Methods and compositions for cleaning articles
First Claim
1. A method for cleaning an article comprising:
- charging an article to a washing machine comprising a washing drum;
exposing the article to a dual phase wash solution comprising a polar solvent and a non-polar solvent, wherein the polar solvent is emulsified in the nonpolar solvent;
agitating the article in the wash solution; and
separating the wash solution from the article.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and compositions for cleaning using dual phase wash solutions. The dual phase wash solutions comprise emulsions of polar and non-polar solvents with emulsifiers, surfactants and detergents. The methods of the present invention comprise the steps of charging an article to a washing machine comprising a washing drum, exposing the article in the wash drum to a wash solution comprising 0.125 to 20 percent water; a detergent comprising an ionic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant and an emulsifier; and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, agitating the article and wash solution in the washing drum, draining the wash solution from the drum, optionally, adding a rinse solution comprising substantially the same components as the wash solution; agitating the article in the rinse solution; and separating the rinse solution from the article by allowing the rinse solution to drain out of the drum and spinning the drum to drive off residual rinse solution through centrifugal force.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for cleaning an article comprising:
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charging an article to a washing machine comprising a washing drum;
exposing the article to a dual phase wash solution comprising a polar solvent and a non-polar solvent, wherein the polar solvent is emulsified in the nonpolar solvent;
agitating the article in the wash solution; and
separating the wash solution from the article. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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- 2. The method of claim I wherein the wash solution comprises a siloxane based non-polar solvent and 0.125 to 20 percent polar solvent.
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31. A method for cleaning an article comprising the steps of:
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charging an article to a washing machine comprising a washing drum;
exposing the article in the wash drum to a wash solution comprising 0.125 to 20 percent water;
a detergent comprising an ionic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant and an emulsifier; and
decamethylcyclopentasiloxane;
agitating the article and wash solution in the washing drum; and
separating the wash solution from the article by allowing the wash solution to drain out of the drum and spinning the drum to drive off residual wash fluid through centrifugal force.
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32. A method for cleaning an article comprising the steps of:
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charging an article to a washing machine comprising a washing drum;
exposing the article in the wash drum to a wash solution comprising 0.125 to 20 percent water;
a detergent comprising an ionic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant and an emulsifier; and
decamethylcyclopentasiloxane;
agitating the article and wash solution in the washing drum;
draining the wash solution from the drum;
adding a rinse solution comprising substantially the same components as the wash solution;
agitating the article in the rinse solution; and
separating the rinse solution from the article by allowing the rinse solution to drain out of the drum and spinning the drum to drive off residual rinse solution through centrifugal force.
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- 33. A wash fluid comprising a balance of non-polar solvent, 0.125 to 20 weight percent of a polar solvent, up to 0.5 weight percent of an ionic surfactant, up to 0.5 weight percent of a non-ionic emulsifier, and up to 0.5 weight percent of a non-ionic surfactant.
Specification