Claims
- 1. A method for cleaning hard surfaces comprising contacting said hard surfaces by direct application of an aqueous cleaning solution comprising:
(a) from about 0.001% to below about 0.5% of an anionic and/or nonionic surfactant; (b) up to about 6% by weight of GRAS perfume; (c) a toxicologically acceptable alkali compound; (d) optionally, a toxicologically acceptable sequestrant/builder; (e) optionally, a toxicologically-acceptable preservative; and (f) the balance comprising aqueous carrier selected from water and, optionally, low molecular weight, toxicologically-acceptable organic solvent; said aqueous cleaning solution having a pH of greater than 11.6; wherein said aqueous cleaning solution is essentially free of C8-C18 fatty acid or salts thereof; and wherein said aqueous cleaning solution comprises only food grade ingredients.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous cleaning solution has a pH of more than about 12.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said aqueous carrier comprises water and from about 0.05% to about 10%, by weight of the total composition, of organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, glycerol, isopropanol, and propylene glycol.
- 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said surfactant is anionic.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sodium sulfates and sulfonates, and wherein said toxicologically acceptable alkali compound is selected from the group consisting of alkali compounds having sodium cations.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said surfactant is selected from sodium alkyl sulfates, sodium n-alkylbenzene sulfonates, sodium mono- and dimethyl naphthalene sulfonates.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein more than about 95%, by weight of said surfactant, of said surfactant has an alkyl chainlength of C10 to C16.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein more than about 50%, by weight of said surfactant, of said surfactant has an alkyl chainlength of C12.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said composition has a pH of greater than 12.5.
- 10. The method of claim 3 wherein said toxicologically acceptable sequestrant/builder is present in said aqueous cleaning solution and is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and mixtures thereof.
- 11. The method of claim 3 in which said aqueous cleaning solution has a viscosity of less than about 100 centipoise under shear of greater than about 1000 sec−1.
- 12. The method of claim 11 in which said aqueous cleaning solution has a viscosity of less than about 50 centipoise.
- 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous cleaning solution is incompletely removed from said surface.
- 14. The method of claim 1 wherein said surfactant comprises sodium alkyl sulfate; wherein more than about 50%, by weight of said surfactant, of said surfactant has an alkyl chainlength of C12; wherein said alkali compound is selected from the group consisting sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate; wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, glycerol, isopropanol, and propylene glycol.
- 15. The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous cleaning solution consists essentially of:
(a) from about 0.005% to below 0.5% of an anionic and/or nonionic surfactant; (b) from about 0.01% to about 4%, by weight the composition, of GRAS perfume; (c) a toxicologically-acceptable alkali compound; (d) from about 0.5% to about 8% of low molecular weight, toxicologically-acceptable organic solvent; and (e) the balance comprising water; said aqueous cleaning solution having a pH of greater than 11.6.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said surfactant is present at a level of from about 0.01% to about 0.1%.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said perfume is present at a level of from about 0.1% to about 2%.
- 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said composition has a pH of greater than 12.
- 19. The method of claim 1 wherein said aqueous cleaning solution is contained in a container and said aqueous cleaning solution is applied to said surface by dispensing said aqueous cleaning solution from said container.
- 20. The method of claim 19 wherein said container is a spray container, suitable for use by an individual to clean hard surfaces.
- 21. The method of claim 20 wherein said container comprises a foaming spray head.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/423,171 filed Nov. 2, 1999, which is a 371 of International Application No. PCT/IB98/00649 filed Apr. 29, 1998, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/045,492 filed May 2, 1997.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60045492 |
May 1997 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09423171 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Child |
09836901 |
Apr 2001 |
US |