GB2327596A

GB2327596A - Sanitising method especially for soft furnishings

Info

Publication number: GB2327596A
Application number: GB9810827A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Ronald Charles Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-07-25
Filing date: 1998-05-21
Publication date: 1999-02-03
Also published as: AUPO826697A0; GB9810827D0

Abstract

Soft furnishings such as carpets are sanitised by treatment with a natural or synthetic disinfectant and steam. In the preferred method a natural oil such as tea tree oil is sprayed onto the carpet and then is infused deep into the fabric by subsequent treatment with a conventional steam generating apparatus. Alternatively the disinfectant may be entrained into the stream of steam in the supply line.

Description

SANITISING METHODS FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to sanitising methods.

This invention has particular application to methods of sanitising and cleaning objects such as carpets, lounging chairs and mattresses and especially those formed of fabric and those which may harbour mites and micro-organisms.

PRIOR ART Many people are forced to live within unhealthy confines because the methods of cleaning objects located permanently within their living confines provide only superficial cleaning thereof, and often without any sanitising effect. Thus, for example, while bed clothes may be removed from ones living confines and thoroughly washed, mattresses and carpets which remain in our living confines are normally cleaned by dry cleaning processes which only retr.nve loose particulate material and not fine -einbedded matter which cause allergies and sickness, such as fine dust, mites, pollens and microorganisnis which may be on or concealed within the surface being cleaned.

Furthermore such methods do not prevent further proliferation of microorganisms in the cleaned object.

Conventional cleaning processes which use water to carry a detergent into the object have the disadvantage that they leave the object very wet and unsuitable for use until dry. Such methods are not generally suitable for use with objects such as lounging chairs and mattresses.

The present invention aims to provide a cleaning method which will alleviate at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a sanitising method comprising steam infusing a disinfectant into the article.

The disinfectant may be distributed to the article to be treated by coentrainment with the steam. Alternatively, the disinfectant may be sprayed onto the surface of the article to be treated prior to utilising steam to infuse the disinfectant into the article.

Accordingly, in a further aspect this invention resides in a sanitising method comprising applying a disinfectant to an article and infusing the disinfectant into the article by the application of steam.

Where on the other hand the disinfectant is coinfused with the steam, the disinfectant may be mixed with the supply water and coheated to steam Alternatively the disinfectant may be injected or aspirated into the steam delivery line.

The disinfectant may comprise a natural or synthetic disinfectant and is preferably a volatile disinfectant. The disinfectant may for example be selected from one of the natural essential oils having disinfectant properties.

Preferably, the disinfectant is selected from tea tree oil and its disinfectively active constituents.

Where the preferred essential oil disinfectant is to be applied to the article prior to infusion, the essential oil may be diluted with water prior to application to the article to be treated, such that the delivery rate of the disinfectant may be easily controlld. In the case of tea tree oil and other nondispersible oils, the application solution may include a dispersing agent.

Typically, tea tree oil may be dispersed in water wherein tea tree oil is first mixed with a dispersing agent such as a surfactant. Suitable surfactants for tea tree oil include polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate or other surface active sorbitan derivatives. The composition of oil and dispersant may be applied as a water dispersion, typically comprising from 1 to 2 parts composition to 90 parts water by volume.

The disinfectant or diluted essential oil may be applied by any suitable means which provides a relatively even covering of the object being treated. Preferably diluted essential oil is applied by spray-on means so that a fine mist of the diluted essential oil is delivered to the surface of the object to be treated. Alternatively the disinfectant could be applied the surface of the object to be treated by a rol.l-on process.

After application of the disinfectant, the coated article is treated by a steam infusion process in which steam is delivered under pressure to the coated surface to carry the disinfectant through the surface into the substrate of the article being treated.

Where an essential oil such as tee tree oil is used it is vaporised by the steam to facilitate its infusion into the substrate of the objet being treated. It is considered that the essential oil will condense in the substrate as an extremely fine coatiny on the substrate material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The invention will be further described with reference to the Examples 1 and 2 hereinafter, wherein Example I discloses a water dispersible disinfectant composition and Example 2 disclosed the use of tea tree oil per se.

EXAMPLE 1 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a tea tree oil/dispersant composition is formed comprising 80% by volume tea tree oil and 20% by volume of a polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, in this case TWEEN-80. The dispersible composition is then dispersed in water at a rate of 1 part composition to 90 parts water, by volume, The dispersion is applied to the object to be disinfected by spraying so as to cover its surface with a fine mist without soaking. High temperature steam is then delivered to the moist surface through the delivery head of a steam generating machine.

EXAMPLE 2 50 drops of tea tree oil is added to 1 litre of water with vigourous shaking. Tha suspension is applied to the object to be disinfected by spraying so as to cover its surf ace with a fine mist without soaking. High temperature steam is then delivered to the moist surface through the delivery head of a steam generating machine.

A suitable machine for the infusion of the misted compositions of Examples 1 and 2 typically has a head formed with a plurality of downwardly facing outlet apertures through which steam at high temperature, and suitably in the order cf 135or or above, is expelled under pressure, suitably above 4 bars and typically between 4 to 5 bars pressure.

The steam is applied directly to the surface moistened with the diluted essential oil so as to vaporise the oil to facilitate its forced passage into the substrate.

It is believed that treatment of objects according to the above method will have the advantage that the initial application of high pressure and high temperature steam will kill bacteria near the surface of the article as well as some of the bacteria beneath the surface.

In addition, the substrate will be treated by providing an internal coating of essential oil which will act as a disinfectant to further decontaminate the article and prevent recontamination for a limited period of time It is considered that the use of tee-tree oil will provide a treating agent which has antiviral, antifunal, antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

Furthermore it is preferred that the sanitising process of the present invention be utilised in conjunction with a thorough cleaning operation and according to further aspect of this invention the article to be treated is first vacuum cleaned using medical standard vacuum cleaning equipment, then sanitised according to this invention and subsequently vacuum cleaned again using medical standard vacuum cleaning equipment.

It is considered that the use of the essential oil in the manner described will result in the sanitising of the in-situ article being treated without leaving a pungent or strong smelling atmosphere confining the treated article which may be offensive.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein set forth,

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Using a clinically tested and approved steam cleaner plus using disinfectant either natural or synthetic, preferably natural such as tea tree and/or other pure natural essential oil with this approved machine it will eliminate many germs, bacteria, fungi and viruses along with dust mites plus it will de-nature the dust mite allergen assisting in
2 better quality of life for all people and animals particularly those that suffer from dust nilte related allergies 2. Using the apparatus as described in paragraph lit will sanitise mattresses. futons and other bed types providing people and animals with a safely sanitised sleeping environment without the use of harmful non-natural chemicals.
3. Using the apparatus as described in paragraph r it will sanitise carpets. providing people and animals with a safely sanitised floor coveflng on which to walk play sit, kneel. recline and otherwise use, without the use of harmful non-natural chemicals.
4. Using the apparatus as described in paragraph 1 it will sanitise all fibre upholstery types, with the exception of leather and vinyl, including seating, window coverings, cushioning, in any venue or environtnent whatsoever inclllding hut not limited to homes, commercial business premises and accommodation premises, airlines, trains, buses, boats, motor vehicles, cinemas, conference/convention venues without the use of harmful non-natural chemicals.

Using the apparatus as described in paragraph lit will sanitise soR toys snd other dense fabric and/or fibre objects without the use of harmful non-natural chemicals