Reduced residue hard surface cleaner

• US 5,714,448 A
• Filed: 12/16/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clorox Company
• Original Assignee: Clorox Company
• Inventors: Garabedian, Aram Jr., Julian, Jennifer C., Choy, Clement K., Robinson, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hardee, John R.
• Application Number:
  US08/768,246
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 510/181, 510/182, 510/191, 510/237, 510/433, 510/501, 510/502, 510/503, 510/505
• US Class Current: 510/181
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/75 Amino oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/044 Hydroxides or bases
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/10 Carbonates ; Bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/201 linear
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2068 Ethers

Abstract

The invention provides an aqueous, hard surface cleaner with significantly improved residue removal and substantially reduced filming/streaking, said cleaner comprising:

(a) an effective amount of at least one organic solvent with a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25° C., and mixtures of such solvents;

(b) an effective amount of at least one semi-polar nonionic surfactant, said surfactant having the structure: ##STR1## wherein R¹ is C_5-20 alkyl, R² and R³ are both C_1-4 alkyl, ##STR2## or --(CH₂)_p --OH, although R² and R³ do not have to be equal, and n is 1-5, and p is 1-6;

(c) an effective amount of a buffering system which comprises a nitrogenous buffer which will result in a pH of greater than 6.5; and

(d) the remainder as substantially all water.

Claims

1. An aqueous, hard surface cleaner with significantly improved residue removal and substantially reduced filming/streaking, said cleaner comprising:

(a) about 1-50% of at least one organic solvent with a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25°

C., and mixtures of such solvents;

(b) about 0.001-2% of at least one semi-polar nonionic surfactant, said surfactant having the structure;

##STR13## wherein R¹ is C_5-20 alkyl, R² and R³ are both C_1-4 alkyl, ##STR14## or --(CH₂)_p --OH, although R² and R³ do not have to be equal, and n is 1-5, and p is 1-6;

(c) about 0.01-2% of a buffering system comprising at least one buffer selected from the group consisting of;

guanidine derivatives, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, diammonium carbonate, alkanolamines, ammonium hydroxide, ammonia, alkoxyalkylamines, alkyleneamines, and mixtures thereof; and

(d) the remainder as substantially all water.

2. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said solvent is an alkanol which is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, their various positional isomers, and mixtures of the foregoing.

3. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said solvent is an alkylene glycol ether which is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, propylene glycol monopropyl ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, and mixtures thereof.

4. The hard surface cleaner of claim 3 wherein said solvent is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether.

5. The hard surface cleaner of claim 3 wherein said solvent is propylene glycol n-butyl ether.

6. The hard surface cleaner of claims 3 wherein said solvent is propylene glycol t-butyl ether.

7. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said surfactant further comprises a mixture of the semi-polar nonionic surfactant and an anionic cosurfactant.

8. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said buffer is an alkanolamine.

9. The hard surface cleaner of claim 8 wherein said buffer is monoethanolamine.

10. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said buffer is ammonium carbonate.

11. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said buffer is ammonia or ammonium hydroxide.

12. The hard surface cleaner of claim 1 wherein said buffer is ammonium bicarbonate.

13. A method of cleaning soil, without substantial residue remaining, from a hard surface comprising applying the cleaner of claim 1 to said soil and removing said soil and said cleaner.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said applying step further comprises the metered delivery of said cleaner from a trigger sprayer.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said applying step further comprises the metered delivery of said cleaner from a pump sprayer.

16. An aqueous, all temperature hard surface cleaner with significantly improved residue removal and substantially reduced filming/streaking, said cleaner comprising:

(a) about 1-50% of at least one organic solvent with a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25°

C., and mixtures of such solvents;

(b) about 0.001-2% of at least one semi-polar nonionic surfactant, said surfactant having the structure;

##STR15## wherein R¹ is C_5-20 alkyl, R² and R³ are both C_1-4 alkyl, ##STR16## or --(CH₂)_p --OH, although R² and R³ do not have to be equal, and n is 1-5, and p is 1-6;

(c) about 0.01-2% of a buffering system which comprises at least one buffer selected from the group consisting of;

guanidine derivatives, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, diammonium carbonate, alkalnolamines, ammonium hydroxide, ammonia, alkoxyalkylamines, alkyleneamines, and mixtures thereof; and

(d) the remainder as substantially all water.