WO2000032727A1 - Detergent composition, comprising soil suspending agent, for use with a disposable absorbent pad - Google Patents

Abstract

A hard surface detergent composition cleaning solution for use with a disposable cleaning pad preferably comprising an effective amount of a superabsorbent material, said pad preferably being part of a cleaning implement comprising a handle and said cleaning pad preferably being removable. The detergent composition contains a soil suspending agent, preferably, limited amount of detergent surfactant, the level of hydrophobic materials preferably being kept below about 3 %, and the pH preferably being above about 9, to allow the cleaning solution to be readily absorbed by the superabsorbent material and the composition provides an improved surface appearance. The process of using the detergent composition with such a cleaning pad, and the provision of a kit containing both detergent composition and cleaning pad are disclosed.

Description

DETERGENT COMPOSITION, COMPRISING SOIL SUSPENDING AGENT, FOR USE

WITH A DISPOSABLE ABSORBENT PAD

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to detergent compositions (solutions) for use with a disposable absorbent pad, preferably where the pad is part of a cleaning implement, e.g , mop. and especially where the pad compπses superabsorbent material useful in removing soils from hard surfaces

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The normal devices for cleaning floors are reusable, including mops containing cotton strings, cellulose and/or synthetic strips, sponges, and the like. This invention relates to mops having disposable cleaning pads. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,094,559, issued March 10, 1992 to Rivera et al., describes a mop that includes a disposable cleaning pad. After the cleaning action is completed, the pad is removed from the mop handle and reattached such that the blotter layer contacts the floor.

Similarly, U.S. Patent 5,419,015, issued May 30, 1995 to Garcia, descπbes a mop having removable, washable work pads. The pad is descπbed as compπsmg an upper layer which is capable of attaching to hooks on a mop head, a central layer of synthetic plastic microporous foam, and a lower layer for contacting a surface duπng the cleaning operation. The synthetic foam descπbed by Garcia for absorbing the cleaning solution has a relatively low absorbent capacity for water and water-based solutions. As such, the user must either use small amounts of cleaning solution to remain within the absorbent capacity of the pad, or the user must leave a significant amount of cleaning solution on the surface being cleaned.

The present invention relates pπmaπly to detergent solutions for use with a disposable cleaning pad that preferably is part of a cleaning implement, which alleviates the need to πnse the pad duπng use. This preferably includes an implement that compπses a removable disposable cleaning pad with sufficient absorbent capacity, on a gram of absorbed fluid per gram of cleaning pad basis, that allows the cleaning of a large area, such as that of the typical hard surface floor (e.g., 80-100 ft²), without the need to change the pad. This, in turn, requires the use of a superabsorbent material, preferably of the type disclosed hereinafter. Detergent compositions that are used with such superabsorbent mateπals must be carefully formulated to avoid defeating the goal of using such superabsorbent material, as disclosed m the copendmg provisional patent application of Masters et al., Serial No. 60/045,858, filed May 8, 1997, said application being incorporated herein by reference.

The preferred cleaning implements have a pad which offers beneficial soil removal properties due to continuously providing a fresh surface, and/or edge to contact the soiled surface, e.g., by providing a plurality of surfaces that contact the soiled surface during the cleaning operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As disclosed in said provisional -application, detergent compositions (solutions) which are to be used with an implement containing a superabsorbent material require sufficient detergent, preferably at least 0.03% by weight of the composition, to enable the solution to provide cleaning without overloading the superabsorbent material with solution, but preferably do not have more than about 0.5% by weight of the composition of detergent surfactant to avoid hurting the filming/streaking performance as discussed hereinafter. The compositions of said provisional application provide excellent cleaning and constitute a real improvement in the art. However, cleaning performance is limited under certain soil situations. Soils that are not suspended in the cleaning solution by whatever level of surfactant that is present, are not effectively removed from the floor by transport to the superabsorbent core of the pad. These soils then redeposit to form a haze that can be seen when the cleaning solution evaporates from the floor. This haze is a major source of dissatisfaction to the consumer. Often these redeposited soils are insoluble particulates.

We have found that specific water soluble soil suspending polymers added to the cleaning solution can improve end result appearance by reducing the amount of insoluble soil that is redeposited. Thus, haze, filming and streaking are reduced for the superabsorbent pad system. Said water soluble soil suspending polymers aid in the suspension and subsequent uptake of particulate soils into the pad. The essential polymers herein are preferably present at levels of from about 0.001% to about 1%, more preferably from about 0.005 to about 0.5%, and even more preferably from about 0.005% to about 0.1%, by weight of the cleaning solution composition. The water soluble soil suspending polymers are preferably selected from a group consisting of: ethoxylated and/or propoxylated polyalkylamines; anionic, e.g., carboxylate polymers; nitrogen-based zwitterionic polymers; polyethyleneoxides; polyphosphates; and cellulosic polymers. Of these, polymers having a weight average molecular weight of less than about 250,000, preferably from about 200 to about 200,000, more preferably from about 200 to about 150,000, and even more preferably from about 200 to about 100,000, are preferred. DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. THE DETERGENT COMPOSITION

Hard surface detergent compositions that provide effective cleaning and good fϊlmmg/streakmg when used with a disposable cleaning pad and without rinsing comprise: (1) an effective amount of polymeric soil suspending agent and (2) preferably, from about 0.03% to about 0.5%) by weight of the composition of one or more detergent surfactants, the level of hydrophobic materials, including hydrophobic cleaning solvents being limited. The detergent composition of the present invention is used in combination with a disposable, preferably superabsorbent, cleaning pad, preferably attached to an implement which facilitates its use. Preferred detergent compositions which can be used with the preferred pads containing superabsorbent material and optional implement, described hereinafter, require sufficient detergent to enable the solution to provide cleaning without overloading the superabsorbent material with solution, but, typically, if there is more than about 0.5% detergent surfactant the performance suffers. Therefore, the level of detergent surfactant is preferably from about 0.03%to about 0.5%, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.45%, and even more preferably from about 0.2%> to about 0.45%, by weight of the composition. The level of hydrophobic materials, including cleaning solvent, is preferably less than about 3%, more preferably less than about 2%, and even more preferably less than about 1% and the pH is typically more than about 9.3, preferably more than about 10, and more preferably more than about 10.3, to avoid hindering absorption in the preferred superabsorbent material. The alkalinity should preferably be provided, at least in part, by volatile materials, to minimize streakmg/filmmg problems.

The invention also comprises a detergent composition as disclosed herein in a container in association with instructions to use it with an implement comprising a disposable pad, preferably a disposable pad comprising an effective amount of a superabsorbent material, and, optionally, in a container in a kit comprising the pad and optional implement, or, at least, a disposable cleaning pad comprising a superabsorbent material. The invention also relates in a preferred aspect to the use of the composition and a cleaning pad comprising a superabsorbent material (superabsorbent pad) to effect cleaning of soiled surfaces.

The detergent composition (cleaning solution), herein, is an aqueous-based solution comprising one or more detergent surfactants, alkaline materials to provide the desired alkaline pH, and optional ingredients including: hydrophobic cleaning solvents, hydrophihc shear- thinmng polymers, detergent builders, chelants, suds suppressors, detergent enzymes, etc. Suitable surfactants include aniomc, noniomc, zwitterionic, and amphoteric surfactants Of these, preferred are aniomc and nonionic detergent surfactants having hydrophobic chains containing from about 8 to about 18, and more preferably from about 8 to about 15 carbon atoms. Examples of anionic and nonionic surfactants include those well know in the art, examples of which contain a hydrophilic moiety selected from the group consisting of: sulfate, ethoxysulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate, ethoxycarboxylate, polyethoxylate, dialkyl amine oxide, glucamide and sugar based head groups, and the like. Examples of zwitterionic surfactants include betaines and sulfobetaines. Examples of amphoteric surfactants include alkylampho glycinates, and alkyl imino propionates. Many of the above materials are available commercially, and are described in McCutcheon's Vol. 1 : Emulsifiers and Detergents, North American Ed., McCutcheon Division, MC Publishing Co., 1995, incorporated herein by reference.

Suitable hydrophobic cleaning solvents include short chain (e.g., Ci -Cg) derivatives of oxyethylene glycol and oxypropylene glycol, such as mono- and di-ethylene glycol n-hexyl ether, mono-, di- and tri-propylene glycol n-butyl ether, and the like. The level of hydrophobic cleaning solvent, e.g., solvent having a solubility in water of less than about 3%, is in the cleaning composition at less than about 3%, more preferably less than about 2% by weight of the composition.

Suitable detergent builders include those derived from phosphorous sources, such as orthophosphates, pyrophosphates, tripolyphosphates, etc., and those derived from non- phosphorous sources, such as nitrilotriacetates; S,S-ethylene diamine disuccinates; and the like. Suitable chelants include ethylenediaminetetraacetates; citrates; and the like. Suitable suds suppressors include silicone polymers and linear or branched CI Q-CI g fatty acids or alcohols. Suitable detergent enzymes include lipases, proteases, amylases and other enzymes known to be useful for catalysis of soil degradation. The total level of such ingredients is low, preferably less than about 0.1%, more preferably less than about 0.05%, to avoid causing filming/streaking problems. Preferably, the compositions should be essentially free of materials that cause filming/streaking problems. Accordingly, it is desirable to use alkaline materials that do not cause filming and/or streaking for the majority of the buffering. Suitable alkaline buffers are carbonates, bicarbonates, citrates, etc. The preferred alkaline buffers are alkanol amines having the formula:

CR₂(NR₂)CR₂OH wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl groups containing from one to four carbon atoms and the total of carbon atoms in the compound is from three to six, preferably, 2-dimethylamino-2-methyl-l-propanol.

A suitable preferred cleaning solution for use with the present implement comprises from about 0.1%> to about 0.5% of detergent surfactant, preferably comprising an alcohol ethoxylate detergent surfactant (e.g., Neodol 1-5®, available from Shell Chemical Co.) and an alkyl sulfonate (e.g., Witconate NAS-8, a linear Cg sulfonate available from Witco Co.); from about 0.01%) to about 1%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 0.6%>, of volatile alkaline material, e.g., 2-amino-2-methyl-l-propanol; from about 0.0005% to about 0.08% hydrophilic shear-thinning polymer, e.g. xanthan gum; optional adjuvants such as dyes and/or perfumes; and from about 99.9%> to about 90% by weight of the composition of deionized or softened water. II. THE SOIL SUSPENDING AGENTS

The soil suspending agents, preferably water soluble polymers, for use in the detergent composition and/or cleaning solution of this invention are selected from a group consisting of, ethoxylated and/or propoxylated polyalkylamines, carboxylate polymers, nitrogen-based zwitterionic polymers, polyethyleneoxides, polyphosphates, and cellulosic polymers.

Preferred soil suspending agents are ethoxylated polyalkylamines. Such agents are disclosed in U. S. Pat. Patent Number: 4,891,160, issued January 2, 1990, entitled Detergent compositions containing ethoxylated amines having, clay soil removal/anti-redeposition properties, by Vander Meer, James M.

Preferred ethoxylated polyamines can be derived from polyamino amides and/or polyaminopropyleneoxide materials. Preferred ethoxylated amine polymers are the ethoxylated C₂ -C₃ polyalkyleneamines and polyalkyleneimines. Particularly preferred ethoxylated polyalkyleneamines and polyalkyleneimines are the ethoxylated polyethyleneamines (PEAs) and polyethyleneimines (PEIs). Each hydrogen atom attached to each nitrogen atom represents an active site for subsequent ethoxylation. Preferred have a molecular weight of from about 140 to about 310, preferably from about 140 to about 200. These PEAs can be obtained by reactions involving ammonia and ethylene dichloride, followed by fractional distillation. The common PEAs obtained are triethylenetetramine (TETA) and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). Above the pentamines, i.e., the hexamines, heptamines, octamines and possibly nonamines, the cogenerically derived mixture does not appear to separate by distillation and can include other materials such as cyclic amines and particularly piperazines. There can also be present cyclic amines with side chains in which nitrogen atoms appear. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,372 to Dickson, issued May 14, 1957, which describes the preparation of PEAs. The minimum degree of ethoxylation required for preferred soil suspension performance can vary depending upon the number of units in the PEA.

The PEIs used in preparing the compounds of the present invention have a molecular weight of at least about 440 prior to ethoxylation, which represents at least about 10 units. Preferred PEIs used in preparing these compounds have an average molecular weight of from about 600 to about 2600. Although linear polymer backbones are possible, branched chains can also occur. The relative proportions of primary, secondary and tertiary amine groups present in the polymer can vary, depending on the manner of preparation. Each hydrogen atom attached to each nitrogen atom of the PEI represents an active site for subsequent ethoxylation. These PEIs can be prepared, for example, by polymerizing ethyleneimine in the presence of a catalyst such as carbon dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, etc. Specific methods for preparing PEIs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,182,306 to Ulrich et al., issued Dec. 5, 1939; U.S. Pat. No. 3,033,746 to Mayle et al., issued May 8, 1962; U.S. Pat. No. 2,208,095 to Esselmann et al., issued July 16, 1940; U.S. Pat. No. 2,806,839 to Crowther, issued Sept. 17, 1957; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,553,696 to Wilson, issued May 21, 1951 (all incorporated herein by reference).

The minimum degree of ethoxylation required for suitable soil suspension performance can increase as the molecular weight of the PEI increases, especially much beyond about 1800. Also, the degree of ethoxylation for preferred compounds increases as the molecular weight of the PEI increases. For preferred PEAs and PEIs having a molecular weight of at least about 600, the degree of ethoxylation is preferably at least about 1 , with a more preferred range of from about 12 to about 42. For PEAs and PEIs having a molecular weight of at least 1600, the degree of ethoxylation is preferably at least about 1, with a typical range of from about 10 to about 40. The level at which the ethoxylated amine(s) can be present in the detergent compositions herein can vary depending upon the compounds used.

Generally, the ethoxylated amines can be included in an amount of from about 0.001% to about 1% by weight of the composition, with the preferred range being from about 0.005% to about 0.5%) by weight, and a more preferred range of about 0.01% to 0.1%>.

Still other suitable compounds are disclosed in U. S. Pat. Patent Number: 5,565,145, issued October 15, 1996, entitled Compositions comprising ethoxylated/propoxylated, polyalkyleneamine polymers as soil dispersing agents, by Watson, Randall A.; Gosselink, Eugene P.; and Zhang, Shulin, incorporated herein by reference.

These compounds are ethoxylated/propoxylated polyalkyleneamine polymers. The polyalkyleneamines comprise a nitrogen-containing backbone with an average molecular weight of from about 600 to about 10,000, preferably from about 1,000 to about 3,000. Said polymers have an average alkoxylation of from about 0.5 to about 10, preferably from about 0.7 to about 8, most preferably from about 0.7 to about 4, per nitrogen. Further said alkoxylated polyalkyleneamine polymers can comprise up to about 4, but preferably 1 or less, propoxylates or longer alkoxylate units per available site on the nitrogens. By "per available site on the nitrogens" is meant that each H of the NH moiety can be substituted with up to about 4 propoxylates or longer alkoxylate units. Thus, after alkoxylation of a NH₂ site, there can then be up to 8 propoxylates or long alkoxylate units connected to the nitrogen. Preferably, the propoxylate or longer alkoxylate units in the alkoxylate systems are added to the polyalkyleneamine first, before the ethoxylate units.

An example of suitable polyalkylamine has the general formula: E B

I I

[E₂NCH₂CH₂]_W [NCH₂CH₂]_X [NCH₂CH₂]_y NE₂ wherein B is a continuation by branching of the polyethyleneimine backbone and E is an ethyleneoxy unit having the formula:

-(CH₂CH₂0)_mH wherein m has an average value of about 20. What is meant herein by an average value of 20 is that sufficient ethylene oxide or other suitable reagent is reacted with the polyethyleneimine starting material to fully ethoxylate each N-H unit in the polyethyleneamine to an average degree of 20 ethoxy groups.

The units which make up the polyalkyleneimine backbones are derived from primary amine units having the formula:

[H₂N-CH₂CH₂]- and -NH₂ which terminate the main backbone and any branching chains, secondary amine units having the formula:

H

— [N-CH₂CH₂]— and which, after modification, have their hydrogen atom substituted by an average of 20 ethyleneoxy units, and tertiary amine units having the formula:

B [N-CH₂CH₂]— which are the branching points of the main and secondary backbone chains, B representing a continuation of the chain structure by branching. The tertiary units have no replaceable hydrogen atom and are therefore not modified by substitution with ethyleneoxy units. During the formation of the polyamine backbones cyclization may occur, therefore, an amount of cyclic polyamine can be present in the parent polyalkyleneimine backbone mixture. Each primary and secondary amine unit of the cyclic alkyleneimines undergoes modification by the addition of alkyleneoxy units in the same manner as linear and branched polyalkyleneimines.

The indices w, x, and y have values such that the average molecular weight of the polyethyleneimine backbone prior to modification is about 600 daltons. In addition, those skilled in the art will recognize that each branch chain must terminate in a primary amine unit, therefore the value of the index w is y + 1 in the case where no cyclic amine backbones are present. The average molecular weight for each ethylene backbone unit, -NCH₂CH₂-, is approximately 43 daltons.

Other soil suspending materials include polyvinyl pyrrolidone and/or cellulose derivatives. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone is not a single individual compound but can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerization. The degree of polymerization, which is most easily expressed in terms of average molecular weight, is not critical provided the material has the desired water solubility and soil-suspending power. In general, suitable soil-suspending vinyl pyrrolidone polymers are linear in structure, and have an average molecular weight within the range of about 5,000 to about 100,000, and preferably from about 15,000 to about 50,000. Suitable polymers will also, generally, have a water solubility of greater than 0.3%> at normal usage temperatures.

Any well-known nonionic cellulose ether can be used in the detergent composition according to the invention. Preferably the cellulose ether is an alkyl or an alkyl/ hydroxyalkyl cellulose derivative. The alkyl group should contain from 1 to 4, preferably from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and the hydroxyalkyl group should contain from 2 to 4, preferably from 2 to 3 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred materials include methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl hydroxylpropyl cellulose and ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose.

The total level of the polyvinyl pyrrolidone and/or cellulose derivatives in the detergent composition is preferably in the range of about 0.001% to about 1%> by weight of the composition, a more preferred range being from about 0.005% to about 0.5% by weight, and a more preferred range of about 0.01% to 0.1 %.

An improvement in soil suspension can be achieved at all mixing ratios of the vinyl pyrrolidone polymer and the nonionic cellulose ether. Preferably, the ratio of the vinyl pyrrolidone polymer to the nonionic cellulose ether in the detergent composition is within the range from about 8:2 to about 2:8, most preferably from about 6:4 to about 4:6, by weight. Mixtures of this type are disclosed in U. S. Pat. Patent Number: 4,999,129, entitled Process and composition for washing soiled polyester,fabrics, byMichael Hull.

Other soil suspending agents can be anionic polymers. Examples of these anionic polymers are disclosed in, e.g., U. S. Pat. Number: 5789369, entitled, Modified polyacrylic acid polymers for anti-redeposition performance, by Gopalkrishnan, Sridhar; Guiney, Kathleen M.; and Sherman, John V. The total molecular weight of the copolymer disclosed in said patent are within the range of about 1000 to 100,000, as determined by gel permeation chromatography. More preferably, the weight average molecular weight falls within the range of about 1 ,000 to 30,000; most preferably within the range of about 1,000 to 20,000.

The hydrophilic copolymer can be prepared by copolymerizing two monomers, an unsaturated hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophilic oxyalkylated monomer. Examples of unsaturated hydrophilic monomers disclosed include acrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, methacrylic acid, methacrylate esters and substituted methacrylate esters, vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, methylvinyl ether, crotonic acid, itaconic acid, vinyl acetic acid, and vinylsulphonate. The unsaturated hydrophilic monomer component of the hydrophilic copolymer is preferably acrylic acid. Examples of the hydrophilic oxyalkylated monomer include compounds that have a polymerizable olefinic moiety with at least one acidic hydrogen and are capable of undergoing addition reaction with alkylene oxide. It is also possible to include monomers with at least one acidic hydrogen that are polymerized first, and then subsequently oxyalkylated to yield the desired product. For example, allyl alcohol is especially preferred since it represents a monofunctional initiator with a polymerizable olefinic moiety having an acidic hydrogen on the oxygen, and is capable of adding to alkylene oxide. Other examples of the hydrophilic oxyalkylated monomer of the copolymer include reaction products of either acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, or 3-allyloxy-l,2-propanediol with alkylene oxide. Preparation of oxyalkylated monomers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,475 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,378 both incorporated herein by reference. Especially preferred is the hydrophilic oxyalkylated monomer which is a propylene Is oxide and ethylene oxide adduct of allyl alcohol. This monomer has a molecular weight of about 3800. The molecular weight of the hydrophilic oxyalkylated monomer according to the various embodiments of the invention should be preferably within the range of about 600 to 30,000, more preferably about 700 to 15,000, and most preferably about 700 to 5000. The hydrophilic oxyalkyated monomer preferably has a solubility of about 500 grams/liter, more preferably about 700 grams/liter in water.

Other polymeric polycarboxylates that are suitable include, for example, the polymers disclosed in U. S. Pat. 5,574,004, incorporated herein by reference. Such polymers include homopolymers and/or copolymers (composed of two or more monomers) of an alpha, beta- ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, a diacid such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, fumaric acid, mesoconic acid, citraconic acid and the like, a monoester of a diacid with an alkanol, e.g., having 1-8 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof. When the polymeric polycarboxylate is a copolymer, it can be a copolymer of more than one of the foregoing unsaturated acid monomers, e.g., acrylic acid and maleic acid, or a copolymer of at least one of such unsaturated acid monomers with at least one non-carboxylic alpha, beta- ethylenically unsaturated monomer which can be either relatively non-polar such as styrene or an olefinic monomer, such as ethylene, propylene or butene-1, or which has a polar functional group such as vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, vinyl alcohol, alkyl acrylates, vinyl pyridine, vinyl pyrrolidone, or an amide of one of the delineated unsaturated acid monomers, such as acrylamide or methacrylamide. Certain of the foregoing copolymers can be prepared by after treating a homopolymer or a different copolymer, e.g., copolymers of acrylic acid and acrylamide by partially hydrolyzing a polyacrylamide. Copolymers of at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer with at least one non-carboxylic comonomer should contain at least about 50 mol % of polymerized carboxylic acid monomer. The polymeric polycarboxylate should have a number average molecular weight of, for example about 1000 to 10,000, preferably about 2000 to 5000. To ensure substantial water solubility, the polymeric polycarboxylate is completely or partially neutralized, e.g., with alkali metal ions, preferably sodium ions.

The total level of the polymeric polycarboxylate in the detergent composition is preferably in the range of about 0.001% to about 1% by weight of the composition, a more preferred range being from about 0.005% to about 0.5%> by weight, and a more preferred range of about 0.01% to 0.1%.

Still other polycarboxylate materials include those disclosed in U. S. Pat. Patent Number: 5470510, issued November 28, 1995, entitled Dispersing agent, by Willey, Alan D. The polymers can be derived from L-glumatic acid, D-glumatic acid or mixtures, e.g. racemates, of these L and D isomers. The L isomer and D, L racemate are currently preferred. The polymers include not only the homopolymers of glutamic acid but also copolymers, such as block, graft or random copolymers, containing glutamic acid. Thus, copolymers of glutamic acid with at least one other (preferably biodegradable) monomer, oligomer or polymer come into consideration. These include, for example, copolymers containing at least one other amino acid, such as aspartic acid, ethylene glycol, ethylene oxide, (or an oligimer or polymer of any of these) or polyvinyl alcohol. Glutamic acid can, of course, carry one or more substituents and the polymers useful as component (a) include those in which a proportion or all of the glutamic acid monomers are substituted. Substituents include, for example, alkyl, hydroxy alkyl, aryl and arylalkyl, commonly with up to 18 carbon atoms per group, or polyethylene glycol attached by ester linkages.

Other soil suspending agents suitable herein include cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose. The total level of cellulose derivatives in the detergent composition is preferably in the range of about 0.001% to about 1%> by weight of the composition, a more preferred range being from about 0.005%> to about 0.5% by weight, and a more preferred range of about 0.01% to 0.1%.

Further useful organic polymeric compounds are the polyethylene glycols, particularly those of average molecular weight of 1,000-100,000, more particularly 2000 to 10,000 and most preferably 4,000. These can be used alone or in combination with the polycarboxylate polymers disclosed herewithin. The total level of these polymers in the detergent composition is preferably in the range of about 0.001% to about 1% by weight of the composition, a more preferred range being from about 0.005% to about 0.5% by weight, and a more preferred range of about 0.01% to 0.1%.

III. THE CLEANING PAD

The present invention improves the convenience of a removable and/or disposable cleaning pad, that preferably contains a superabsorbent material and which preferably also provides significant cleaning benefits. The preferred cleaning performance benefits are related to the preferred structural characteristics described below, combined with the ability of the pad to remove solubilized soils. The preferred cleaning pad, as described herein, when used with the preferred detergent composition, as described hereinafter, provides optimum performance.

The cleaning pads will preferably have an absorbent capacity, when measured under a confining pressure of 0.09 psi after 20 minutes (1200 seconds) (hereafter referred to as "tι oo absorbent capacity"), of at least about 10 g deionized water per g of the cleaning pad. The absorbent capacity of the pad is measured at 20 minutes (1200 seconds) after exposure to deionized water, as this represents a typical time for the consumer to clean a hard surface such as a floor. The confining pressure represents typical pressures exerted on the pad during the cleaning process. As such, the cleaning pad should be capable of absorbing significant amounts of the cleaning solution within this 1200 second period under 0.09 psi. The cleaning pad will preferably have a tι ₂øo absorbent capacity of at least about 15 g/g, more preferably at least about 20 g/g, still more preferably at least about 25 g/g and most preferably at least about 30 g/g. The cleaning pad will preferably have a t9øo absorbent capacity of at least about 10 g/g, more preferably a absorbent capacity of at least about 20 g/g.

Values for tι ₂øo and t9oo absorbent capacity are measured by the performance under pressure (referred to herein as "PUP") method, which is described in detail in the Test Methods section below.

The cleaning pads will also preferably, but not necessarily, have a total fluid capacity (of deionized water) of at least about 100 g, more preferably at least about 200 g, still more preferably at least about 300 g and most preferably at least about 400 g. While pads having a total fluid capacity less than 100 g are within the scope of the invention, they are not as well suited for cleaning large areas, such as seen in a typical household, as are higher capacity pads.

Each of the components of the absorbent pad are described in detail. However, the skilled artisan will recognize that various materials known to serve similar purposes can be substituted with similar results. A. Absorbent Layer

An absorbent layer preferably serves to retain any fluid and soil absorbed by the cleaning pad during use. While the preferred scrubbing layer, described hereinafter, has some effect on the pad's ability to absorb fluid, the preferred absorbent layer plays a major role in achieving the desired overall absorbency. Furthermore, the absorbent layer preferably comprises multiple layers which are designed to provide the cleaning pad with multiple planar surfaces.

From the essential fluid absorbency perspective, the absorbent layer is preferably capable of removing fluid and soil from any "scrubbing layer" so that the scrubbing layer will have capacity to continually remove soil from the surface. The absorbent layer also is preferably capable of retaining absorbed material under typical in-use pressures to avoid "squeeze-out" of absorbed soil, cleaning solution, etc.

The absorbent layer can comprise any material that is capable of absorbing and retaining fluid during use. To achieve desired total fluid capacities, it will be preferred to include in the absorbent layer a material having a relatively high fluid capacity (in terms of grams of fluid per gram of absorbent material). As used herein, the term "superabsorbent material" means any absorbent material having a g/g capacity for water of at least about 15 g/g, when measured under a confining pressure of 0.3 psi. Because a majority of the cleaning fluids useful with the present invention are aqueous based, it is preferred that the superabsorbent materials have a relatively high g/g capacity for water or water-based fluids.

Representative superabsorbent materials include water insoluble, water-swellable superabsorbent gelling polymers (referred to herein as "superabsorbent gelling polymers") which are well known in the literature. These materials demonstrate very high absorbent capacities for water. The superabsorbent gelling polymers useful in the present invention can have a size, shape and/or moφhology varying over a wide range. These polymers can be in the form of particles that do not have a large ratio of greatest dimension to smallest dimension (e.g., granules, flakes, pulverulents, inteφarticle aggregates, inteφarticle crosslinked aggregates, and the like) or they can be in the form of fibers, sheets, films, foams, laminates, and the like. The use of superabsorbent gelling polymers in fibrous form provides the benefit of providing enhanced retention of the superabsorbent material, relative to particles, during the cleaning process. While their capacity is generally lower for aqueous-based mixtures, these materials still demonstrate significant absorbent capacity for such mixtures. The patent literature is replete with disclosures of water-swellable materials. See, for example, U.S. Patent 3,699,103 (Haφer et al.), issued June 13, 1972; U.S. Patent 3,770,731 (Harmon), issued June 20, 1972; U.S. Reissue Patent 32,649 (Brandt et al.), reissued April 19, 1989; U.S. Patent 4,834,735 (Alemany et al.), issued May 30, 1989.

Superabsorbent gelling polymers useful in the present invention include a variety of water-insoluble, but water-swellable polymers capable of absorbing large quantities of fluids. Such polymeric materials are also commonly referred to as "hydrocolloids", and can include polysaccharides such as carboxymethyl starch, carboxymethyl cellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose; nonionic types such as polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinyl ethers; cationic types such as polyvinyl pyridine, polyvinyl moφholinione, and N,N-dimethylaminoethyl or N,N- diethylaminopropyl acrylates and methacrylates, and the respective quaternary salts thereof. Typically, superabsorbent gelling polymers useful in the present invention have a multiplicity of anionic functional groups, such as sulfonic acid, and more typically carboxy, groups. Examples of polymers suitable for use herein include those which are prepared from polymerizable, unsaturated, acid-containing monomers. Thus, such monomers include the olefinically unsaturated acids and anhydrides that contain at least one carbon to carbon olefinic double bond. More specifically, these monomers can be selected from olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acids and acid anhydrides, olefinically unsaturated sulfonic acids, and mixtures thereof.

Some non-acid monomers can also be included, usually in minor amounts, in preparing the superabsorbent gelling polymers useful herein. Such non-acid monomers can include, for example, the water-soluble or water-dispersible esters of the acid-containing monomers, as well as monomers that contain no carboxylic or sulfonic acid groups at all. Optional non-acid monomers can thus include monomers containing the following types of functional groups: carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid esters, hydroxyl groups, amide-groups, amino groups, nitrile groups, quaternary ammonium salt groups, aryl groups (e.g., phenyl groups, such as those derived from styrene monomer). These non-acid monomers are well-known materials and are described in greater detail, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,076,663 (Masuda et al), issued February 28, 1978, and in U.S. Patent 4,062,817 (Westerman), issued December 13, 1977, both of which are incoφorated by reference.

Olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid and carboxylic acid anhydride monomers include the acrylic acids typified by acrylic acid itself, methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, α-chloroacrylic acid, a-cyanoacrylic acid, β-methylacrylic acid (crotonic acid), α-phenylacrylic acid, β- acryloxypropionic acid, sorbic acid, α-chlorosorbic acid, angelic acid, cinnamic acid, p- chlorocinnamic acid, β-sterylacrylic acid, itaconic acid, citroconic acid, mesaconic acid, glutaconic acid, aconitic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tricarboxyethylene and maleic acid anhydride.

Olefinically unsaturated sulfonic acid monomers include aliphatic or aromatic vinyl sulfonic acids such as vinylsulfonic acid, allyl sulfonic acid, vinyl toluene sulfonic acid and styrene sulfonic acid; acrylic and methacrylic sulfonic acid such as sulfoethyl acrylate, sulfoethyl methacrylate, sulfopropyl acrylate, sulfopropyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxy-3- methacryloxypropyl sulfonic acid and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid.

Preferred superabsorbent gelling polymers for use in the present invention contain carboxy groups. These polymers include hydrolyzed starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymers, partially neutralized hydrolyzed starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymers, starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers, partially neutralized starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers, saponified vinyl acetate- acrylic ester copolymers, hydrolyzed acrylonitrile or acrylamide copolymers, slightly network crosslinked polymers of any of the foregoing copolymers, partially neutralized polyacrylic acid, and slightly network crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid. These polymers can be used either solely or in the form of a mixture of two or more different polymers. Examples of these polymer materials are disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,661,875, U.S. Patent 4,076,663, U.S. Patent 4,093,776, U.S. Patent 4,666,983, and U.S. Patent 4,734,478, all of said patents being incoφorated by reference.

Most preferred polymer materials for use in making the superabsorbent gelling polymers are slightly network crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acids and starch derivatives thereof. Most preferably, the hydrogel-forming absorbent polymers comprise from about 50 to about 95%, preferably about 75%, neutralized, slightly network crosslinked, polyacrylic acid (i.e. poly (sodium acrylate/acrylic acid)). Network crosslinking renders the polymer substantially water-insoluble and, in part, determines the absoφtive capacity and extractable polymer content characteristics of the superabsorbent gelling polymers. Processes for network crosslinking these polymers and typical network crosslinking agents are described in greater detail in U.S. Patent 4,076,663.

While the superabsorbent gelling polymers is preferably of one type (i.e., homogeneous), mixtures of polymers can also be used in the implements of the present invention. For example, mixtures of starch-acrylic acid graft copolymers and slightly network crosslinked polymers of partially neutralized polyacrylic acid can be used in the present invention.

While any of the superabsorbent gelling polymers described in the prior art can be useful in the present invention, where significant levels (e.g., more than about 50% by weight of the absorbent structure) of superabsorbent gelling polymers are to be included in an absorbent structure, and in particular where one or more regions of the absorbent layer will comprise more than about 50%, by weight of the region, the problem of gel blocking by the swollen particles can impede fluid flow and thereby adversely affect the ability of the gelling polymers to absorb to their full capacity in the desired period of time. U.S. Patent 5,147,343 (Kellenberger et al.), issued September 15, 1992 and U.S. Patent 5,149,335 (Kellenberger et al.), issued September 22, 1992, describe superabsorbent gelling polymers in terms of their Absorbency Under Load (AUL), where gelling polymers absorb fluid (0.9% saline) under a confining pressure of 0.3 psi. (The disclosure of each of these patents is incoφorated herein by reference.) The methods for determining AUL are described in these patents. Polymers described therein can be particularly useful in embodiments of the present invention that contain regions of relatively high levels of superabsorbent gelling polymers. In particular, where high concentrations of superabsorbent gelling polymer are incoφorated in the cleaning pad, those polymers will preferably have an AUL, measured according to the methods described in U.S. Patent 5,147,343, of at least about 24 ml/g, more preferably at least about 27 ml/g after 1 hour; or an AUL, measured according to the methods described in U.S. Patent 5,149,335, of at least about 15 ml/g, more preferably at least about 18 ml/g after 15 minutes. Commonly assigned U.S. application Serial Numbers 08/219,547 (Goldman et al.), filed March 29, 1994 and 08/416,396 (Goldman et al), filed April 6, 1995 (both of which are incoφorated by reference herein), also address the problem of gel blocking and describe superabsorbent gelling polymers useful in overcoming this phenomena. These applications specifically describe superabsorbent gelling polymers which avoid gel blocking at even higher confining pressures, specifically 0.7 psi. In the embodiments of the present invention where the absorbent layer will contain regions comprising high levels (e.g., more than about 50% by weight of the region) of superabsorbent gelling polymer, it can be preferred that the superabsorbent gelling polymer be as described in the aforementioned applications by Goldman et al.

Other useful superabsorbent materials include hydrophilic polymeric foams, such as those described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Serial No. 08/563,866 (DesMarais et al.), filed November 29, 1995 and U.S. Patent No. 5,387,207 (Dyer et al.), issued February 7, 1995. These references describe polymeric, hydrophilic absorbent foams that are obtained by polymerizing a high internal phase water-in-oil emulsion (commonly referred to as HEPEs). These foams are readily tailored to provide varying physical properties (pore size, capillary suction, density, etc.) that affect fluid handling ability. As such, these materials are particularly useful, either alone or in combination with other such foams or with fibrous structures, in providing the overall capacity required by the present invention.

Where superabsorbent material is included in the absorbent layer, the absorbent layer will preferably comprise at least about 15%, by weight of the absorbent layer, more preferably at least about 20%, still more preferably at least about 25%, of the superabsorbent material.

The absorbent layer can also consist of or comprise fibrous material. Fibers useful in the present invention include those that are naturally occurring (modified or unmodified), as well as synthetically made fibers. Examples of suitable unmodified/modified naturally occurring fibers include cotton, Esparto grass, bagasse, hemp, flax, silk, wool, wood pulp, chemically modified wood pulp, jute, ethyl cellulose, and cellulose acetate. Suitable synthetic fibers can be made from polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylics such as ORLON^®, polyvinyl acetate, Rayon®, polyethylvinyl acetate, non-soluble or soluble polyvinyl alcohol, polyolefins such as polyethylene (e.g., PULPEX^®) and polypropylene, polyamides such as nylon, polyesters such as DACRON^® or KODEL^®, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, and the like. The absorbent layer can comprise solely naturally occurring fibers, solely synthetic fibers, or any compatible combination of naturally occurring and synthetic fibers. The fibers useful herein can be hydrophilic, hydrophobic or can be a combination of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers. As indicated above, the particular selection of hydrophilic or hydrophobic fibers depends upon the other materials included in the absorbent (and to some degree the scrubbing) layer. That is, the nature of the fibers will be such that the cleaning pad exhibits the necessary fluid delay and overall fluid absorbency. Suitable hydrophilic fibers for use in the present invention include cellulosic fibers, modified cellulosic fibers, rayon, polyester fibers such as hydrophilic nylon (HYDROFIL®). Suitable hydrophilic fibers can also be obtained by hydrophilizing hydrophobic fibers, such as surfactant-treated or silica-treated thermoplastic fibers derived from, for example, polyolefms such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyacrylics, polyamides, polystyrenes, polyurethanes and the like.

Suitable wood pulp fibers can be obtained from well-known chemical processes such as the Kraft and sulfite processes. It is especially preferred to derive these wood pulp fibers from southern soft woods due to their premium absorbency characteristics. These wood pulp fibers can also be obtained from mechanical processes, such as ground wood, refiner mechanical, thermomechanical, chemimechanical, and chemi-thermomechanical pulp processes. Recycled or secondary wood pulp fibers, as well as bleached and unbleached wood pulp fibers, can be used.

Another type of hydrophilic fiber for use in the present invention is chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers. As used herein, the term "chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers" means cellulosic fibers that have been stiffened by chemical means to increase the stiffness of the fibers under both dry and aqueous conditions. Such means can include the addition of a chemical stiffening agent that, for example, coats and/or impregnates the fibers. Such means can also include the stiffening of the fibers by altering the chemical structure, e.g., by crosslinking polymer chains.

Where fibers are used as the absorbent layer (or a constituent component thereof), the fibers can optionally be combined with a thermoplastic material. Upon melting, at least a portion of this thermoplastic material migrates to the intersections of the fibers, typically due to interfiber capillary gradients. These intersections become bond sites for the thermoplastic material. When cooled, the thermoplastic materials at these intersections solidify to form the bond sites that hold the matrix or web of fibers together in each of the respective layers. This can be beneficial in providing additional overall integrity to the cleaning pad.

Amongst its various effects, bonding at the fiber intersections increases the overall compressive modulus and strength of the resulting thermally bonded member. In the case of the chemically stiffened cellulosic fibers, the melting and migration of the thermoplastic material also has the effect of increasing the average pore size of the resultant web, while maintaining the density and basis weight of the web as originally formed. This can improve the fluid acquisition properties of the thermally bonded web upon initial exposure to fluid, due to improved fluid permeability, and upon subsequent exposure, due to the combined ability of the stiffened fibers to retain their stiffness upon wetting and the ability of the thermoplastic material to remain bonded at the fiber intersections upon wetting and upon wet compression. In net, thermally bonded webs of stiffened fibers retain their original overall volume, but with the volumetric regions previously occupied by the thermoplastic material becoming open to thus increase the average interfiber capillary pore size.

Thermoplastic materials useful in the present invention can be in any of a variety of forms including particulates, fibers, or combinations of particulates and fibers. Thermoplastic fibers are a particularly preferred form because of their ability to form numerous interfiber bond sites. Suitable thermoplastic materials can be made from any thermoplastic polymer that can be melted at temperatures that will not extensively damage the fibers that comprise the primary web or matrix of each layer. Preferably, the melting point of this thermoplastic material will be less than about 190°C, and preferably between about 75°C and about 175°C. In any event, the melting point of this thermoplastic material should be no lower than the temperature at which the thermally bonded absorbent structures, when used in the cleaning pads, are likely to be stored. The melting point of the thermoplastic material is typically no lower than about 50°C.

The thermoplastic materials, and in particular the thermoplastic fibers, can be made from a variety of thermoplastic polymers, including polyolefins such as polyethylene (e.g., PULPEX®) and polypropylene, polyesters, copolyesters, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylics, polyamides, copolyamides, polystyrenes, polyurethanes and copolymers of any of the foregoing such as vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate, and the like. Depending upon the desired characteristics for the resulting thermally bonded absorbent member, suitable thermoplastic materials include hydrophobic fibers that have been made hydrophilic, such as surfactant-treated or silica-treated thermoplastic fibers derived from, for example, polyolefins such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyacrylics, polyamides, polystyrenes, polyurethanes and the like. The surface of the hydrophobic thermoplastic fiber can be rendered hydrophilic by treatment with a surfactant, such as a nonionic or anionic surfactant, e.g., by spraying the fiber with a surfactant, by dipping the fiber into a surfactant or by including the surfactant as part of the polymer melt in producing the thermoplastic fiber. Upon melting and resolidification, the surfactant will tend to remain at the surfaces of the thermoplastic fiber. Suitable surfactants include nonionic surfactants such as Brij® 76 manufactured by ICI Americas, Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware, and various surfactants sold under the Pegosperse® trademark by Glyco Chemical, Inc. of Greenwich, Connecticut. Besides nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants can also be used. These surfactants can be applied to the thermoplastic fibers at levels of, for example, from about 0.2 to about 1 g. per sq. of centimeter of thermoplastic fiber. Suitable thermoplastic fibers can be made from a single polymer (monocomponent fibers), or can be made from more than one polymer (e.g., bicomponent fibers). As used herein, "bicomponent fibers" refers to thermoplastic fibers that comprise a core fiber made from one polymer that is encased within a thermoplastic sheath made from a different polymer. The polymer comprising the sheath often melts at a different, typically lower, temperature than the polymer comprising the core. As a result, these bicomponent fibers provide thermal bonding due to melting of the sheath polymer, while retaining the desirable strength characteristics of the core polymer.

Suitable bicomponent fibers for use in the present invention can include sheath/core fibers having the following polymer combinations: polyethylene/ polypropylene, polyethylvinyl acetate/polypropylene, polyethylene/polyester, polypropylene/polyester, copolyester/polyester, and the like. Particularly suitable bicomponent thermoplastic fibers for use herein are those having a polypropylene or polyester core, and a lower melting copolyester, polyethylvinyl acetate or polyethylene sheath (e.g., those available from Danaklon a/s, Chisso Coφ., and CELBOND®, available from Hercules). These bicomponent fibers can be concentric or eccentric. As used herein, the terms "concentric" and "eccentric" refer to whether the sheath has a thickness that is even, or uneven, through the cross-sectional area of the bicomponent fiber. Eccentric bicomponent fibers can be desirable in providing more compressive strength at lower fiber thicknesses.

Methods for preparing thermally bonded fibrous materials are described in U.S. application Serial No. 08/479,096 (Richards et al.), filed July 3, 1995 (see especially pages 16- 20) and U.S. Patent 5,549,589 (Horney et al.), issued August 27, 1996 (see especially Columns 9 to 10). The disclosures of both of these references are incoφorated by reference herein.

The absorbent layer can also comprise a HIPE-derived hydrophilic, polymeric foam that does not have the high absorbency of those described above as "superabsorbent materials". Such foams and methods for their preparation are described in U.S. Patent 5,550,167 (DesMarais), issued August 27, 1996; and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Serial No. 08/370,695 (Stone et al.), filed January 10, 1995 (both of which are incoφorated by reference herein).

The absorbent layer of the cleaning pad can be comprised of a homogeneous material, such as a blend of cellulosic fibers (optionally thermally bonded) and swellable superabsorbent gelling polymer. Alternatively, the absorbent layer can be comprised of discrete layers of material, such as a layer of thermally bonded airlaid material and a discrete layer of a superabsorbent material. For example, a thermally bonded layer of cellulosic fibers can be located lower than (i.e., beneath) the superabsorbent material (i.e., between the superabsorbent material and the scrubbing layer). In order to achieve high absoφtive capacity and retention of fluids under pressure, while at the same time providing initial delay in fluid uptake, it can be preferable to utilize such discrete layers when forming the absorbent layer. In this regard, the superabsorbent material can be located remote from the scrubbing layer by including a less absorbent layer as the lower-most aspect of the absorbent layer. For example, a layer of cellulosic fibers can be located lower (i.e., beneath) than the superabsorbent material (i.e., between the superabsorbent material and the scrubbing layer).

In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent layer comprises a thermally bonded airlaid web of cellulose fibers (Flint River, available from Weyerhaeuser, Wa) and AL Thermal C (thermoplastic available from Danaklon a/s, Narde, Denmark), and a swellable hydrogel-forming superabsorbent polymer. The superabsorbent polymer is preferably incoφorated such that a discrete layer is located near the surface of the absorbent layer which is remote from the scrubbing layer. Preferably, a thin layer of, e.g., cellulose fibers (optionally thermally bonded) are positioned above the superabsorbent gelling polymer to enhance containment. B. Optional, but Preferred, Scrubbing Layer

The scrubbing layer is the portion of the cleaning pad that contacts the soiled surface during cleaning. As such, materials useful as the scrubbing layer must be sufficiently durable that the layer will retain its integrity during the cleaning process. In addition, when the cleaning pad is used in combination with a solution, the scrubbing layer must be capable of absorbing liquids and soils, and relinquishing those liquids and soils to the absorbent layer. This will ensure that the scrubbing layer will continually be able to remove additional material from the surface being cleaned. Whether the implement is used with a cleaning solution (i.e., in the wet state) or without cleaning solution (i.e., in the dry state), the scrubbing layer will, in addition to removing particulate matter, facilitate other functions, such as polishing, dusting, and buffing the surface being cleaned.

The scrubbing layer can be a mono-layer, or a multi-layer structure one or more of whose layers can be slitted to facilitate the scrubbing of the soiled surface and the uptake of particulate matter. This scrubbing layer, as it passes over the soiled surface, interacts with the soil (and cleaning solution when used), loosening and emulsifying tough soils and permitting them to pass freely into the absorbent layer of the pad. The scrubbing layer preferably contains openings (e.g., slits) that provide an easy avenue for larger particulate soil to move freely in and become entrapped within the absorbent layer of the pad. Low density structures are preferred for use as the scrubbing layer, to facilitate transport of particulate matter to the pad's absorbent layer.

In order to provide desired integrity, materials particularly suitable for the scrubbing layer include synthetics such as polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene and polypropylene), polyesters, polyamides, synthetic cellulosics (e.g., Rayon^®), and blends thereof. Such synthetic materials can be manufactured using known process such as carded, spunbond, meltblown, airlaid, needlepunched and the like.

C. Optional Attachment Layer

The preferred cleaning pads of the present invention can optionally have an attachment layer that allows the pad to be connected to an implement's handle or the support head in preferred implements. The attachment layer will be necessary in those embodiments where the absorbent layer is not suitable for attaching the pad to the support head of the handle. The attachment layer can also function as a means to prevent fluid flow through the top surface (i.e., the handle-contacting surface) of the cleaning pad, and can further provide enhanced integrity of the pad. As with the scrubbing and absorbent layers, the attachment layer can consist of a mono- layer or a multi-layer structure, so long as it meets the above requirements.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attachment layer will comprise a surface which is capable of being mechanically attached to the handle's support head by use of known hook and loop technology. In such an embodiment, the attachment layer will comprise at least one surface which is mechanically attachable to hooks that are permanently affixed to the bottom surface of the handle's support head.

To achieve the desired fluid imperviousness and attachability, it is preferred that a laminated structure comprising, e.g., a meltblown film and fibrous, nonwoven structure be utilized. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment layer is a tri-layered material having a layer of meltblown polypropylene film located between two layers of spun-bonded polypropylene.

D. Optional, but Preferred, Multiple Planar Surfaces

While the ability of the cleaning pad to absorb and retain fluids is important to hard surface cleaning performance (see, e.g., U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/756,507, Holt et al., U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/756,864, Sherry et al., and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/756,999, Holt et al., all filed November 26, 1996 and incoφorated by reference herein.), preferred performance can be achieved by properly defining the overall structure of the cleaning pad. In particular, pads having an essentially flat floor contacting surface (i.e., essentially one planar surface for contacting the soiled surface during cleaning) do not provide the best performance because soil tends to build up on the leading edge, which also is the main point where the cleaning solution is transferred to the absorbent layer.

The preferred pads provide multiple planar surfaces during cleaning and provide enhanced performance. The preferred cleaning pad has an upper surface that allows the pad to be releasably attached to a handle and a lower surface which contacts the floor or other hard surface during cleaning. This lower surface preferably consists of three substantially different planar surfaces. The planes intersect the plane corresponding to the lower surface. Thus, when an implement to which the pad is attached is moved from rest in the front direction, friction causes the pad to "rock" such that the front lower surface plane contacts the surface being cleaned. As the movement in the forward direction diminishes, the middle lower surface then is in primary contact with the surface being cleaned. As the implement and pad are moved from rest in the backward direction, friction causes the pad to rock such that the rear lower surface contacts the surface being cleaned. As this back and forth cleaning motion is repeated, the portion of the pad contacting the soiled surface is constantly changing.

Applicants believe that the enhanced cleaning of the preferred pads is in-part due to the "lifting" action that results from the back and forth motion during cleaning. In particular, when the cleaning motion in one direction is stopped and the forces exerted on the implement allow the pad to "rock" such that the surface-contacting planar surface moves from surface to surface, soil is moved in an upward direction.

The cleaning pad of the present invention should be capable of retaining absorbed fluid, even during the pressures exerted during the cleaning process. This is referred to herein as the cleaning pad's ability to avoid "squeeze-out" of absorbed fluid, or conversely its ability to retain absorbed fluid under pressure. The method for measuring squeeze-out is described in the Test Methods section. Briefly, the test measures the ability of a saturated cleaning pad to retain fluid when subjected to a pressure of 0.25 psi. Preferably, the cleaning pads of the present invention will have a squeeze-out value of not more than about 40%, more preferably not more than about 25%, still more preferably not more than about 15%, and most preferably not more than about 10%. IV. CLEANING IMPLEMENTS

The detergent compositions described above can be desirably used with an implement for cleaning a surface, the implement comprising: a. a handle; and b. a removable cleaning pad preferably containing an effective amount of a superabsorbent material, and having a plurality of substantially planar surfaces, wherein each of the substantially planar surfaces contacts the surface being cleaned, more preferably said pad is a removable cleaning pad having a length and a width, the pad comprising i. a scrubbing layer; and ii. an absorbent layer comprising a first layer and a second layer, where the first layer is located between the scrubbing layer and the second layer

(i.e., the first layer is below the second layer) and has a smaller width than the second layer.

An important aspect of the cleaning performance provided by the preferred pad is related to the ability to provide multiple planar surfaces that contact the soiled surface during the cleaning operation. In the context of a cleaning implement such as a mop, these planar surfaces are provided such that during the typical cleaning operation (i.e., where the implement is moved back and forth in a direction substantially peφendicular to the pad's width), each of the planar surfaces contact the surface being cleaned as a result of "rocking" of the cleaning pad.

One of ordinary skill in the art can select various materials that can be utilized to prepare the disposable pads and/or implements herein. Thus, while preferred materials are described herein for the various implement and cleaning pad components, it is recognized that the scope of operable materials is not limited to such disclosures. a. The Handle

The handle of the above cleaning implement can be any material that will facilitate gripping of the cleaning implement. The handle of the cleaning implement will preferably comprise any elongated, durable material that will provide practical cleaning. The length of the handle will be dictated by the end-use of the implement.

The handle will preferably comprise at one end a support head to which the cleaning pad can be releasably attached. To facilitate ease of use, the support head can be pivotally attached to the handle using known joint assemblies. Any suitable means for attaching the cleaning pad to the support head can be utilized, so long as the cleaning pad remains affixed during the cleaning process. Examples of suitable fastening means include clamps, hooks & loops (e.g., Velcro®), and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the support head will comprise hooks on its lower surface that will mechanically attach to the upper layer (preferably a distinct attachment layer) of the absorbent cleaning pad.

A preferred handle, comprising a fluid dispensing means, is fully described in co- pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/756,774, filed November 26, 1996 by V. S. Ping, et al. (P&G Case 6383), which is incoφorated by reference herein. Another preferred handle, which does not contain a fluid dispensing means, is fully described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 08/716,755, filed September 23, 1996 by A. J. Irwin (P&G Case 6262), which is incoφorated by reference herein. b. The Cleaning Pad

The cleaning pads described hereinbefore can be used without attachment to a handle, or as part of the above cleaning implement. They can therefore be constructed without the need to be attachable to a handle, i.e., such that they can be used either in combination with the handle or as a stand-alone product. As such, it can be preferred to prepare the pads with an optional attachment layer as described hereinbefore. With the exception of an attachment layer, the pads themselves are as described above.

As used herein, the term "direct fluid communication" means that fluid can transfer readily between two cleaning pad components or layers (e.g., the scrubbing layer and the absorbent layer) without substantial accumulation, transport, or restriction by an inteφosed layer. For example, tissues, nonwoven webs, construction adhesives, and the like can be present between the two distinct components while maintaining "direct fluid communication", as long as they do not substantially impede or restrict fluid as it passes from one component or layer to another.

As used herein, the term "Z-dimension" refers to the dimension orthogonal to the length and width of the cleaning pad of the present invention, or a component thereof. The Z- dimension usually corresponds to the thickness of the cleaning pad or a pad component.

As used herein, the term "X-Y dimension" refers to the plane orthogonal to the thickness of the cleaning pad, or a component thereof. The X and Y dimensions usually correspond to the length and width, respectively, of the cleaning pad or a pad component. In general, when the cleaning pad is used in conjunction with a handle, the implement will be moved in a direction parallel to the Y-dimension of the pad, i. e, peφendicular to the width.

As used herein, the term "layer" refers to a member or component of a cleaning pad whose primary dimension is X-Y, i.e., along its length and width. It should be understood that the term layer is not necessarily limited to single layers or sheets of material. Thus the layer can comprise laminates or combinations of several sheets or webs of the requisite type of materials. Accordingly, the term "layer" includes the terms "layers" and "layered."

As used herein, the term "hydrophilic" is used to refer to surfaces that are wettable by aqueous fluids deposited thereon. Hydrophiliciry and wettability are typically defined in terms of contact angle and the surface tension of the fluids and solid surfaces involved. This is discussed in detail in the American Chemical Society publication entitled Contact Angle, Wettability and Adhesion, edited by Robert F. Gould (Copyright 1964), which is hereby incoφorated herein by reference. A surface is said to be wetted by a fluid (i.e., hydrophilic) when either the contact angle between the fluid and the surface is less than 90°, or when the fluid tends to spread spontaneously across the surface, both conditions normally co-existing. Conversely, a surface is considered to be "hydrophobic" if the contact angle is greater than 90° and the fluid does not spread spontaneously across the surface.

As used herein, the term "scrim" means any durable material that provides texture to the surface-contacting side of the cleaning pad's scrubbing layer, and also has a sufficient degree of openness to allow the requisite movement of fluid to the absorbent layer of the cleaning pad. Suitable materials include materials that have a continuous, open structure, such as synthetic and wire mesh screens. The open areas of these materials can be readily controlled by varying the number of interconnected strands that comprise the mesh, by controlling the thickness of those interconnected strands, etc. Other suitable materials include those where texture is provided by a discontinuous pattern printed on a substrate. In this aspect, a durable material (e.g., a synthetic) can be printed on a substrate in a continuous or discontinuous pattern, such as individual dots and/or lines, to provide the requisite texture. Similarly, the continuous or discontinuous pattern can printed onto a release material that will then act as the scrim. These patterns can be repeating or they can be random. It will be understood that one or more of the approaches described for providing the desired texture can be combined to form the optional scrim material. The Z direction height and open area of the scrim and or scrubbing substrate layer help to control and or retard the flow of liquid into the absorbent core material. The Z height of the scrim and or scrubbing substrate help provide a means of controlling the volume of liquid in contact with the cleaning surface while at the same time controlling the rate of liquid absoφtion, fluid communication into the absoφtion core material.

As used herein, an "upper" layer of a cleaning pad is a layer that is relatively further away from the surface that is to be cleaned (i.e., in the implement context, relatively closer to the implement handle during use). The term "lower" layer conversely means a layer of a cleaning pad that is relatively closer to the surface that is to be cleaned (i.e., in the implement context, relatively further away from the implement handle during use). As such, the scrubbing layer is the lower-most layer and the absorbent layer is an upper layer relative to the scrubber layer. The terms "upper" and "lower" are similarly used when referring to layers that are multi-ply (e.g., when the scrubbing layer is a two-ply material). The terms "above" and "below" are used to describe relative locations of two or more materials in a cleaning pad's thickness. By way of illustration, a material A is "above" material B if material B is positioned closer to the scrubbing layer than material A. Similarly, material B is "below" material A in this illustration.

All percentages, ratios and proportions used herein are by weight unless otherwise specified. All numerical limits are used in their normal sense with an appropriate degree of accuracy. All references herein are incoφorated herein to the extent their disclosures are relevant. in. Other Embodiments of the Cleaning Pad

To enhance the pad's ability to remove tough soil residues and increase the amount of cleaning fluid in contact with the cleaning surface, it can be desirable to incoφorate a scrim material into the cleaning pad. The scrim will be comprised of a durable, tough material that will provide texture to the pad's scrubbing layer, particularly when in-use pressures are applied to the pad. Preferably, the scrim will be located such that it is in close proximity to the surface being cleaned. Thus, the scrim can be incoφorated as part of the scrubbing layer or the absorbent layer; or it can be included as a distinct layer, preferably positioned between the scrubbing and absorbent layers. In one preferred embodiment, where the scrim material is of the same X-Y dimension as the overall cleaning pad, it is preferred that the scrim material be incoφorated such that it does not directly contact, to a significant degree, the surface being cleaned. This will maintain the ability of the pad to move readily across the hard surface and will aid in preventing non-uniform removal of the cleaning solution employed. As such, if the scrim is part of the scrubbing layer, it will be an upper layer of this component. Of course, the scrim must at the same time be positioned sufficiently low in the pad to provide it's scrubbing function. Thus, if the scrim is incoφorated as part of the absorbent layer, it will be a lower layer thereof. In a separate embodiment, it can be desirable to place the scrim such that it will be in direct contact with the surface to be cleaned.

The scrim should not significantly impede fluid flow through the pad. The scrim therefore is preferably a relatively open web.

The scrim material will be any material that can be processed to provide a tough, open- textured web. Such materials include polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene), polyesters, polyamides, and the like. The skilled artisan will recognize that these different materials exhibit a different degree of hardness. Thus, the hardness of the scrim material can be controlled, depending on the end-use of the pad/implement. Where the scrim is incoφorated as a discrete layer, many commercial sources of such materials are available (e.g., design number VO1230, available from Conwed Plastics, Minneapolis, MN). Alternatively, the scrim can be incoφorated by printing a resin or other synthetic material (e.g. latex) onto a substrate, such as is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,745,021, issued May 17, 1988 to Ping, III et al., and U.S. Patent No. 4,733,774, issued March 29, 1988 to Ping, HI et al., both of which are incoφorated by reference herein.

The various layers that comprise the cleaning pad can be bonded together utilizing any means that provides the pad with sufficient integrity during the cleaning process. The scrubbing and attachment layers can be bonded to the absorbent layer or to each other by any of a variety of bonding means, including the use of a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive or any array of separate lines, spirals or spots of adhesive. Alternatively, the bonding means can comprise heat bonds, pressure bonds, ultrasonic bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds or any other suitable bonding means or combinations of these bonding means as are known in the art. Bonding can be around the perimeter of the cleaning pad (e.g., heat sealing the scrubbing layer and optional attachment layer and/or scrim material), and/or across the area (i.e., the X-Y plane) of the cleaning pad so as to form a pattern on the surface of the cleaning pad. Bonding the layers of the cleaning pad with ultrasonic bonds across the area of the pad will provide integrity to avoid shearing of the discrete pad layers during use.

The cleaning pad does not need multiple substantially planar surfaces. Each layer can comprise a single layer of material, and one or more of these layers can consist of a laminate of two or more plies. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the scrubbing layer is a two-ply laminate of carded polypropylene, where the lower layer is slitted. Also, materials that do not inhibit fluid flow can be positioned between the scrubbing layer and the absorbent layer and/or between absorbent layer and any attachment layer. However, it is important that the scrubbing and absorbent layers be in substantial fluid communication, to provide the requisite absorbency of the cleaning pad. It is preferred that the scrubbing layer and attachment layer be larger than the absorbent layer, such that they can be bonded together around the periphery of the absorbent pad to provide integrity. The scrubbing and attachment layers can also be bonded to the absorbent layer or to each other by any of a variety of bonding means, including the use of a uniform continuous layer of adhesive, a patterned layer of adhesive or any array of separate lines, spirals or spots of adhesive. Alternatively, the bonding means can comprise heat bonds, pressure bonds, ultrasonic bonds, dynamic mechanical bonds or any other suitable bonding means or combinations of these bonding means as are known in the art. Bonding can be around the perimeter of the cleaning pad, and/or across the surface of the cleaning pad so as to form a pattern on the surface of the scrubbing layer.

In another embodiment of a cleaning pad, the cleaning pad's scrubbing layer and optional attachment layer are combined with an absorbent layer consisting of a tri-laminate structure. Specifically, the absorbent layer can consist of a discrete layer of particulate superabsorbent gelling material positioned between two discrete layers of fibrous material. In this embodiment, because of the region of high concentration of superabsorbent gelling material, it is preferred that the superabsorbent material not exhibit gel blocking discussed above. In a particularly preferred embodiment, fibrous layers will each be a thermally bonded fibrous substrate of cellulosic fibers, and a lower fibrous layer will be in direct fluid communication with the scrubbing layer. The inner layer can alternatively be a mixture of fibrous material and superabsorbent material, where the superabsorbent material is preferably present in a relatively high percentage by weight of the layer. The different layers can be used to create steps by having the lower layers smaller than the next layer up. When a scrubbing and attachment layer are included, such a combination will provide a pad having multiple substantially planar surfaces.

Tapering of absorbent layer materials can provide multiple planar surfaces. In one embodiment, the upper layers can comprise increasingly high concentrations of superabsorbent material, while the lower layer contains little or no superabsorbent material. In such embodiments, one, or more, of the upper layers can comprise a homogenous blend of superabsorbent material and fibrous material. Alternatively, one or both layers can be comprised of discrete layers, e.g., two fibrous layers surrounding an essentially continuous layer of superabsorbent particles.

Though not a requirement, Applicants have found that it can be desirable to reduce the level of or eliminate superabsorbent particles at the extreme front and rear edges. Another suitable pad is disclosed in the patent application, Attorney Docket No. 7368P, being filed concurrently herewith, in the name of Nicola John Policicchio, and entitled "Cleaning Implements Comprising Cleaning Pads and/or Sheets Comprising Apertured Formed Films, Functional Cuffs, and/or Density Gradients". Said application is incoφorated herein by reference. IV. Test Methods

A. Performance Under Pressure

This test determines the gram/gram absoφtion of deionized water for a cleaning pad that is laterally confined in a piston/cylinder assembly under an initial confining pressure of 0.09 psi (about 0.6 kPa). (Depending on the composition of the cleaning pad sample, the confining pressure can decrease slightly as the sample absorbs water and swells during the time of the test.) The objective of the test is to assess the ability of a cleaning pad to absorb fluid, over a practical period of time, when the pad is exposed to usage conditions (horizontal wicking and pressures).

The test fluid for the PUP capacity test is deionized water. This fluid is absorbed by the cleaning pad under demand absoφtion conditions at near-zero hydrostatic pressure. The test is disclosed in copending provisional application Serial No. 60/045,858, filed May 8, 1997 by Ronald A. Masters, et al.(Case 6555P2).

Data is recorded at intervals over a total time period of 1200 seconds (20 minutes). PUP absorbent capacity is determined as follows:

tι ₂oo absorbent capacity (g/g) =

where tι ₂oo absorbent capacity is the g/g capacity of the pad after 1200 seconds, W =o) is the weight in grams of reservoir 512 prior to initiation, Wr(_t=ι oo) is the weight in grams of reservoir 512 at 1200 seconds after initiation, Wffc is the fritted funnel correction weight and Wds is the dry weight of the cleaning pad sample. It follows that the sample's t_βø and tpoo absorbent capacities are measured similarly, except

(i.e., the weight of the reservoir at 30 seconds and 900 seconds after initiation, respectively) are used in the above formula. The t3ø percent absorbency of the sample is calculated as [tβø absorbent capacity]/[tι oo absorbent capacity] X 100%.

B. Squeeze-out

The ability of the cleaning pad to retain fluid when exposed to in-use pressures, and therefor to avoid fluid "squeeze-out", is another important parameter to the present invention. "Squeeze-out" is measured on an entire cleaning pad by determining the amount of fluid that can be blotted from the sample with Whatman filter paper under pressures of 0.25 psi (1.5 kPa). Squeeze-out is performed on a sample that has been saturated to capacity with deionized water via horizontal wicking (specifically, via wicking from the surface of the pad consisting of the scrubbing or surface-contacting layer). (One means for obtaining a saturated sample is described as the Horizontal Gravimetric Wicking method of U.S. application Serial No. 08/542,497 (Dyer et al.), filed October 13, 1995, which is incoφorated by reference herein.) The fluid-containing sample is placed horizontally in an apparatus capable of supplying the respective pressures, preferably by using an air-filled bag that will provide evenly distributed pressure across the surface of the sample. The squeeze-out value is reported as the weight of test fluid lost per weight of the wet sample.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Test Protocol - A 2' x 2' floor area is soiled with about 8 mL of a particulate soil (17.3 grams vacuum cleaner soil, 200 grams deionized water, 468 grams 2-propanol) using a paint roller. Each floor area is then cleaned using 8 mL of solution and an absorbent pad, the type of which has been disclosed within this filing. The cleaning pad is attached to a velcro mop head on a handle and wiped across the floor surface using an up-and-down motion, going over the surface one way and then back the other way. Floors are then graded for end result using a 6 point grading scale (0=no filming/streaking; 6=severe filming/streaking). A lower value is preferred. In some instances, gloss measurements are also taken. For these measurements, a Gardner micro-tri -gloss meter is used. The instrument is set to 60° and gloss measurements of the tiles are taken before being soiled. After cleaning, gloss measurements are again taken and compared to the initial readings. Gloss results are presented as (Final Gloss - Initial Gloss)/Initial Gloss. Following a "First Cleaning", the tiles are then re-soiled and cleaned again for a "Second Cleaning."

Formulas Tested

A B

Neodol 1-5 (Shell Chemical) 0.35% 0.35%

Witconate NAS-8 (Witco) 0.1% 0.1%

Potassium carbonate 0.01% 0.01%

2-amino-2-methyl- 1 -propanol 0.5% 0.5%

Dow Corning AF suds suppressor 0.0025% 0.0025%

Perfume 0.015% 0.015%

Ethoxylated polyalkylamine, quaternized* — 0.025%>

* Hexamethylenediamine bis-methyl quat with an average of 24 moles ethoxylation per reactive nitrogen site.

Results (testing done on vinyl floor tiles) -

Visual Grades Instrumental Gloss

A B A B

First Cleaning 0.5 0.5 -17% -22%

Second Cleaning 1.25 0.5 -23% -23%

Conclusion - the addition of the quaternized ethoxylated polyalkylamine gave visual filming/streaking advantages on the second cleaning of vinyl tiles. Example 2

Test Protocol - same as Example 1.

Formulas Tested -

A C

Neodol 1-5 (Shell Chemical) 0.35% 0.35%

Witconate NAS-8 (Witco) 0.1% 0.1%

Potassium carbonate 0.01% 0.01%

2-amino-2 -methyl- 1 -propanol 0.5% 0.5%

Dow Corning AF suds suppressor 0.0025% 0.0025%

Perfume 0.015% 0.015%

Poly(acrylate-maleate) copolymer — 0.5%

Results (testing done on ceramic floor tiles) -

Visual Grades Instrumental Gloss

A C A C

First Cleaning 1.25 1.0 -34% -23%

Second Cleaning 1.75 1.25 -39% -23%

Conclusion - the addition of Poly(acrylate-maleate) copolymer to the base formula shows visual filming/streaking benefits and instrumental gloss recovery benefits on ceramic tiles.

Example 3

Test Protocol - Onto a single 12" x 12" ceramic tile is applied 1.5 mL of soil solution using a paint roller. The soiling solution is made of 1.0 gram American clay, 1.0 gram Black Todd clay, 0.25 grams vacuum cleaner soil, 90 mL of 2-propanol, and 10 mL of an acetone solution containing 17 mg palmitic acid, 7 mg stearic acid, and 9 mg beef tallow. This solution is allowed to dry. Each tile is then cleaned with 2 mL of the appropriate solution using an an absorbent pad, the type of which has been disclosed within this filing. After 10 minutes, the lower right corner of the tile is stripped with 20% 2-propanol. After 30 minutes, the tiles are graded on a 4 point scale for filming/streaking (0=no filming/streaking, 4=severe filming/streaking). The tiles are also graded for haze, by comparing the soiled area of the tile to the alcohol stripped area. For haze, a 3 point scale is used (0=no haze, 3=heavy haze).

Formulas Tested -

D E

Neodol 1-5 (Shell Chemical) 0.09% 0.09%

Witconate NAS-8 (Witco) 0.05% 0.05%

Ethanol 1.0% 1.0%

Dowanol PNB glycol ether (Dow Chemical) 0.75% 0.75%

2-amino-2-methyl- 1 -propanol 0.06% 0.06%

Xanthan Gum 0.005% 0.005% Dow Corning AF suds suppressor 0.00125% 0.00125%

Perfume 0.055% 0.055%

Ethoxylated polyalkylamine# — 0.04%

# 1600 MW (prior to ethoxylation) Polyethyleneamine with an average of 20 moles ethoxylation per reactive nitrogen site.

Results (testing done on ceramic floor tiles) -

Visual Filming/Streaking Visual Haze

D E D E

First Cleaning 2.5 1.75 2.5 2.0

Conclusion - addition of the ethoxylated polyalkylamine gave advantages in visual filming/streaking and haze versus the non-polymer containing formula.

Example 4

Test Protocol - same as Example 3.

Test Formulas -

F G

Neodol 1-5 (Shell Chemical) 0.1% 0.1%

2-dimethylamino-2 -methyl- 1 -propanol 0.06% 0.06%

Ethoxylated glycerine 0.04% 0.04%

Xanthan Gum 0.005% 0.005%

Dow Corning AF suds suppressor 0.00125% 0.00125%

Ethoxylated polyalkylamine# — 0.04%

# 1600 MW (prior to ethoxylation) Polyethyleneamine with an average of 20 moles ethoxylation per reactive nitrogen site.

Results (testing done on ceramic floor tiles) -

Visual Filming/Streaking Visual Haze

F G F G

First Cleaning 1.75 1.5 2 1.5

Conclusion - addition of the ethoxylated polyalkylamine gave advantages in visual filming/streaking and haze versus the non-polymer containing formula.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hard surface detergent composition characterized in that it provides effective cleaning and good filming streaking when used with a disposable cleaning pad and without rinsing, said composition comprising: (1) an effective amount, preferably from about 0.001% to about 1%, of polymeric soil suspending agent and (2) from about 0.03%> to about 0.5%, preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.45%, by weight of the composition of one or more detergent surfactants, the level of hydrophobic materials, including hydrophobic cleaning solvent, being limited to less than about 3%; and the pH being greater than about 7, preferably greater than about 9.3.

2. A detergent composition according to Claim 1 wherein said polymeric soil suspending agent is selected from the group consisting of: ethoxylated polyalkylamine; propoxylated polyalkylamine; carboxylate polymer; carboxylate co-polymer; nitrogen-based zwitterionic polymer; polyethylene glycol with an average molecular weight of less than about 100,000, preferably less than about 10,000; polyphosphate; carboxymethylcellulose; methylhydroxyethylcellulose; methylhydroxy-propylcellulose; ethylhydroxyethylcellulose; polyvinylpyrrolidone having an average molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 100,000; and mixtures thereof.

3. A detergent composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said polymeric soil suspending agent is ethoxylated or propoxylated polyalkylamine selected from the group consisting of: polyethyleneamine; hexamethylene-diamine methyl containing quaternary ammonium groups; tetraethylene-pentaamine; and mixtures thereof.

4. A detergent composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said polymeric soil suspending agent has an average ethoxylation propoxylation level of at least about 1 moles per reactive nitrogen site, preferably from about 5 to about 50 moles per reactive nitrogen site.

5. A detergent composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said polymeric soil suspending agent contains between 2 and 60 nitrogen atoms that are separated by alkylene chain spacers which range between 2 and 9 carbon atoms, preferably between 2 and 6 carbon atoms.

6. A detergent composition according to any one of Claims 3-5 wherein said polymeric soil suspending agent has an average molecular weight of from about 200 to about 150,000.

7. A detergent composition according to Claim 2 wherein said polymeric soil suspending agent is carboxylate polymer or co-polymer selected from the group consisting of: polyacrylate having an average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000, preferably from about 2,000 to about 20,000; acrylate/maleate copolymer having an average molecular weight of 70,000 and an acrylate:maleate ratio of 70:30; and mixtures thereof.

8. A detergent composition according to Claim 2 wherein said polymeric soil suspending agent is nitrogen-based zwitterionic polymer containing an alkylamine backbone containing between 2 and 60 nitrogen atoms, of which one or more are quaternized, and the resulting positive charge is balanced by one or more anionic groups.

9. A detergent composition according to Claim 8 wherein said nitrogen-based zwitterionic polymer additional contains an ethoxylation/propoxylation level of greater than 1 moles per reactive nitrogen site and one or more ethoxylate/propoxylate chains terminated with a sulfate group.

10. A detergent composition according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it further comprises an effective amount, preferably from about 0.0005% to about 0.02%, of suds suppressor, preferably a silicone suds suppressor.

11. A detergent composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the alkalinity is provided by volatile alkaline agent, said volatile alkaline agent being an alkanol amine having the formula:

CR₂(NR₂)CR₂OH wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl groups containing from one to four carbon atoms and the total of carbon atoms in the compound is from three to six.

12. A detergent composition according to Claim 11 wherein said volatile alkaline agent is 2- dimethylamino-2-methyl- 1 -propanol .

13. A kit characterized in that it comprises: a cleaning implement comprising a cleaning pad containing superabsorbent material; and a detergent composition according to any one of the preceding claims.