MXPA97009069A - Dry cleaning composition on a better vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for cleaning and refreshing fabrics, characterized in that it comprises contacting said fabrics with an article comprising: a hydroentangled vehicle substrate, said substrate containing a releasable cleaning composition comprising: (a) at least about 60% by weight of water, (b) at least about 4% by weight of an etherified propanol solvent, (c) 1,2-octanediol, (d) optionally, a polyacrylate emulsifier, (e) a detersive surfactant and (f) optionally, a perfume

Description

COMPOSITION OF DRY CLEANING ON AN IMPROVED VEHICLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to methods and compositions for dry cleaning which are specially adapted for use in the home.

CROSS REFERENCE fl RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation in part of the co-pending application serial number 08 / 450,459, filed on March 25, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION By classic definition, the term "dry cleaning" has been used to describe procedures for cleaning textiles using non-aqueous solvents, dry cleaning is an old technique, solvent cleaning having been registered for the first time in the United Kingdom in the 1060. Typically, dry cleaning procedures are used with garments such as wool fabrics that are subject to shrinkage in aqueous wash baths, or that are considered to be too valuable or too delicate to undergo aqueous washing procedures . Traditionally, several hydrocarbon and halogenated solvents have been used in dry cleaning processes, and the need to handle and recover said solvents has primarily restricted the practice of conventional cleaning to commercial establishments. Although solvent-based dry cleaning procedures are very effective at removing dirt and oil stains, they are not optimal for removing particulate materials such as clay soils, and may require special treatment conditions to remove pro-stains. -t emaceas. Ideally, particulate materials and protein stains are removed from the fabrics using detersive ingredients and operating conditions that are more akin to aqueous washing procedures than conventional dry cleaning. In addition to the cleaning function , dry cleaning also provides important "freshness" benefits. For example, dry cleaning removes undesirable odors and foreign matter such as hair and lint from garments, which are then usually folded or ironed to remove wrinkles and regain their original shape. Of course, said freshness benefits are also obtained by aqueous washing procedures. As can be seen from the above, and in addition to the effects on certain fabrics such as wool fabrics, there are no special inherent advantages for dry cleaning by solvent-based immersion on aqueous cleaning procedures with respect. -t or to cleaning or freshness of fabrics. Moreover, on a pledge basis, commercial dry cleaning is more expensive than aqueous cleaning procedures, although it would be of considerable benefit to consumers to provide compositions and procedures for dry cleaning that are not immersion that can be cleaned. use in the home-, the solvent systems used in commercial dry cleaning make this practice. In fact, several domestic dry cleaning systems have been suggested, but they have not been widely accepted. Typically, said home systems comprise a vehicle substrate that is releasably impregnated with a cleaning composition. The cleaning composition is carried by the substrate and is brought into contact with soiled fabrics, preferably in a hot air clothes dryer, to effect cleaning. In general, attempts to improve such cleaning procedures involve the design of a new appliance, the selection of new cleaning solvents, or the formulation of new cleaning compositions. Although such attempts may prove effective, they can lead to costly and complicated formulations and procedures for the home user. Surprisingly, apparently no substantial effort has been made in determining whether the vehicle substrate, by itself, could significantly improve overall cleaning performance. The present invention provides a new approach to the problem of improving dry cleaning and domestic stain removal procedures. Now it has been discovered that certain types of vehicle substratesWhen used in the manner described herein, they improve cleaning performance, especially in a domestic dry cleaning operation. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optimum vehicle for dry cleaning and spot removal procedures. Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination of said preferred vehicle with a preferred cleaning composition, all adapted for use in a domestic dry cleaning operation other than immersion. These and other objects are secured here, as will be seen in the following descriptions.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND Dry cleaning processes are described in: EP 429, J72A1, published May 29, 199], by Leight et al .; and in E.U.A. 5,238, 587, issued August 24, 1993 to Srnith et al. Other references related to compositions and methods for dry cleaning, as well as wrinkle treatments for fabrics include: GB 1,598,911; and Patents of E.U.A. 4,126,553, 3,949,137, 3,593,544, 3,647,354; 3,432,253 and 1,747, 324; and German applications 2,021,551 and 2,460,239, 0,200,989 and 4,007,362. Compositions and methods of urgency / pre-staining are also described, for example, in the patents of F.U.P. 102,573; 5,041,230; 4,909,962; 4,115,061; ¿886,615; 4,139,475; 4,849,257; 5,112,358; 4,659,496; 4,806,254; 5,213.62; 4,130.39 ?; Y 4, 395, 261. Laminate substrates for use in a clothes dryer are described in Canadian Patent 1,005,204. F.U.A. 3,956,556 and 4,007,300 refer to perforated sheets for the conditioning of fabrics in a clothes dryer. F.U.A. 4,692,277 describes the use of 1, - octanodi or 1 in the impriers li qu KJOS.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention encompasses an article for cleaning and freshening fabrics, comprising: (A) a sub-r-at or of a hydrocarbon vehicle, including hydrocarbon-based substrates comprising a mixture of types of synthetic fibers and Naturals, as described more fully below, said vehicle substrate 1 containing: (B) a cleaning composition, and I very much preferred it to include: i) water; n) an etherified propanol solvent, especially BPP solvent, as described below; i x) 1,2-anodiol; LV) an emulsifier, especially an emulation of Latin America or as it is later on; v) optionally, a «detersive surfactant people; and vi) optionally, but preferably, per-fume, and other mgredient or minor-is. The process hereof is preferably conducted by placing the fabrics together with the cleaning composition in the vehicle in a container, such as a flexible bag, closing said container and shaking the container. At a convenient time, the process is conducted by stirring the container in a stirring apparatus such as a hot-air dryer or washing machine having a rotating hot tub mounted and mounted. Preferably heat is used during the stirring. In one mode, it is allowed to move freely and mix the vehicle with the fabrics to be cleaned. In another step, the vehicle is fastened to an internal wall of the container. A preferred and convenient method herein comprises the steps of: a) putting the fabrics to be cleaned and the cleaning composition plus vehicle as indicated above into a container comprising a plastic bag; b) close and seal the bag; c) placing the bag in a rotating apparatus, especially a hot air clothes dryer, and wherein the process is conducted at a dryer or air temperature of at least 50 ° C; d) rotating the bag for a period of approximately 10 minutes; and e) removing the cloth from the bowl. All percentages, ratios and proportions here are by weight unless otherwise specified. All the documents cited are, importantly, incorporated here by re erenci, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The vehicle and the ingredients of the dry cleaning compositions and their use in the process of the present invention are described below. Vehicle - The special improved vehicle used herein is preferably in integral form, i.e., in the form of a sheet having the speci? Cations described below. (Crushed vehicle parts can also be used, but they are not preferred, as they are difficult to recover from the fabrics after the cleaning procedure has been completed). Surprisingly, this vehicle is not simply a passive absorbent pair to the cleaning compositions of the present, but actually optimizes the cleaning performance. Although it is not intended to limit the theory, it can be speculated that this vehicle is more effective in the south gone from the cleaning composition to dirty fabrics, or rather, this particular vehicle can be better to remove dirt by contact with dirty fabrics, owed to its fiber mixture. Whatever the reason, an improved dry cleaning performance is ensured. The presently preferred carrier comprises a hydroentangled absorbent material without binder (or optional or binder), especially a material that is formulated from a mixture of cellulose fibers, rayon, polyester and optional bi-components. Such materials are available from Dexter, Non-Uovens Division, The dexter 'Cor-po rat ion as HYDRASPUNR, especially grade 10244. The manufacture of such materials is not part of this invention and is already described in the literature. See, for example, US Patents. 5,009,747, Viazrnensky et al., April 23, 1991 and 5,292,581, Vi azrnensky et al., March 8, 1994, incorporated herein by reference. Preferred materials used herein have the following physical properties. Grade Scale 10244 Objectives Optional Base weight g /? R.2 55 35-75 Thickness microns 355 100-1500 Density g / c ?? 3 0. 0.155 0.1-0.25 Dry tension g / 25 rnrn MD 1700 400-2500 CD 650 100-500 Wet tensile g / 25 min MD * 71) 0 200-L250 CD * 300 mo- 500 Openend cleaners% 80 60-90 Absorption capacity% 735 400-900 (H 20) Mullen dry g / crn2 050 700-12 0 * -MD = address of the machine; CD - transverse direction As described in E.U.A. 5,009,747 and 5,292,281, the hydroentangling process provides a non-woven material comprising cellulose fibers, and preferably at least about 5% in-weight of synthetic fibers, and requires less than 2% wet strength agent to achieve wet strength and improved wet strength. In addition to the improved cleaning performance, it has now been discovered that this vehicle material provides an unexpected additional benefit due to its elasticity. During use, the dry cleaning sheets herein are designed to operate in substantially open confi ruration. However, the sheets are packaged and sold to the consumer in a folded configuration. It has been found that vehicle sheets made of conventional materials tend to undesirably reverse their bent configuration during use. This undesirable attribute can be overcome by piercing the sheet, but this requires an additional processing step. It has now been discovered that the hydrocarbon materials used to form the vehicle herein do not require bending again during use, and therefore do not require such perforations (although, of course, perforations may be used, if desired) . Accordingly, this newly discovered and unexpected attribute of the carrier materials herein makes them optimal for use in the manner of the present invention. In accordance with the foregoing considerations, the vehicle of the présete is safe and effective under the operating conditions designed in the present procedure. The vehicle is non-flammable during the procedure, nor interacts deleteriously with the cleaning composition or with the fabrics being cleaned. The vehicle does not form lint. By "no fluffs" here it is understood that the vehicle resists visible or micro-fiber residues on the fabrics being cleaned, that is, the deposition of what is known in common language as "fluff". The vehicle can be easily and adequately considered for its acceptability with respect to lint resistance by rubbing it on a piece of dark blue wool fabric and visually inspecting the fabric for lint residue. The vehicle hereof is of such size that it provides a sufficient surface area of surface to achieve effective contact between the surface of the vehicle and the surface of the fabrics being cleaned. Of course, the size of the sheets should not be as large as 1L so that it can not be handled by the user. Typically, the dimensions of the vehicle will be sufficient to provide a macroscopic surface area (both sides of the vehicle) of at least about 360 crn2, preferably in the range of 360 crn2 to about 3000 crn2. For example, a rectangular sheet can have the dimensions (direction x) of about 20 crn to about 35 crn, and (direction y) of about 18 crn to about 45 crn. Aspects such as density and calibration of the sheet can be varied, depending on the amount of cleaning composition that the developer wishes to apply. The vehicle 11 advantageously contains the cleaning composition. By "releasably containing" it is meant that the cleaning composition is effectively released from the vehicle on the soiled fabrics as part of the dry cleaning process herein. Cleaning Compositions - The chemical compositions that are used to provide the cleaning function in the present dry cleaning processes comprise ingredients that are safe and effective for their intended use. Since the process herein does not involve an aqueous rinse step, the cleaning compositions employ ingredients that leave no undesirable residue on the fabrics when used in the manner described herein. Even more, since the dry cleaning process can be carried out in a hot air clothes dryer, the compositions only contain ingredients whose flash point makes them safe for such use. The cleaning compositions preferably contain some water, since water not only helps the cleaning function, but it can also help remove wrinkles and restore the folds and appearance of the fabric, especially in hot air dryers. Although conventional laundry detergents are typically formulated to provide good cleaning in combined cotton and polyester fabrics, the cleaning compositions herein should be formulated to safely and effectively clean and cool fabrics such as wool, silk , rayon, rayon acetate and sirnílar-es. In addition, the cleaning compositions herein comprise ingredients that are specially selected and formulated to minimize the removal of dye from the fabrics being cleaned. In this regard, it is recognized that solvents typically used in dry cleaning procedures by immersion may remove some portion of certain types of dyes from certain types of fabrics. However, said removal is tolerable in immersion procedures since the colorant is relatively uniformly removed through the surface of the fabric. On the contrary, it has now been determined that high concentrations of certain types of cleaning ingredients at specific sites on the surfaces of the fabric can cause the unacceptable localized removal of dye. The preferred compositions of the present invention are formulated to minimize or avoid this problem. The dye removal attributes of the cleaning compositions herein can be compared with cleaners described in the art using photographic or photo-mechanical measurements, or by means of a simple but effective visual qualification test. Numerical qualification units can be assigned to assist in the visual qualification and allow the statistical binding of the data, if desired. From this nanny, in a test of this type, a colored garment- (typically, silk, which tends to be more susceptible to dye loss than most wool or nylon substrates) is treated by applying cleanser using a white absorbent paper towel. Manual pressure is applied and the amount of color-before that is transferred to the white towel is evaluated visually. The numerical units that range from: 1) "I think I see some dye on the towel"; 2) "I know I see some dye on the towel"; 3) "I see a lot of coloring on the towel"; 4) "I know I see a lot of coloring on the towel" are assigned by panel staff. Having referred to the above considerations, the following illustrates the ingredients used in the cleaning compositions herein, but is not intended to be limited thereto. a) Water - The compositions will comprise at least about 60%, typically from about 80% to about 95% by weight of water. In other words, the objective is to provide at least approximately 6 g of water per kg of fabrics being cleaned. b) Solvent - The compositions will comprise at least about 4%, typically from about 5% to about 25% by weight of organic solvent. The objective is to provide at least approximately 0.4 g, preferably from about 0.5 g to about 2.5 g of solvent per kg of fabrics being cleaned. c) 1, 2-octanodol (OD) - The composition herein will comprise at least about 0.1%, preferably from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of DO. In other words, the goal is to provide at least 0.01 g to approximately 3 g of OD per g of tel s that are being cleaned. d) Ernulsification - The compositions will comprise sufficient ernulsification to provide a homogeneous, stable composition comprising the components (a), (b) and (c). For the preferred emulsifiers which are described below, levels as low as 0.05%, preferably 0.07% to about 0.20% by weight are very satisfactory. e) Optionals - The compositions herein may comprise several optional ingredients, including perfumes, conventional surfactants, vehicles and the like. If used, said optional ingredients will typically comprise from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the compositions, without detrimentally residues in the fabrics being cleaned.

The preferred solvent of the present invention is butyroxy-oxo-ipropanol (BPP) which is available in commercial quantities as a mixture of isomers in approximately equal amounts. The isomers, and mixtures thereof, are useful here. The isomeric structures are the following: n - C4 H9 - -0 - CH2 CH2 CH2 --O - CH2 CH2 CH2 --0H CH3 n - C4H --0 - CH2--0 I - 0 - CH2CH2CH2 - OH H OH3 n --C «Hg --O - CH2CH2CH2 - -0- -CH2 - - C I - OH The BPP is excellent for cleaning and is so effective that it allows the amount of 1,2-octane or relatively expensive to be minimized. In addition, it considers the formulation of effective cleaning compositions herein without the use of conventional surfactants.

Something very important is that the smell of BPP is of a degree and character that can be relatively easy to cover by conventional perfume ingredients. Although the BPP is not completely miscible with water and could therefore negatively affect the processing of the cleaning compositions of the present, that problem has been successfully overcome by means of the PEMULEN-type polyacrylate ernulsifiers. describe later. It has now been determined that 1, 2-octanodol ("OD") also has special advantages in the formulation of the cleaning compositions herein. From the point of view of aesthetics, OD is a relatively innocuous and low odor material. Moreover, OD seems to volatilize from cloth surfaces without leaving visible residues. This is especially important in a dry cleaning process of the present type which is conducted without a rinsing step. From the point of view of performance, OD seems to work as a solvent for grease / oil stains and as what could be termed a "pseudo-surfactant" for particulate soils and water-soluble stains. Whatever the physicochemical reason, it has now been found that OD is a superior wetting agent with respect to the cleanliness and ease of use in the present context of compositions and cleaning procedures for domestic use. The BPP solvent used herein is preferably a mixture of the aforementioned isomers. In a time L f The cleaning compositions comprise a mixture of 1, 2-octanod oL and BPP, at a weight ratio of 0D-13PP on the scale of from about 1: 250 to about 2: 1, preferably from about 0.degree. -about 1-200 to about L, -. 5. The fuming ernulsi I highly intend here this trade available under the trade name PEMULEN, of The B.F. Goodrich Cornpany, and is described in the U.S.A. 4, ^ 50,641 and 5,004,557, incorporated herein by reference. The PEMULEN polyrneric emulsifiers are polyacrylic acid polymers with high molecular weight. The structure of PEMULEN includes a small portion which is an oil-soluble portion (lipophilic) and a water-soluble portion (hi-drily). The structure allows PEMULEN to function as a primary oil-in-water ernulsifier. The lipophilic portion adsorbs in the inter-phase of ceite-water, and the hydrophilic portion swells in the water forming a network around the oil droplets to provide stability to the emulsion. An important advantage for the use of such polyacrylate ernulsifiers in the present is that cleaning compositions containing solvents or levels of solvents which are otherwise not soluble or easily miscible with water can be prepared. An additional advantage is that effective ernulsification can be achieved by using PEMULEN-type ernuisifcation at extremely low levels of use. For purposes of comparison, typically about 3-7% of conventional ammonium or nonionic surfactants are required to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions, which increases the likelihood of oil remaining in them. Although the cleaning compositions herein work very well only with the BPP, perfume, PEMULEN, water and conventional DO, may also optionally contain detersive surfactants to further increase their cleaning performance. Although a wide variety of detersive surfactants such as alkylsulfates and C12-C16 benzenesulfonates can be used. ethoxylated C.sub.2-Ci.sub.6 alcohols (EO 0.5-10 prorn.), N? met ilglucarnides of C? 2 ~ Ci4 and the like, it is highly preferred to use alkylethyl sulfates (AES) of C? 2-Ci6. especially in its magnesium salt form, and the C12-C16 dimethyarnine oxides. A highly preferred mixture comprises MgAEi S / MgAEe .5 S / di-ethyl amine oxide of C? 2, at a ratio of about 1: 1: 1. If used, said surfactants will typically comprise from about 0.05% to about 2.5% by weight, of the cleaning compositions herein. In addition to the preferred solvents and other ingredients described above, the compositions herein may comprise various optional ingredients, such as preservatives, co-solvents, brighteners, viscosity control salts, pH adjusters or pH regulators, antistatic agents, softeners , colorants, agents to test moths, insect repellents and the like.

Container - The present cleaning procedure is conducted using a flexible container, the fabrics to be cleaned are placed inside the container on the vehicle article / inspection position, and the container is shaken, providing so contact between the vehicle / cleaning agent and the surfaces of the fabrics. The flexible container used here can be provided in any number of configurations, and is conveniently in the form of a flexible pouch, or bag, that has sufficient bulk to contain the fabrics being cleaned. Suitable containers can be made of any economical material, such as polyester, polypropylene and the like, with the proviso that they should not be melted if used in contact with hot dryer air. It is preferred that the walls of the container be substantially impervious to water vapor and solvent vapor or to the intended conditions of use. It is also stated that said containers are provided with sealing means that are sufficiently stable to remain closed during the cleaning process. Simple rim-to-air cords, various jump closures such as ZIP LOKR locks, and VEI_CR0R type closures, contact adhesive, tape, zippers and the like will suffice. The container can be of any convenient size, and it must be large enough to allow stirring of the container and the fabrics therein, but it must not be so large as to interfere with the operation of the stirring apparatus. With special regard to containers designed for use in hot air clothes dryers, the container should not be as large as to block the air vents. If desired, the container may be small enough to handle only a shirt, blouse or sweater, or large enough to handle a man's suit. Procedure - The present cleaning process can be conducted in any manner that provides mechanical agitation, such as a stirring action, to the container * with the fabrics to be cleaned. If desired, the agitation can be provided manually. However, in a convenient way, a container with the cleaning vehicle / composition and the dirty fabric wrap is sealed and placed in the tub of an automatic clothes dryer. The ina will be stirred, which imparts a stirring action to the container and agitates its contents concurrently with stirring. Deludo to your agitation, the fabrics come into contact with the vehicle that can be releasably the cleaning composition. It is preferred that it be used during the process. Of course, heat can easily be provided in a clothes dryer. Stirring and optional (but preferred) heating is carried out for a period of at least about 10 minutes, typically from about 20 minutes to about 30 minutes. The process can be conducted for longer periods, depending on such factors as the degree and type of soiling of the fabrics, the nature of the soils, the nature of the fabrics, the load of fabrics, the amount of heat applied and the like, according to the needs of the user. The articles of the present invention will typically be provided with from about 10 to about 25 grams of the cleaning compositions, but this may be varied in accordance with dirt loads on the fabrics, the size of the vehicle sheets and the like. The following illustrates a typical procedure in more detail, but is not intended to limit the procedure.

EXAMPLE I A dry cleaning article in the form of a sheet is assembled using a sheet substance and a cleaning position prepared by mixing the following ingredients.

Ingredient% by weight BPP * 7.0 1, 2-ocatanod? Ol 0.5 PEMULEN TR-1 ** 0.125 KOH D.08 Perfume 0.75 Water The rest? 7 «• Isomer mixture, available from Dow Chemical Co. ** P.; I1LEN TR-2, B.F. Goodrich, can be used as a subst 11 uto, * • ** Includes preservatives such as KATHON "A non-linting vehicle sheet is prepared using the supply fabric l-irDRASPUNR" Grade 10244 described above. of square vehicles, approximately 22.9 crn x 25.4 ein, ie, 500.6 crn2 laminas.23 grams of the aforementioned cleaning composition are uniformly applied to the sheet by design on the sheet with a roller or spatula using Manual pressure In an alternative mode, the cleaning composition can be applied by injecting or spraying the composition onto the substrate, followed by crushing with a roller or pair of gripping rollers, ie, by pressing or crushing. "or by" spraying-aplant. "The outer surfaces of the sheets are wet but not sticky on contact.The finished sheet can be folded to be packed, and when it is unfolded and used from the As described herein, the sheet remains in the desired unfolding configuration. A dry cleaning sheet of the above type is unfolded and placed flat in a plastic bag having a volume of approximately 25,000 cm 3 together with 2 kg of dry garments to be cleaned. The bag is closed, sealed and placed in a conventional hot air clothes dryer. When dry cleaning garments and sheets are placed in 1 to 1, the pre-tends not to be l < I shoved the bag in before I closed it and Sel Larla. This allows the bag to bulge, thus providing "space for the fabrics and cleaning sheets to be freely stirred together. The dryer is started and the bag is stirred for a period of 20 to 30 minutes at an air temperature of the dryer in the range of about 5 ° C to about 85 ° C. During this time, the dry cleaning sheet remains substantially in the desired open position, thus providing effective contact with the fabrics. After the cycle of the machine is completed, the bag and its contents are removed from the dryer, and the spent dry cleaning sheet is discarded. The plastic bag is retained for reuse. The garments are cleaned and cooled. The water present in the cleaning composition serves to minimize wrinkles in the fabrics. In an alternative fashion, heavily soiled areas of the fabric being cleaned may optionally be pre-pressed by pressing or rubbing a fresh dry cleaning sheet according to this invention into the area. The sheet and the pretreated fabric are then placed in the container, and the Dry Cleaning procedure is conducted in the manner described herein. Having thus described and illustrated the present invention, the following further illustrates various impure compositions which can be developed and used in the practice of the same.

EXAMPLE II Ingre ine% by weight BPP * 5-25% J, 2-ocatanod? Ol 0.1-7% MgAE 0.001 0.8% MgAE6.5 0.001-0.8% Oxide of dirnet iarnine of C12 0.001-0.8% PEMULEN ** 0.05-0.20% Perfume 0.01-1.5% Water The rest pH scale from 6 to approximately 8.

* Other solvents or co-solvents that may be used herein include various glycol ethers, including materials marketed under trade names such as Carbitol, Carbitol ethyl, Butyl Carbitol, Carbitol propyl and hexyl Cellosolve, rnetoxipropoxypropanol (BPP), ethoxypropoxypropanol (EPP) ), propoxypropoxypropanol (PPP) and all isomers and mixtures, respectively, of MPP, EPP and PPP, and the like, and mixtures thereof. If desired and considering safety for domestic use, several chlorinated and hydrocarbon dry cleaning solvents may also be used. These include L, 2-d-chloroethane, tNcJoroe iJeno, isoparaffins and mixtures of the same. Although a little less preferred than BPP, etched propanol solvents MPP, FPP and PPP, respectively, can replace * in proportions equivalent to BPP in the illustrated cleaning compositions for use in the present invention. The weight ratios of the latter solvents with 1, 2-octanodol are on the same scale as described for the solvent BPP prfepdo. ** Oorno is described in the Patents of E.U.A. 4, 758, 641 and 5,004,557, said polos Latos include 11-mer ovenpods which can be * interlaced to varying degrees, as well as not interlaced. Here, polymers are preferred having a molecular weight of from about 100,000 to about 10,000,000, preferably from about 200,000 to about 5,000,000. An excellent cleaning performance is ensured using any of the non-immersive purposes and articles to provide from about 5 g to about 50 g of the cleaning compositions per kilogram of fabric being cleaned.

EXAMPLE III A dry cleaning equipment comprises multiple (3-10) single-use sheets as described in Example I and a multipurpose plastic bag. The sheets are folded fidi oinpacai se. The folded sheets and the folded plastic bag are placed in a cardboard box or other packing box for p? oveor a multipurpose dry cleaning equipment.

EXAMPLE V A dry cleaning composition with a reduced tendency to produce "bleed" or removal of dye from the fabrics as described above is the following: INGREDIENT PERCENTAGE (SCALE) Butoxipropoxypropanol (BPP) 7.000 4.0-25.0% NEODOL 23 - 6.5 * 0.750 0.05-2.5% 1,2-octanod? Ol 0.500 0.1-10.0% Perfume 0.750 0.1-2.0% Pernulen TR-1 0. L25 0.05-0.2% Potassium hydroxide (KOH) 0.060 0, 024-0.10% Potassium Chloride 0.075 0.02-0.20% Water (distilled or deionized) 90,740 60.0-95.0% Target pH - 7.0 * Breastplate: C12-C13 alcohol, ethoxylated with average EO of 6.5 15-25 grams of a composition of the above type were placed on a HYDRASPUN * vehicle sheet, in the way as described here. The sheet is placed together with the fabrics to be dry cleaned in a flexible container bag having dimensions as indicated above ') ( as well as sealing means. In a pre-eminent mode, the container bag is constructed of a heat-resistant film in order to provide * resistance to hot spots (77 ° to 204 ° C) which can be developed in some dryer-as. This prevents internal self-sealing and deformation of the outer surface of the bag, allowing the bags to be reused. In a preferred embodiment, a nylon film of 0.0025 mm to 0.0075 mm thickness is converted to a bag of 66 crn x 7b crn. The manufacture of the bag can be achieved * in a conventional manner using normal pulse heating equipment, air blowing techniques and the like. In an alternative fashion, a nylon sheet is simply folded in half and sealed along two of its edges. In addition to thermally stable "nylon only" bags, the containment bags of the present can also be prepared using co-extruded nylon and / or polyester sheets or outer and / or inner nylon and / or polyester layers surrounding a internal center, such as polypropylene. In an alternative mode, a bag is constructed using an external non-woven "shell" comprising a heat-resistant material such as nylon or polyethylene terephthalate and an inner sheet of a polymer that provides a vapor barrier. The non-woven outer shell protects the bag against melting and provides improved tactile printing to the wearer. Whatever the construction, the objective is to protect the integrity of the stock market or conditions of effort 20 normal at temperatures up to approximately f) 4 ° C to 260 ° C. * Nylon closures of type VELCR0, type ZTP-L0KR and / or zipper type * 'can be used to seal the bag, during use. In addition to the optional nonionic surfactants used in the cleaning compositions herein, which are preferably Cß-Ciß ethoxylated alcohols (EO L-15) or the corresponding ethoxylated alkylphenols, the compositions used herein may contain enzymes to increase more cleaning performance. Raisins, amylases and proteases, or mixtures thereof, can be used. If used, said enzymes typically comprise from about 0.001% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 1% by weight, of the composition. Commercial detersive enzymes such as LIPOLASE, ESPERASE, ALCALASE, SAVINASE and TERMAMYL (all ex NOVO) and MAXATASE and RAPIDASE (ex International B o-Synthesi s, Inc.) can be used. If anti-static benefits are desired, the compositions used herein may contain an anti-static agent. If used, said antistatic agents may comprise at least about 0.5%, typically from about 2% to about 8% by weight of the compositions. Preferred antistatics include the series of sulfonated polymers available as VERSAFLEX 157, 207, 1001. 2004 and 7000, from National Starch and Chemical Cornpany.

The compositions herein can be optionally stabilized for storage using conventional preservatives such as KATHON® at a level of 0.001% -1% by weight. The compositions of the present invention are used in a stain cleaning mode, preferably pressed (without rubbing) onto the fabric in the stained area using an applicator pad comprising staple fibers, as available with APLIX 200 or 960. Uncut Loop, from Aplix Inc., Charlotte, NC. An underlying absorbent sheet or pad of loop fibers can be optionally placed below the fabric in this mode of operation.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - An article for cleaning and freshness of fabrics comprising: (A) a substrate of hydrocarbonized vehicle, said substratable iLberableinent containing: (B) a composition li piadora.

2. An article according to claim 1, further characterized in that the vehicle substrate comprises a mixture of types of synthetic and natural fibers.

3. An article in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that the vehicle substrate is a sheet comprising a mixture of rayon, polyester, cellulose and, optionally, two-component fibers.

4. An article according to claim 1, further characterized in that the cleaning composition comprises: a) water; b) an etched propanol solvent; c) optionally 1, 2-octanodol; d) an ernulsifier; e) optionally, a detersive surfactant; and f) optionally, a perfume.

5. An article in accordance with the claim 4, further characterized in that the etherified propanol solvent is a member selected from the group consisting of rnetoxy-, ethoxy-, propoxy- and butoxy-propoxypropanol, and mixtures thereof.

6. An article according to claim 5, characterized in that the cleaning composition comprises a mixture of butox and propoxy propanol and 1, -oet anodiol.

7. - An article in accordance with the claim 4, further characterized in that the surfactant is a member selected from the group consisting of amine oxides, alkyl prodrugs, ethoxylated alcohols and mixtures thereof. 0 .-- A method for dry cleaning of sweat fabrics, comprising the steps of: a) putting the fabrics to be cleaned with an article according to claim 1 into a container comprising a flexible plastic bag; b) close and seal the bag; c) placing the bag in a rotating device; d) spin the bag for a period of at least about 10 minutes; and e) removing the fabrics from the bag. 9. A method according to claim 8, further characterized in that the rotating apparatus is a hot air clothes dryer, and in that the process is conducted at an air temperature inside said dryer of at least about 50 ° C. . 10. A process according to claim 8, further characterized in that the solvent is butoxypropoxypropanol. 11. A process according to claim 8, further characterized in that the substrate is a hydro-reinforced sheet.