washed in a solution containing a cleaning agent and water, and rinsed. The implement is soaked in an impregnation solution which also contains the cleaning agent and water. The impregnation solution, cleaning agent and water are released from the implement, leaving a residual moisture content in which condition the implement is ready for use for a limited area of surface e.g. 10-20 m<2>.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for mechanical Wash and ready to use impregnate a cloth or mop-like dirt collector, such as for wiping, for example of floors.

Wipeable surfaces, especially floors, are cleaned generally so that a dirt collector, such as a cleaning rag or a mop cover, is immersed in a cleaning solution, is wrung out by hand, and then with this part of the cleaning surface is wiped. The dirt collector takes from the surface contaminants that are loose on the surface lie. Soiling that adheres to the surface is removed by the cleaning agent solution on the dirt collector from the surface replaced and then also taken up by him. The dirty one The dirt collector is then rinsed out in the wiping agent solution, wrung out again and then used again for wiping. Nice after a relatively few repetition cycles, this type of Cleaning the detergent solution is very dirty, reducing its effectiveness cleaning is significantly impaired.

Because of this, it has become particularly useful for cleaning objects sensitive to cleanliness, in particular from hospitals Proven method in which the cleaning staff has a certain stock on clean mops as a dirt collector and one immersing the clean mop into the detergent solution only once, squeezes and thus wipes a certain area before finally it in a container for the used mops, without to immerse him again in the detergent solution. So that is basically ensured that no pollution of the Detergent solution by the absorbed by the surface Dirt occurs.

The once used mop covers or mops, as shown below are designated for reuse in a Mop washing machine washed, dried and for one Provided reuse.

A disadvantage of this method is that the cleaning power always have to carry a container with the detergent solution. This is difficult on the one hand and undesirable on the other because there is always a risk of spillage. Because besides that Detergent solution is prepared by the cleaner, and because, on the other hand, the cleaning power when squeezing the Determines the moisture content of the mop, it can become considerable Differences come in the quality of the cleaning result. In particular, therefore, a high application of moisture when wiping not desirable because all floor coverings are clearly exposed to water age more strongly.

For washing the pug in the mop washing machine is a commercial powder detergent used, which in its Composition not on compatibility with the commercially available Mop is coordinated. So pugs that are at the Hospital cleaners are used regularly with the usual hospital detergents, as for the Bed linen, towels, personal clothing, etc. can be used. To avoid a disruptive interaction between detergent and wipe must avoid that by intensive rinsing with a high water requirement Detergent can be removed from the pug. To achieve a better washing result, d. H. to make the pug supposedly cleaner cleaning staff often does either Detergent concentration changed or it becomes a commercial one Household detergent used, which leads to loss of quality in the Cleaning result on the surfaces to be wiped. So are Streaks on the freshly cleaned surface often on such Cleaning error attributed.

Another disadvantage of this method is the time required in the Cleaner alone for soaking with the wiping solution and that Squeezing out the mops and for regularly renewing the Wipe solution arises.

A brochure from Electrolux also describes Pug in a mop washing machine with a conventional detergent wash and soak with the "right" floor cleaner so that the residual moisture level necessary for further work exhibit. Here too, there are so many cleaning staff on site Intervention options open that a uniform and reproducible cleaning result is not to be expected.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for washing and impregnating a rag-like or ready-to-use to provide mop-like dirt collector in a washing machine, where the work efficiency on site at the object to be cleaned is improved, in which the intervention options through the Cleaning staff are significantly reduced and one leads to more uniform and reproducible cleaning results.

(a) Waschen des Schmutzaufnehmers in einer Losung, die ein kombiniertes Wisch/Waschmittel und Wasser enthält, um den vom Wischen verschmutzten Schmutzaufnehmer zu säubern,

(b) Tränken des Schmutzaufnehmers mit einer Imprägnierlösung, die das kombinierte Wisch/Waschmittel und Wasser enthält,

(c) Abtrennen der Imprägnierlösung von dem Schmutzaufnehmer bis dieser eine Restfeuchte in einem vorbestimmten Bereich besitzt, so daß der Schmutzaufnehmer gebrauchsfertig ist.

To achieve this task, the above-mentioned method has the following steps:

(a) washing the dirt collector in a solution containing a combined wiping agent / detergent and water to clean the dirt collector contaminated by the wiping,

(b) impregnating the dirt collector with an impregnation solution which contains the combined wiping / washing agent and water,

(c) separating the impregnation solution from the dirt collector until it has residual moisture in a predetermined range, so that the dirt collector is ready for use.

With this method, textile or sponge-like dirt collectors, for example cleaning rags or mops, can in principle be washed as often as desired and prepared for the next use. The dirt collectors are each washed and impregnated and brought to the place of use, where they are used to wipe a certain area of, for example, 10-20 m ² , with a large part of the dirt on this surface being absorbed by the dirt collector, then into a receptacle for used dirt collectors given and transported to the washing machine where they are reprocessed for reuse by the method of the present invention. By using a combined agent for wiping the surfaces and washing the mops, the intervention possibilities of the cleaning staff are severely restricted. Another advantage is that the combined wiping / washing agent can be used several times and thus much more effectively and is consequently significantly more environmentally friendly than the use of a special wiping agent and a special washing agent.

The combined wipe / detergent is preferably high Dirt-carrying capacity, d. H. a composition that has a fixation the dirt particles picked up from the floor preferably on the Wipe / detergent and not in the material of the dirt collector causes. The dirt particles are then much easier rinse out what the washability of the dirt collector clearly improved and their lifespan extended.

The method is suitable for rag-like or mop-like, textile or sponge-like dirt collector and especially for mops natural and / or artificial fibers, for example made of cotton, Synthetics and synthetics with viscose.

The dirt collectors are combined in one solution Wipe / detergent and water washed, on the one hand imaginable is that no additional wiping / detergent is needed because of the dirt collector from what preceded the wiping There is still enough wiping / detergent in the impregnation step. It can when washing but also wiping / detergent and / or a so compatible, pure detergent can be added.

After washing, the dirt collector with the Impregnation solution that combined the same Contains wipe / detergent as used in washing. There in the washing solution and the impregnation solution the same Wipe / detergent used are interfering interactions excluded between the detergent and the detergent, and it is a significantly lower amount of fresh water for rinsing the Sufficient dirt collector after washing. Its cheap, to make sure that the dirt collector everywhere with the Bring impregnation solution together after removing the Impregnation solution an even residual moisture throughout Ensure dirt traps.

The residual moisture of a dirt collector should be in one for the Wipe convenient, predetermined area. In particular is make sure that the dirt collectors are not dripping wet, but are able to hold the liquid. they should on the other hand, not to be too dry, since a microscopic film is made the wipe / detergent solution on the surfaces of the Dirt pickup has a certain adhesive effect on the dirt exercises and thus improves the cleaning effect. The Dirt collector must also be moist enough that on the a thin film from the surface to be cleaned Wipe / detergent solution that detaches Soiling from this only due to the surfactants it contains enables.

In the preferred mechanical implementation of the method can separating the impregnation solution from the dirt collector done by spinning it in the washing machine. The concrete value for the spin speed and the duration of the Spinning depends on the desired residual moisture and can depending on the expected amount of dirt and the cleaning surface may be adjusted.

The lifespan of the dirt collector and in particular the Mops when it is used in the Washing machine can be washed, essentially by number of the spinning processes limited. Since in the present method the Mops not spun dry at the end of the wash cycle need to be, but can remain moist, comes the inventive Process with shorter and / or less intensive spin than the well-known one, in which the mops after washing be dried. For example, only three instead of four Spin cycles during washing increase the possible number cycles of use that a mop can go through corresponding.

Preferably the step of washing the dirt collector comprises at least two washes, the first wash being the Impregnation solution that is still attached to the dirt collector Impregnation step from before wiping, for the solution to that Washing is used. This can be a particularly effective Use of the wiping / detergent used can be achieved because instead of simply wiping the detergent with rinse water from the dirt collector Rinse out, the wiping / detergent, which is from the previous preparation of the dirt collector this is actually used as a detergent. So that will be from the previous washing / impregnation step in the dirt collector Wipe / detergent for a real pre-wash as a detergent used for washing. This double use of Wipe / detergent leads to a reduction in Wiping / detergent consumption and thus a real one Environmental relief. It is also not necessary to wash the Spin the pre-wash cycle completely before the main wash cycle, because there is no disruptive interaction between the cleaning agent and Detergent can come, which benefits the life of the mop comes and reduces the duration of washing.

It is preferred that the one separated in the impregnation Impregnation solution with or without additional water as a solution is used for washing. The separated impregnation solution could also be used repeatedly for impregnation, it is however, in most cases cheaper, one for each new impregnation use new impregnation solution to prevent any accumulation of Avoid contamination in the impregnation solution. Besides, can by reusing the impregnation solution more often Concentration of the wipe / detergent in the solution change what to a loss in the reproducibility of the cleaning result can lead.

The usability of the separated impregnation solution as a solution for washing shows another advantage of using the combined wipe / detergent. Would you Dirt collector with a pure wiping agent after washing impregnate, you would have to use the impregnation solution, even if you accepts the disadvantages that arise with repeated impregnation with the same impregnation solution, at regular intervals exchange, d. H. the old impregnation solution has to supplied and replaced by a new impregnation solution. It is obvious that there is such a considerable Realize environmental relief and a corresponding cost reduction leaves.

It is particularly preferred after and after the washing step of soaking the dirt collector spin to a substantial proportion of the dirt collector remove adhering liquid. Because for washing regularly or include multiple rinsing steps where rinsed with clear water alternatively, this can also be done without prior dry spinning Wiping / detergent can be added to the last rinse water To form impregnation solution without first the dirt collector to spin dry. However, the spin drying has the advantage that there is a fairly precisely defined initial state, which is a very exact dosage of wipe / detergent to water and thus a very precise definition of the concentration of the Impregnation solution allowed.

It is particularly preferred to add the dirt collector in addition to the combined wipe / detergent with a disinfectant offset. Especially in the hospital area when wiping Disinfectant used. Your job is to get on wiping surfaces to perform a germicidal function. The Dosing takes place depending on the object depending on the corresponding Conditions. The disinfectant solution is wiped with the Moisture film described above on the to be cleaned Surface applied and evenly distributed on this. The Disinfectant remains after drying for further use Disinfection on the surface.

According to the present invention, it is an additional advantage of the Disinfectant, nucleation in the ready to use to prevent impregnated dirt collectors and thus a certain Layability of the ready-to-use impregnated and thus moist To allow dirt traps. Because even after wiping sufficient disinfectant in the dirt collector is located, the used dirt collector can also be used without unpleasant odor, if necessary, stored for a certain time become.

The amount of disinfectant added can vary depending on the required shelf life or depending on the to be wiped Area disinfectant required. It is especially cheap if the disinfectant in the Impregnation solution is included. It then gets in with it the wash cycle when used as a washing solution.

(a) 10 - 20 Gew.% mindestens eines nichtionischen Tensids,

(b) 1 - 5 Gew.% Builder,

(c) 2 - 10 Gew.% mindestens eines wasserlöslichen Lösungsmittels, und

(d) 2 - 10 Gew.% mindestens eines wasserlöslichen Lösungsvermittlers.

A preferred liquid, combined wiping / washing agent which can be used in the process according to the invention contains the following constituents:

(a) 10-20% by weight of at least one nonionic surfactant,

(b) 1-5% by weight builder,

(c) 2-10% by weight of at least one water-soluble solvent, and

(d) 2-10% by weight of at least one water-soluble solubilizer.

The non-ionic surfactants used in the combined wiping / washing agent are preferably C _8-18 alkyl polyethylene glycol ether with 1-50 and particularly preferably with 4-12 mol ethylene oxide (EO) and / or C _8-18 alkyl polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol ether with 1-50 and particularly preferably used with 4-12 moles of ethylene oxide / propylene oxide (PO), where the alkyl radical can in each case be linear or branched. The ratio of propylene oxide to ethylene oxide is in the range from 1 to 10 to 10 to 1. Preferably, C _10-17 alkyl polyethylene glycol ethers with 1-50 and particularly preferably with 4 to 12 mol ethylene oxide are used. Of these, C _11-13 alkyl polyethylene glycol ethers with 1-50 and preferably with 8-9 mol ethylene oxide are particularly preferred.

Homopolymers or copolymers are preferably more diverse as builders Amino acids of acrolein, acrylic acid and / or maleic acid and / or an alkali metal salt thereof with a molecular weight of 1000 to 60000 used. Preferred alkali metal salts are sodium salts and Potassium salts, especially sodium salts. Homopolymers or copolymers with a molecular weight of about 3000, especially acrylic acid polymers are particularly preferred.

Suitable water-soluble solvents and water-soluble solubilizers are preferably monohydric and / or polyhydric C _1-6 alcohols, which may be linear or branched, from a mono-, di- or triethylene glycol and / or from a mono-, di- or tripropylene glycol , wherein the glycol compounds can be etherified with one or two C _1-6 alkyl radicals. The alkyl radicals can each be linear, branched or cyclic. 2-Propanol and 1,2,3-propanetriol are preferred. Preferred solubilizers are diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and amphoteric alkylamine mono- and dicarboxylates of potassium and sodium, the alkyl being between C ₈ and C ₂₀ , preferably between C ₁₂ to C ₁₆ , and nonionic alkyl mono- and dialkanolamides, the alkyl being between C ₈ and C ₁₆ preferably C ₁₂ to C ₁₆ and the alkanol is between C ₁ and C ₆ preferably C ₂ and C ₃ .

The wipe / detergent can also fragrances and dyes further auxiliaries can be added.

The wipe / detergent differs from the pure detergent fundamentally through its non-ionic structure. It is coming especially without fillers, as in the usual Powder detergents can be used. Often these cause Fillers, for example inorganic salts and in particular Sodium sulfate if not fully rinsed out when the pug is washed during the subsequent wiping of the surfaces on them Stripes and gray veil. It stands out from the pure wiping agents primarily due to the use of special water-soluble builders. These so-called graying inhibitors have dirt-bearing ones Properties and cause dirt when washing the pug passes into the solution and pumped out together with the wash liquor can be.

The special composition and dosage of the Mop / detergent depends on the type of floor to be cleaned Pollution, and the type and material of the dirt collector dependent and must be determined by the specialist depending on the case.

The use of liquid detergent has the most crucial Advantage that incorrect dosing by the cleaning staff in the are essentially excluded or at least considerably more difficult. A dosing device for liquid detergents, as in the Washing machine is easy to integrate, takes out without one Accessibility for the cleaning staff the preset Amount of wipe / detergent for the corresponding step from one Storage container and thus ensures the specified dosage. There the set washing program changes only from qualified Personnel can be made, there can practically never be one Overdoses come, as is often the case.

It is convenient to use a commercial disinfectant the DGHM is certified (German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology). It is convenient to have one that is tailored to the process Use disinfectant, especially on it Compatibility with the wiping / detergent used. As Disinfectants based on Aldehydes, especially dialdehydes and especially 1,5-pentanedialdehyde exposed.

Several ready-to-use dirt collectors can be used in one essential tightly closed container a certain time for example, stored for 48 hours up to 4 or more days. The container prevents the penetration of germs the environment, which together with the disinfectant is a modern prevents contamination of the dirt collector, and on the other hand a loss of fluid to the environment, causing the predetermined Residual moisture is retained.

If the ready-to-use dirt collector in several layers stacked on top of each other for a long time, it is inexpensive, liners from a substantially waterproof Provide material between dirt collectors to prevent leakage the impregnation solution down to the lower dirt collectors avoid.

example

300 g

C_11-13 Alkylpolyglykolether (8 Mol EO)

100 g

C_11-13 Alkylpolyglykolether (12 Mol EO)

370 g

C_12-14 Alkylpolyethylenglykol-Polypropylenglykolether (4 Mol EO/2 Mol PO)

100 g

Natriumsalz eines Acrylsäurehomopolymerisats (Molmasse ca. 3000)

320 g

Diethylenglykolmonobutylether

150 g

C_12-16 Alkylamino-dipropionat-Natrium

80 g

Hilfsstoffe wie Viskositätsregler, Duft- und Farbstoffe

5000 g

3580 g of water are placed in a stainless steel kettle and the following components are added with stirring:

300 g

C _11-13 alkyl polyglycol ether (8 mol EO)

100 g

C _11-13 alkyl polyglycol ether (12 mol EO)

370 g

C _12-14 alkyl polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol ether (4 mol EO / 2 mol PO)

100 g

Sodium salt of an acrylic acid homopolymer (molecular weight approx. 3000)

320 g

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether

150 g

C _12-16 alkylamino dipropionate sodium

80 g

Auxiliaries such as viscosity regulators, fragrances and dyes

5000 G

The pug was put in a washing machine with an automatic Program control washed a dosing device for Has liquid detergent and is designed so that the Impregnation solution can be removed from the drum and into one Receptacle can be moved and that this solution out this receptacle as a solution for washing back into the Drum can be returned. For this purpose, the drain line from the Washing drum picked up and at the fork Changeover valve provided. The one branch of the line can Schinutzflotte be fed to the wastewater, and over the other Branch of the line can be the impregnation solution in the receptacle reach. Usually, between the washing drum and the Valve a pump to pump the liquid out of the Washing drum may be provided. One leads from the receptacle further line to the washing drum through which the solution in the Receptacles are put back into the washing drum can. A pump is also advantageously provided in this line. The valve and / or the pump (s) are from the program control of the Washing machine can be operated. The one used in the present example Washing machine holds about 60 pugs.

The pug was made of a material made of approx. 50% synthetic fibers and about 50% viscose fibers, and with them became typical wet wipers Wall, ceiling and floor surfaces made of linoleum, PVC, polyurethane or Polyolefin material or tiled surfaces, as generally described in Hospitals occur, cleaned. The pug was repeated used for wiping and then as follows specified, washed and impregnated ready for use.

PREWASH

The soiled pug was placed in the washing drum and there with the addition of about 30 liters of fresh water pre-washed. From the previous impregnation still in The mop / detergent formed along with the solution for prewashing the fresh water and thus made it easier the detachment of the dirt from the pug and provided for one Remaining of the dirt in the dirty liquor. The dirty fleet was at the end of the prewash by pumping and spinning severed. There was no temperature increase.

MAIN LAUNDRY

25 liters of the wipe / detergent solution from the receptacle were brought to the pug in the washing drum, and the pug were washed in this solution without additional water supply. The temperature was measured for a period of approx. 10 Minutes increased to 60 ° C. Especially dirty pugs were also washed at 90 ° C. The dirty fleet was over Main wash again by pumping and spinning the Pug separated.

RINSE

Then the pug was fed with about 57 liters Fresh water rinsed out once. A temperature increase took place not instead. The remains of the dirty liquor were removed from the pug rinsed out. The rinse liquor was drained and the pug was then spun dry, d. H. it was through intense Spin a substantial part of the rinsing detached. It has It has been shown that, unlike conventional washing, the Pug that requires two rinses, one rinse is sufficient.

IMPREGNATION STEP

The pug was then in an impregnation solution of approx. 45 liters a mixture of wipe / detergent and water (concentration 25-50 ml wipe / detergent on about 8 l water) and one commercial disinfectant (Lyso 3025 from Schülke & Mayr, Norderstedt, in a concentration that is 0.2 to 0.5% solution results) impregnated. The pug was used in the Washing drum moved so that the best possible Moisture set. The waterproofing solution was pumped out, and the pug was hurled at you Get condition with a defined residual moisture. It has pointed out that this condition for pug with a Dry weight of about 130 to 150 g with a wet weight from 380 to 420 g was given.

With each mop treated in this way, about 10 to 20 square meters of surface could be used without streaking and with constant defined cleaning and Disinfectant effect are treated. The uniformity of the Impregnation of the individual pug ensured a continuous consistent cleaning result on the surfaces of very high Quality.

The ready-to-use pug could be stored for up to 4 days and longer without germs appearing.

In a modification of the washing and Impregnation process was used for particularly heavily soiled mops the prewash from the container additionally Wipe / detergent solution used for prewash. Up to 15 liters Fresh water was thus removed by wiping / detergent solution Collection container replaced. That was easily possible because of what is going on the above stated amounts, for each Wash / impregnation cycle slightly more impregnant in the Collection container arrives than is required for a main wash. If necessary, the amount added Wipe / detergent solution without additional fresh water supply for the Pre-wash should be sufficient and thereby further reduce the Fresh water consumption can be realized.

Claims (12)

Process for machine washing and ready-to-use impregnation of a cloth-like or mop-like dirt collector, as used for wiping, for example floors, characterized by the following steps: (a) washing the dirt collector in a solution containing a combined wiping agent / detergent and water to clean the dirt collector contaminated by the wiping, (b) impregnating the dirt collector with an impregnation solution which contains the combined wiping / washing agent and water, (c) separating the impregnation solution from the dirt collector until it has residual moisture in a predetermined range, so that the dirt collector is ready for use. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the Step of washing the dirt collector at least two Washes includes, the first wash Impregnation solution that is still on the dirt collector an impregnation step from before wiping, for the Solution for washing is used. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the impregnation solution separated off during the impregnation with or without additional water as a solution for washing is used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that between the steps of washing and Impregnation of the dirt collector with a dry spin, by a substantial portion of the dirt collector remove adhering liquid. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the dirt collector in addition to the combined wipe / detergent with a disinfectant is transferred. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the The amount of disinfectant added is such that the ready-to-use impregnated dirt collector for one is storable for a certain period of time. A method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the amount of disinfectant added is such that it is required on the surface to be wiped Disinfectant effect. Method according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized characterized in that the disinfectant in the impregnation solution is included. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a liquid combined wiping / washing agent is used which contains the following components: (a) 10-20% by weight of at least one nonionic surfactant, (b) 1-5% by weight builder, (c) 2-10% by weight of at least one water-soluble solvent, and (d) 2-10% by weight of at least one water-soluble solubilizer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that a disinfectant based on Aldehydes is used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that several ready-to-use dirt collectors in kept in an essentially tightly closed container become. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the ready-to-use dirt collector in several layers below Interpose a substantially waterproof release liner in be kept in the container.