KR20000048940A - A cleaning composition comprising bleach, sulphamic acid, and a polycarboxylate polymer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Provided a cleaning composition comprising a halogen bleach and an organic or inorganic -NH2 compound and a polycarboxylate polymeric compound, whereby reduced skin irritation as well as effective bleach malodour reduction are obtained. CONSTITUTION: A molar ratio of the halogen bleach to the -NH2 compound is from 10:1 to 1:10, preferably rom 5:1 to 1:2. The -NH2 compound is a membered selected from the group consisting of sulphamic acid, sodium sulphamate, potassium sulphamate, sulfamide, p-toluenesuphonamide, imidodisulphonamide, benzenesulphonamide, melamine, cyanamide, alkyl sulfonamide, and mixtures thereof and preferably is sulphamic acid. The polycarboxylate polymer is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the composition.

Description

Cleaning composition comprising bleach, sulphamic acid, and a polycarboxylate polymer

Halogen bleaches, in particular hyperchlorite, are preferably known as some of the most effective hygienic reagents even at low concentrations and are commercially available at acceptable prices. Halogen bleaching agents offer hygienic benefits for a wide range of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeasts, strains. Therefore, it is highly desirable to incorporate halogen bleach in cleaning compositions for bleaching and / or sterilization purposes. However, halogen bleach and especially hyperchlorite are irritant and many consumers suffer from skin irritation when using such compositions.

In particular, the user's hand is susceptible to this stimulus. As a result of contacting these compositions, the hands suffer from dryness and a feeling of squeezing. This phenomenon occurs even when the composition is used in the surroundings and also in the diluted form.

While not intending to be bound by theory, halogen bleaches such as hyperchlorite attack the top layer of the skin's envelope. As a result, the elasticity of the skin is reduced. In addition, the skin becomes sensitive, making the skin dry or rough. In addition, the skin may become inflamed or red, dull and itchy. This effect is maximized in alkaline conditions because of alkalinity and irritation. For example, alkalinity is required for optimal hyperchlorite stability, and therefore alkaline pH is the preferred condition for hyperchlorite-containing compositions. However, alkaline conditions change the neutral pH of the skin, causing the skin to feel tight.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reduce irritation to the skin of halogen bleach containing compositions.

In addition, another problem caused by the use of halogen bleaches is the odor of the resulting bleaches.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to reduce bleach odor of halogen bleach-containing compositions.

To overcome this problem of bleach odors, organic or inorganic NH ₂ compounds have been used in halogen bleaching compositions. A typical disclosure is given in pending patent application PCT / US96 / 01908, filed March 3, 1995.

The present inventors provide a polycarboxylate polymer in a cleaning composition containing a halogen bleach and an organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compound, which not only provides the halogen bleach composition with effectively reduced bleach odor, but also reduces irritation to the skin. Surprisingly found. It has also been found that the composition of the present invention not only reduces irritation to the skin but also reduces the bleach odor compared to halogen bleaching compositions containing only organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compounds and without polycarboxylate polymers.

Polycarboxylate polymeric compounds are known in the art as tackifier components. Typical disclosures are disclosed in WO 94/10272.

Thus, the benefits of the compositions according to the invention typically not only reduce irritation to the skin but also effectively reduce bleach odors as compared to halogen bleach compositions containing organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compounds but not polycarboxylate polymers. Is to make it.

Further advantages of the compositions of the present invention are their effective cleaning performance.

The term "effective" means that the compositions of the present invention provide at least equivalent performance as compared to halogen bleach compositions containing organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compounds but not polycarboxylate polymers.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention further relates to a cleaning composition containing a halogen bleach and an organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compound, characterized in that it contains a polycarboxylate polymer.

In an embodiment according to the present invention, the present invention comprises the use of polycarboxylate polymeric compounds in halogen bleaches and organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compounds to reduce irritation to the skin.

The present invention relates to a cleaning composition of the present invention, and more particularly to a cleaning composition having reduced skin irritation and having an effective odor reducing effect of bleach.

Halogen bleach

Halogen bleach is an essential component of the present invention. Other organic bleaching agents based on halide sources such as chloroisocyanurate are also available, but alkali and alkaline earth metal hyperchlorite, hyperbromite and hyperiodite are common examples of this type of bleach. Preferred bleaches have the structure of formula (I):

M (OX) _y

Where

M is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium, lithium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and mixtures thereof,

O is oxygen,

X is a member selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine and mixtures thereof,

y is 1 or 2 depending on the charge of M

Preferred halogens for use herein are sodium hyperchlorite, potassium hyperchlorite, calcium hyperchlorite, magnesium hyperchlorite, sodium hyperbromite, calcium hyperbromite, calcium hyperbromite, magnesium hyperbromite, sodium hyperchlorite Iodide and potassium hyperiodite, more preferably sodium hyperchlorite, potassium hyperchlorite, calcium hyperchlorite, magnesium hyperchlorite, and most preferably sodium hyperchlorite. Can be mentioned.

The composition of the present invention is 0.01% to 10% by weight, preferably 0.01% to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.1% to 1% by weight of the halogen bleach or mixture thereof, based on the total weight of the total composition. 2.5% by weight, most preferably 0.5% to 2.5% by weight.

Organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compounds

Other essential ingredients of the present invention are organic or inorganic derived -NH ₂ compounds or mixtures thereof. The organic and inorganic derived -NH ₂ compounds are effective in reducing or eliminating irritation to the skin of the user when the halogen bleach containing composition containing it contacts the skin. Another advantage of using these organic or inorganic derived -NH ₂ compounds is their property of reducing the odor of bleach on the skin, referred to as the so-called "smell of the hand with bleach". Examples of such compounds include sulfamic acid, sulfamide, p-toluenesulfonamide, imidodisulfonamide, benzenesulfonamide, melamine, cyanamide, alkyl sulfonamide and mixtures thereof. If the pH is greater than 11, the aforementioned compounds may be deprotonated. That is, they are in the form of salts, and therefore the salt form of any or all of the foregoing compounds will be satisfactory due to convenience, ease of synthesis or preparation, or formulation performance. Although any suitable cation is suitable for the purposes of the present invention, sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, calcium and mixtures thereof are preferred. Thus, organic or inorganic derived -NH ₂ compounds are sulfamic acid, sodium sulfamate, potassium sulfamate, sulfamide, p-toluenesulfonamide, imidodisulfonamide, benzenesulfonamide, melamine, cyanamide, alkyl sulfonamide and Compounds selected from the group consisting of mixtures thereof are preferred, and sulfamic acid is more preferred.

The present invention provides such that the molar ratio of halogen bleach to said -NH ₂ compound is preferably from 10; 1 to 1:10, more preferably from 5: 1 to 1: 2, and most preferably from 3: 1 to 1: 2. -NH ₂ compound.

Polycarboxylate polymers

Another essential ingredient of the present invention is a polycarboxylate polymer. Polycarboxylate polymers are more stable and provide higher yields when present in halogen bleaches as opposed to cellulosic polymers such as guar rubber or xantum rubber. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that polycarboxylate polymers form a hydrophobic film on the surface of the hand. As a result, contact with the aqueous phase containing the halogen bleach is reduced, and the rate of reaction of the halogen bleach with amino acids in the skin is reduced.

Suitable polymers for use herein include polymers comprising monomers selected from the group consisting of unsaturated carboxylic acids such as acrylic acid, polycarboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, phosphonic acids, and mixtures thereof. Copolymers with the aforementioned monomeric units or other co-monomers such as maleic anhydride, ethylene or propylene are suitable. If maleic anhydride is used, maleic anhydride will act as a source of additional carboxyl groups and ethylene and propylene will act as diluents.

The molecular weight per carboxylic acid group of the monomer containing carboxylic acid groups is 25 to 200, preferably 50 to 150, more preferably 75 to 125. Preferred total molecular weights of the polymers for use herein are 500,000-4,500,000, preferably 1,000,000-4,000,000. Most preferred polymers for use herein contain from 0.5% to 4% by weight crosslinker, wherein the crosslinker tends to interconnect the linear strands of the polymer to form crosslinked products. Suitable crosslinkers include polyalkylene polyethers.

Preferred polycarboxylate polymers for use herein include polyacrylate polymers. Commercially available polymers in the form of polyacrylates are trademarks of Carbopol®, Acrysol® ICS-1, Polygel® and Sokalan®. Commercially available. Most preferred polyacrylate polymers include copolymers of acrylic acid and alkyl (C ₅ -C ₁₀ ) acrylates available under the trade name Carbopol 1623, Carbopol 695 from BF Goodrich, and 3V Chemical Company (3V). Maleic anhydride commercially available from Chemical Company) under the trade name of polygel (registered trademark).

Mixtures of any of the polycarboxylate polymers described above herein may also be used.

The polycarboxylate polymer is present in an amount of 0.01% to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.4% to 1.5% by weight, most preferably 0.5% to 1% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

Optional ingredients

The composition according to the invention comprises a number of optional ingredients, for example surfactants, buffers, flavoring agents, bleach promoters, fatty acids, radical scavengers, chelating agents, antimicrobial compounds, fillers, fungicides, solvents, enzymes, hydrophobic agents, colorants, Bleach activators, contaminant suspensions, dye transfer agents, brighteners, anti-dust agents, dispersants, dye transfer inhibitors, pigments and dyes. Naturally, for the purposes of the present invention, the optional component must be stable against halogen bleach.

Surfactants

Suitable surfactants for use herein are selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants. If a surfactant is used, the surfactant will be present in an amount of 0.1% to 95% by weight, preferably 0.1% to 20% by weight.

Suitable anionic surfactants are broadly described as water-soluble salts, in particular alkali metal salts, of organic sulfonation reaction products having in the molecular structure a radical selected from the group consisting of about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms and sulfonic acid and sulfuric ester esters. Anionic surfactants that can be employed. (The term alkyl includes alkyl moieties in higher acyl radicals.) An important example of anionic synthetic detergents capable of forming surfactant components in the compositions of the present invention is sodium or potassium alkyl sulfates, especially glycerol of tallow or coconut oil. Obtained by _sulphating the higher alcohols (C _6-18 carbon atoms) produced by reducing the ride, sodium or potassium alkyl benzene sulfonates, wherein the alkyl groups contain about 9 to about 15 carbon atoms, Alkyl radicals may be linear or branched aliphatic chains), sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, especially ethers of higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil, sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfates and sulfonates, higher fatty alcohols (E.g. tallow or coconut alcohol) reaction of 1 mole with about 1 to about 10 moles of ethylene oxide Sodium or potassium salt of the sulfuric acid ester of the product, sodium or potassium salt of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfate having about 1 to about 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule, wherein the alkyl radical has 8 to 12 carbon atoms The reaction product of fatty acids is the fatty acid of methyl taude, in which the fatty acid is derived from coconut oil and sodium or potassium beta-acetoxy- or beta-acetamido-alkanesulfonate (alkanes have from 8 to 22 carbon atoms). It is derived from coconut oil sodium or potassium salts of amides.

In addition, secondary alkyl sulfates, alone or in combination with other surfactant materials, can be used by the manufacturer, below, identifying and exemplifying the differences between sulfated surfactants and other conventional alkyl sulfate surfactants. Non-limiting examples of such components are as follows.

Typical primary alkyl sulfates as exemplified above have the formula ROSO ₃ ^- M ⁺ , where R is typically a linear C ₆ -C ₂₂ hydrocarbon group and M is a water soluble cation. Branched chain primary alkyl sulfate surfactants having 8 to 20 carbon atoms (ie, branched chain “PAS”) are also known. See European Patent Application No. 439 316.

Typical secondary alkyl sulfate surfactants are substances with sulfate residues randomly distributed along the hydrocarbon “backbone” of the molecule. Such materials can be represented by the formula CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) _n (CHOSO ₃ ^- M ⁺ ) (CH ₂ ) _m CH ₃ , where m and n are integers of at least 2 and the sum of m and n is typically about 9 to 17, and M is a water soluble cation.

In addition, selected secondary (2,3) alkyl sulfate surfactants as used herein may include the following formulas (I) and (II) for 2-sulfate and 3-sulfate, respectively.

CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) _x (CHOSO ₃ ^- M ⁺ ) CH ₃

CH ₃ (CH ₂ ) _y (CHOSO ₃ ^- M ⁺ ) CH ₂ CH ₃

Mixtures of 2- and 3-sulfates can be used herein. X and (y + 1) in formulas (I) and (II) are each an integer of at least about 6 and may also be from about 7 to about 20, preferably from about 10 to about 16. M may be a cation such as alkali metal, ammonium, alkanolammonium, triethanol-ammonium and the like.

The secondary alkyl sulfates described above are prepared by adding H ₂ SO ₄ to the olefins. Typical synthesis methods using alpha olefins and sulfuric acid are described in US Pat. No. 3,234,258 to Morris on 8 February 1966 or US Pat. No. 5,075,041 to Lutz on December 24, 1991. It is described. Synthesis carried out in solvents, which can provide secondary (2,3) alkyl sulfates upon cooling, can result in unreacted, randomly sulfated, unsulphated by-products (e.g., C ₁₀ and higher alcohols, secondary When purified to remove olefin sulfonates, etc.), typically at least 90% pure mixture of 2- and 3-sulfated materials (some sodium sulfate may be present), resulting in a white, non-tacky, apparently crystalline solid product. do. Some 2,3-disulfate may also be present but generally constitutes up to 5% of a mixture of secondary (2,3) alkyl mono-sulfates. Such materials are commercially available from Shell Oil Company under the trade name "DAN" such as "DAN 200".

Other surfactants suitable for use herein are of the formula R ₁ R ₂ R ₃ NO, wherein R ₁ is primarily a C ₆ -C ₂₂ alkyl group, and R ₂ and R ₃ are C ₁ -C ₃ alkyl groups or these Amine oxides according to the invention. Indeed, such amine oxides for use herein are Genaminox ^R LA, Genaminox ^R MY-X (commercially available from Hoechst), C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ Aromox ^R DMMCO-W (Akzo), Aromox DM14D-W (arc irradiation) and Aromox DM14D-W (Akzo). Suitable amine oxides for use herein should preferably be compatible with halogen bleaches.

Buffer

Buffers may be included in the formulations herein for various purposes. One of these aims is to adjust the pH of the cleaning solution to optimize the effectiveness of the hard surface cleaning composition for a particular contaminant or stain type. Buffers may be included for the purpose of maintaining affinity between various aesthetic components or for stabilizing auxiliary components against long term storage. Hard surface cleaners of the invention optionally include a buffer that adjusts the pH to a preferred range of greater than 11. Non-limiting examples of such suitable buffers are potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate and trisodium phosphate, but are not limited to these examples or mixtures thereof.

Spices

Perfume is optional, but is a particularly very preferred component for liquid composition embodiments. Fragrances are generally used in amounts of 0 to 5%. U.S. Patent No. 4,246,129 describes several perfume materials that perform the added function of reducing the solubility of anionic sulfonates and sulfate surfactants.

Bleach promoter

In another optional but preferred component, the composition comprises a fabric promoter. Bleach promoters are compounds that can dissociate halide ions in an alkaline pH environment and then undergo a disproportionation reaction to oxidize, reduce or otherwise generate activated halide ions. Typically accelerators containing bromine and iodine atoms are used in the presence of chlorine atom-containing bleach, and iodine is used when bromine-containing bleach is used as the main bleach. Preferred bleach promoters have the formula M (X) _y , where M is a member selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc and mixtures thereof, X being a radical bromide, hypobromide Mite, bromate, iodide, hypoiodite, iodate and mixtures thereof, y being 1 or 2.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, promoters in the case of bleach containing hypochlorite convert the hypochlorite bleach into a more reactive and / or more stable compound, such as hypobromite, to maximize the utility of the bleach combined. It seems to have the effect of providing. The bleach promoter of the present invention may be added as a precursor which may itself be a bleach promoter, such that iodide ions are suitable bleach promoters according to the invention. As such, promoters formed by oxidation / reduction or other disproportionation reactions, such as iodate, may be added directly.

The bleach promoter of the present invention has the formula MX, wherein M is a member selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper and zinc while X is halogen. Preferred bleach promoters are the sodium and potassium salts of bromine and iodine, more preferably the sodium and potassium brominated and iodide.

fatty acid

Another optional component of the invention is the alkali metal salt of C ₈ -C ₁₈ fatty acids. The fatty acid is used as a foam inhibitor. Fatty acids suitable for use herein are any C ₈ -C ₁₈ fatty acid, preferably fully saturated fatty acids, preferably sodium, potassium or lithium salts, more preferably sodium salts. Suitable fatty acids are derived from natural sources such as caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and tallow, coconut oil, soil oil and babassu oil. It can be selected from the group consisting of a mixture of poorly cured fatty acids. The composition according to the invention comprises from 0.1 to 2%, preferably less than 0.6% by weight of fatty acids, based on the weight of the composition.

Radical scavengers

A further optional component of the invention is a radical scavenger. The radical scavengers are used as stabilizers. Suitable radical scavengers for use herein are aromatic molecules containing carboxyl group ring substituents. Examples of radical scavengers suitable for use herein include meta and para-chlorobenzoic acid, benzoic acid, meta-, ortho- and para-methoxybenzoic acid, metanitrobenzoic acid, para bromobenzoic acid, salicylic acid, 5-sulfosalicylic acid, 3 , 5-dimethyl salicylic acid and paratoluic acid. Of these materials, ortho-methoxybenzoic acid is preferred. The composition according to the invention comprises 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 a radical scavenger based on the weight of the composition.

The composition according to the invention may be in liquid form. The liquid composition may preferably be formulated (but not required) as an aqueous composition and preferably comprises 80 to 95%, more preferably 85 to 90% of water.

Another optional requirement of the liquid composition according to the invention is that the pH should be greater than 10, preferably greater than 11 and more preferably greater than 12. This is done by adding 0.4 to 3% caustic alkali. Caustic alkalis suitable for use herein include sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Compositions according to the present invention comprising hypochlorite have a pH greater than 12 for hypochlorite stability.

Package form of the composition

The compositions herein can be packaged in a variety of suitable detergent packages known to those skilled in the art. The liquid compositions herein may preferably be packaged in a hand operated spraying dispensing vessel, which is generally made from synthetic organic polymeric plastics materials. Accordingly, the present invention also includes the liquid cleaning composition of the present invention packaged in a spray dispenser, preferably a trigger spray dispenser. Indeed, the spray dispenser can uniformly apply a liquid cleaning composition suitable for use in accordance with the present invention to a relatively large surface area to be cleaned, thereby contributing to the washability of the composition. Such spray dispensers are particularly suitable for cleaning vertical surfaces.

Sprayed dispensers suitable for use in accordance with the present invention are operated by hand, such as those sold by Specialty Packaging Products, Inc. or Continental Sprayers, Inc. Foam triggered dispensers. Such dispenser forms are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,701,311 to Dunnining et al. And US Pat. No. 4,646,973 to US Pat. Particularly preferred for use herein is a spray dispenser such as T 8500® or T 8100® available from Continental Spray International, Norton Island Canyon, UK. In such dispensers the liquid composition is divided into fine liquid droplets and sprayed onto the surface to be treated. Indeed, in such spray dispensers the composition contained in the dispenser barrel is discharged through the spray dispenser head by the energy delivered to the pumping mechanism as the user activates the pumping mechanism. More specifically, in the sprayed dispenser head, the composition is pressed against an obstacle, such as a lattice or cone, to provide an impact to subdivide the liquid composition to aid in the formation of liquid droplets.

The present invention also encompasses the use of such polycarboxylate polymeric compounds for reducing skin irritation in cleaning compositions comprising halogen bleach and organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compounds. As mentioned above, the expression "reducing skin irritation" further reduces skin irritation when compared to halogenated bleaching compositions in which the compositions according to the invention contain organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compounds but do not contain polycarboxylate polymers. Means.

In addition, the present invention includes a method for cleaning a hard surface by applying an effective amount of the composition of the present invention to the hard surface. The composition may be applied in its anhydrous form or may be applied after dilution in water. Preferably, the composition is diluted with 200 weight times, preferably 50 to 150 weight times, more preferably 75 to 95 weight times water, before it is applied to the surface. If the composition is diluted before it is used (to reach a total activity level of about 1.2%), the composition will advantageously provide effective cleaning performance up to then. In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention wherein the composition is applied to the hard surface to be cleaned in diluted form, it may not necessarily be necessary to rinse the surface after applying the composition.

In the compositions of the present invention, the simplified component designation has the following meanings:

C8 AS: octyl sulfate, commercially available from Albright and Wilson under the trade name Empimin LV33.

24 AS: Sodium C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ alkyl sulfate, commercially available from Albright & Wilson under the tradename Empicol 0298 / F.

Amine Oxide: C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ Amine Oxide, commercially available from Hoechst under the tradename Genaminox LA.

Polymer ^* : Copolymer of acrylic acid and alkyl (C ₅ -C ₁₀ ) acrylate, commercially available from BC Goodrich under the trade name Carbopol 1623.

Polymer ^** : Copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic anhydride, commercially available from 3V Chemical Company under the trade name Polygel DB.

Fatty acid: C ₈ -C ₁₈ fatty acid.

Nonionic Surfactant: Capped ethoxylated carboxylate, commercially available from BASF under the tradename Plurafac LF 231.

The invention is illustrated in the following non-limiting examples, wherein the composition is prepared by mixing the following components in the listed proportions (% by weight).

Example 1

The following compositions according to the invention were prepared:

Example 2

The following composition is in accordance with the present invention:

Example 3

The following composition is in accordance with the present invention:

Example 4

The following compositions according to the invention were prepared:

Claims (13)

A cleaning composition comprising a halogen bleach and an organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compound, further comprising a polycarboxylate polymer. Use of a polycarboxylate polymer to reduce skin irritation in cleaning compositions comprising halogen bleach and organic or inorganic -NH ₂ compounds. The method according to claim 1 or 2, A cleaning composition or use wherein the molar ratio of halogen bleach to -NH ₂ compound is from 10: 1 to 1:10, preferably from 5: 1 to 1: 2, more preferably from 3: 1 to 1: 2. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, -NH ₂ compound is selected from the group consisting of sulfamic acid, sodium sulfamate, potassium sulfamate, sulfamide, p-toluenesulfonamide, imidodisulfonamide, benzenesulfonamide, melamine, cyanamide, alkyl sulfonamide and mixtures thereof Cleaning composition or use. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The cleaning composition or use, wherein the polycarboxylate polymer is present in an amount from 0.01 to 5% by weight of the composition. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A cleaning composition or use wherein the polycarboxylate polymer is a polyacrylate polymer. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A cleaning composition or use wherein the total molecular weight of the polycarboxylate polymer is from 500,000 to 4,500,000, preferably from 1,000,000 to 4,000,000. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, A cleaning composition or use wherein the halogen bleach has the formula Formula 1 M (OX) _y Where a) M is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium, lithium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and mixtures thereof, b) O is an oxygen atom, c) X is a member selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine and mixtures thereof, wherein y is 1 or 2. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, A cleaning composition or use wherein the composition further comprises 0.1 to 95 weight percent of a washable surfactant. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, A cleaning composition or use in which the composition is in liquid form. The method of claim 10, A cleaning composition or use wherein the pH of the composition is greater than 10, preferably greater than 11, more preferably greater than 12. The method of claim 10 or 11, A cleaning composition or use wherein the composition is packaged in a spray dispenser, preferably a trigger spray dispenser. 13. A method for cleaning hard surfaces, wherein an effective amount of the composition as defined in any of claims 1 or 3 to 12 is applied to the hard surfaces.