Dry-cleaning kit

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a dry-cleaning kit. In particular, it relates to a dry-cleaning kit which can be used in the home for cleaning soiled fabric articles, such as clothing, curtains, rugs and the like.

[0002] Many fabrics cannot be washed, but require dry-cleaning which involves the use of organic solvents and is carried out by commercial dry-cleaners. This can involve considerable expense and inconvenience.

[0003] US-A-5 238 587 discloses a home dry-cleaning kit comprising a fabric-cleaning article comprising a porous substrate sheet impregnated with a gelled cleaning composition. The gelled cleaning composition comprises from 0.25 to 5% of a gelling agent, a water-miscible organic solvent, a surfactant and water. However, the presence of 0.25 to 5% of gelling agent in the cleaning composition renders it relatively difficult to handle leading to increased costs in the manufacturing process.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a home dry-cleaning kit which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use.

[0005] According to the invention there is provided a product for dry-cleaning a soiled fabric article, the product comprising an absorbent substrate impregnated with a liquid cleaning composition comprising:

(a) from 60% to 90% by weight of water; and

(b) from 10% to 40% by weight of a surfactant;
and optionally

(c) one or more conventional additives, with the proviso that when such additive includes a gelling agent it is present at a concentration of less than 0.25% by weight.

[0006] The liquid cleaning composition preferably contains substantially no gelling agent.

[0007] The invention also provides a dry-cleaning kit comprising a dry-cleaning product according to the invention and a sealable bag for containing said product and a soiled fabric article to be dry-cleaned.

[0008] The invention further provides a method for dry-cleaning a soiled fabric article comprising placing the fabric article and a dry-cleaning product according to the invention into a sealable bag; sealing the bag and tumbling the bag with its contents for a time sufficient to effect the release of the cleaning composition from the dry-cleaning product in an amount effective to clean the soiled fabric article. Tumbling is preferably carried out at the low/delicate heat setting in a conventional tumble-dryer for about 20 minutes.

[0009] The absorbent substrate used in the present invention is conveniently in the form of a sheet of any suitable material which can absorb and retain a sufficient amount of the cleaning composition to effectively clean fabric without significant release of the composition during storage. The material preferably has a weight of at least 80 g/m² to be effectively impregnated with the cleaning composition. The material may be a woven or non-woven fabric, with non-woven fabrics being preferred. Suitable non-woven fabrics are commercially available from Paper Tech under the designations S702 80, K353 80, K286 75, K391 75, JDDH A4283 and JDDH A0168. The dimensions of the fabric preferably range from A5 to A3, with A4 being preferred.

[0010] The cleaning composition used in the present invention comprises from 10% to 40% by weight of at least one surfactant, preferably from 10% to 20% by weight. Nonionic surfactants or a mixture of nonionic and amphoteric surfactants are preferred, especially those available under the trade names Sandoclean PC (nonionic), Sandoclean HRR (nonionic), Genapol X80 (nonionic), Crillon LDE, Sandoxylate SAT Liquid (nonionic), Sandoxylate LFW (nonionic) and Sandoteric SC Liquid (amphoteric).

[0011] The cleaning composition used in the present invention also comprises from 60% to 90% by weight of water, preferably from 64% to 87.5% and most preferably from 80% to 85% by weight.

[0012] The cleaning composition used in the present invention preferably also includes from 1.0% to 5.0% by weight, preferably 2.5% by weight, of a softening agent and from 1.0% to 10.0% by weight, preferably 4.5% by weight, of an anti-creasing agent. A suitable softening agent is commercially available under the trade name Ceranine PNP and a suitable anti-creasing agent is available under the trade name Imacol C.

[0013] The cleaning composition may also comprise up to 5% by weight of a water-miscible organic solvent, such as 1-methoxy-2-propanol or propylene glycol. Conventional dry-cleaning solvents, such as carbon tetrachloride may also be included. Organic solvent may be present in an amount up to about 5% by weight.

[0014] Further optional components of the cleaning composition include fragrance in an amount of 0.5% to 1.0% by weight, preferably 0.5% by weight, preservative in an amount of up to 1.0% by weight, preferably 0.1% by weight, and an inorganic salt, such as sodium metabisulphate, in an amount of up to 3% by weight.

[0015] The dry-cleaning composition used in the present invention may be prepared by mixing the water and surfactant and any optional ingredients together and stirring until a uniform liquid dispersion is obtained.

[0016] The sealable bag used in the kit of the present invention should be formed from a material which can withstand the temperatures normally encountered in a tumble-dryer without shrinking or melting. The material should also be water-proof and have the required strength, and resistence to tear. The bag is preferably easy to fold. Suitable materials include polyethylene and polypropylene, with medium density polyethylene being preferred. The dimensions of the bag are preferably 640 mm by 770 mm, such a bag being capable of holding three to four garments, including suits. The bag is preferably reusable and resealable. The bag may be sealed using any suitable means such as, for example, ties, Velcro (trade mark), a draw string or a push together seal.

[0017] The invention is illustrated in the following Examples:

Example 1

[0018] 

INGREDIENTS	% (w/w)
Sandoclean 9533E (HRR) Liquid (Alcohol polyglycolether Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid)	10.0
Ceranine PNP Liquid (Fatty acid amide derivative/Fatty alcohol polyglycolether)	2.5
Imacol C Liquid (Polyolefin in aq. dispersion)	4.5
Fresh Linen Fragrance (Mixture of natural and synthetic aromatic materials)	0.5
Acticide SPX (Aq. mixture of 5-chloro 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one	0.1
H2O	82.4

Procedure

[0019] Acticide SPX and Fresh Linen Fragrance were added to the water and stirred in. Sandoclean HRR was then added with constant stirring followed by the Ceranine PNP and finally the Imacol C. Stirring was continued until uniformly dispersed. An A4 sheet of non-woven cotton fabric (S702 80 from Paper Tech) was dipped into the formulation and left until a weight of 2.5 g of formulation on the sheet was obtained. The impregnated sheet was then placed in a resealable bag of medium density polyethylene material having dimensions of 640 mm x 770 mm and 8 holes punches in the top consisting of two rows of 4. The holes were 70 mm and 240 mm from each side. The first row was 20 mm from the top of the bag and the second row was 50 mm from the top. The bag was sealed by turning over the top and securing 4 clip ties in the aligned holes.

Example 2

[0020] The home dry-cleaning kit prepared in Example 1 was tested on a variety of stains and the results are shown in Table 1. (All tests were carried out on 100% cotton white T-shirts).

Table 1

Stain	Inventive Kit	Conventional Cleaner
Tea	2	2
Coffee (Fresh Stain)	1	1
Coffee (Dried In)	3	3
Butter	1	1
Lipstick	1	1
Red Wine	2	4
Grass	1	1
Grease	2	3
Ketchup	2	2
Food	2	3
Make-up	2	2
Jam	1	1

Cleaning Ability Data 1 - Excellent

2 - Good

3 - Average

4 - Poor

[0021] The tests were also carried out on multifibre strips [consisting of strips of secondary cellulose acetate (dicel), bleached unmercerized cotton, nylon 6.6, polyester (terylene) acrylic (courtelle) and wool worsted]; satin; silk and viscose with results essentially the same as those shown in Table 1.

Claims

1. A product for dry-cleaning a soiled fabric article, the product comprising an absorbent substrate impregnated with a liquid cleaning composition comprising:

(a) from 60% to 90% by weight of water; and

(b) from 10% to 40% by weight of a surfactant;
and optionally

(c) one or more conventional additives, with the proviso that when such additive includes a gelling agent it is present at a concentration of less than 0.25% by weight.

2. A product according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent substrate has a weight of at least 80 g/m².

3. A product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the absorbent substrate is formed of a non-woven fabric.

4. A product according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the surfactant in the liquid cleaning composition comprises at least one nonionic surfactant.

5. A product according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the liquid cleaning composition comprises one or more conventional additives selected from softening agents, anti-creasing agents, fragrances, preservatives, water-miscible organic solvents and dry-cleaning solvents.

6. A product according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid cleaning composition comprises

(a) from 80% to 85% by weight of water;

(b) from 10% to 20% by weight of a nonionic surfactant;

(c) from 1% to 5% by weight of a softening agent;

(d) from 1% to 10% by weight of an anti-creasing agent;

(e) from 0.5% to 1% by weight of fragrance; and

(f) up to 1.0% by weight of a preservative.

7. A product according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liquid cleaning composition comprises substantially no gelling agent.

8. A dry-cleaning kit comprising a product according to any of claims 1 to 7 and a sealable bag for containing said product and a soiled fabric article to be dry-cleaned.

9. A method for dry-cleaning a soiled fabric article, comprising placing into a sealable bag the fabric article and a dry-cleaning product comprising an absorbent substrate impregnated with a liquid cleaning composition comprising:

(a) from 60% to 90% by weight of water; and

(b) from 10% to 40% by weight of a surfactant;
and optionally

(c) one or more conventional additives, with the proviso that when such additive includes a gelling agent it is present at a concentration of less than 0.25% by weight;

sealing the bag and tumbling the bag with its contents for a time sufficient to effect the release of the cleaning composition from the absorbent substrate in an amount effective to clean the soiled fabric article.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the dry-cleaning product has the features of any of claims 2 to 7.