Claims
- 1. A method for treating a fabric having a discrete stained area, wherein the fabric has a first side and a second side, the method comprises the steps of:
(a) applying a spot cleaning composition to the discrete stained area of the fabric wherein the spot cleaning composition comprises, by weight;
(i) from about 0.01% to about 2.5%, preferably from about 0.05% to about 2.0%, most preferably from about 0.1% to about 1.0% of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and mixtures thereof; (ii) from about 0.1% to about 4%, of a glycol ether solvent; (iii) from about 0.1% to about 4%, preferably from about 0.3% to about 3%, most preferably from about 0.5% to about 2% of a bleach; (iv) from about 91% to about 99% water; (b) contacting the first side of the fabric adjacent the stained area with an absorbent stain receiving article; (c) subjecting the second side of the fabric adjacent the stained area to a heat source; (d) optionally, concurrently or consecutively with Step (a), contacting the fabric adjacent the stained area with a treatment member; and (e) optionally, applying an aqueous rinsing solution to the fabric adjacent the stained area.
- 2. The method for treating a fabric according to claim 1, wherein the glycol ether solvent is selected from the group consisting of methoxy propoxy propanol, ethoxy propoxy propanol, propoxy propoxy propanol, butoxy propoxy propanol, butoxy propanol and mixtures thereof.
- 3. The method for treating a fabric according to claim 1, wherein the spot cleaning composition further comprises an adjuvant material selected from the group consisting of perfumes, preservatives, additional organic solvents and mixtures thereof.
- 4. The method for treating a fabric according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is a conventional household appliance selected from the group consisting of hair dryers, heat lamps, irons, and mixtures thereof.
- 5. The method for treating a fabric according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is an iron, and preferably, the iron is capable of spraying the optional aqueous rinsing solution.
- 6. The method for treating a fabric according to claim 1, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic or mixtures thereof, and, preferably the surfactant is an ethoxylated alcohol sulfate.
- 7. The method for treating a fabric according to claim 1, wherein the heat source raises the temperature of the spot cleaning solution on the surface of the fabric to greater than about 40° C., preferably greater than about 60° C., more preferably greater than about 80° C.
- 8. The method for treating a fabric according to claim 1, wherein the bleach is hydrogen peroxide.
- 9. The method for removing stains according to claim 1, wherein the spot cleaning composition is provided in a container having a distal tip and the treatment member is the tip of the container.
- 10. A non-immersion cleaning/refreshment process for treating a fabric having a discrete stained area comprising the steps of:
(a) placing the fabric in a containment bag; (b) placing a substrate in the containment bag, wherein releasably absorbed in the substrate is a liquid cleaning/refreshment composition; (c) placing the bag in a hot air clothes dryer, or the like apparatus, and operating the apparatus with heat and tumbling; and (d) removing the fabric from the bag; and wherein before or after the non-immersion cleaning/refreshment process the discrete stained area of the fabric is treated according to the method of claim 1.
- 11. The non-immersion cleaning/refreshment process of claim 10, wherein vapors are vented from the bag during step (b).
- 12. The non-immersion cleaning/refreshment process of claim 10, wherein the cleaning/refreshing composition comprises water and a member selected from the group consisting of surfactants, perfumes, anti-shrinkage agents, preservatives, bleaches, auxiliary cleaning agents, shrinkage reducing compositions, organic solvents and mixtures thereof, preferably the organic solvents are glycol ethers, more preferably the organic solvents are selected from the group consisting of methoxy propoxy propanol, ethoxy propoxy propanol, propoxy propoxy propanol, butoxy propoxy propanol, butoxy propanol, ethanol, isopropanol and mixtures thereof.
- 13. The non-immersion cleaning/refreshment process of claim 12, wherein the cleaning/refreshing composition further comprises an anti-shrinkage agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, all isomers of propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol and mixtures thereof, and more preferably selected from the group consisting of neopentyl glycol, polyethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1-octanol and mixtures thereof.
- 14. The non-immersion cleaning/refreshment process of claim 10, wherein the containment bag is a vapor-venting bag which has a VVE rating of at least about 40 but less than about 90 as measured in the Vapor Venting Evaluation Test.
- 15. The non-immersion cleaning/refreshment process of claim 10, wherein the containment bag is a vapor-venting bag which has a VVE rating of at least about 40 but less than about 80 as measured in the Vapor Venting Evaluation Test.
- 16. The non-immersion cleaning/refreshment process of claim 10,wherein the containment bag is a vapor-venting bag which has a-VVE rating of at least about 60 but less than about 80 as measured in the Vapor Venting Evaluation Test.
- 17. A kit, comprising:
(a) a portion of a spot cleaning composition; and (b) one or more absorbent stain receiver articles; and wherein the kit includes the following instructions for use:
(i) apply the spot cleaning composition to a discrete stained area of a fabric; (ii) contact a first side of the fabric adjacent the stained area with an absorbent stain receiving article; (iii) subject a second side of the fabric adjacent the stained area to a heat source; (iv) optionally, concurrently or consecutively with Step (a), contact the fabric adjacent the stained area with a treatment member; and (v) optionally, apply an aqueous rinsing solution to the fabric adjacent the stained area.
- 18. The kit according to claim 17, further comprising:
(c) multiple substrates with a liquid cleaning/refreshment composition releasably absorbed therein; (d) a re-usable containment bag; and (e) a treatment member.
- 19. The kit according to claim 18, wherein the portion of the spot cleaning composition is provided in a container, and the treatment member is the tip of the container.
- 20. The kit according to claim 17, wherein the spot cleaning composition comprises, by weight;
(i) from about 0.01% to about 2.5%, preferably from about 0.05% to about 2.0%, most preferably from about 0.1% to about 1.0% of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and mixtures thereof; (ii) from about 0.1% to about 4%, of a glycol ether solvent; (iii) from about 0.1% to about 4%, preferably from about 0.3% to about 3%, most preferably from about 0.5% to about 2% of a bleach; and (iv) from about 91% to about 99% water.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to and is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/807,152 filed Apr. 9, 2001, which is a 371 application of International Application No. PCT/US99/24023 filed Oct. 13, 1999, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/105,253 filed Oct. 22, 1998.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60105253 |
Oct 1998 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09807152 |
Apr 2001 |
US |
Child |
10319997 |
Dec 2002 |
US |