Hard surface cleaner with enhanced soil removal

• US 5,814,591 A
• Filed: 04/12/1996
• Issued: 09/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colorox Company
• Original Assignee: Clorox Company
• Inventors: Julian, Jennifer C., Mills, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hardee, John R.
• Application Number:
  US08/632,041
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 510/238, 510/362, 510/421, 510/422, 510/423, 510/434, 510/480, 510/504, 510/503, 510/469, 510/493
• US Class Current: 510/238
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/62 Quaternary ammonium compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/66 Non-ionic compounds C11D1/002, C11D1/004, C11D1/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/75 Amino oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/755 Sulfoxides
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/79 Phosphine oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/835 Mixtures of non-ionic with cationic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/90 Betaines
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/94 Mixtures with anionic, cationic or non-ionic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/0043 For use with aerosol devices
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/33 Amino carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/43 Solvents

Abstract

An aqueous hard surface cleaner with improved soil removal is provided and has, as components, the following:

(a) either a nonionic or amphoteric surfactant with optionally, a quaternary ammonium surfactant, the total amount of the surfactants being present in a cleaning effective amount;

(b) at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25° C., present in a solubilizing--or dispersion--effective amount;

(c) Ammonium ethylenediamine-tetraacetate (ammonium EDTA) as a chelating agent, present in an amount effective to enhance soil removal in said cleaner; and

(d) the remainder, water.

Claims

1. An aqueous hard surface cleaner with improved soil removal comprising:

(a) either

(i) a combination of a nonionic surfactant and a quaternary ammonium surfactant or

(ii) an amphoteric surfactant,

the total amount of said surfactant being present from about 0.001-10%, wherein said nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkoxylated alkylphenol ether, an alkoxylated alcohol, or a semi-polar nonionic surfactant which itself is selected from the group consisting of mono-long-chain alkyl, di-short-chain trialkyl amine oxides, alkylamidodialkyl amine oxides, phosphine oxides and sulfoxides;

(b) no more than 50% of at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25°

C.;

(c) 0.01-25% of tetraammonium ethylenediamine - tetraacetate (tetraammonium EDTA) as a chelating agent; and

(d) the remainder, water.

2. The cleaner of claim 1 which comprises a single phase, isotropic solution.

3. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said nonionic surfactant of (a) is a mono-long-chain, di-short-chain trialkyl amine oxide.

4. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylated alkylphenol ether selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated octylphenol ethers, ethoxylated nonylphenol ethers, and mixtures thereof.

5. The cleaner of claim 4 wherein said nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylated octylphenol, ethoxylated with 1-10 moles of ethylene oxide.

6. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein (a) further comprises a quaternary ammonium surfactant selected from the group consisting of mono-long-chain, tri-short-chain, tetraalkyl ammonium compounds, di-long-chain, di-short-chain tetraalkyl ammonium compounds, trialkyl, mono-benzyl ammonium compounds, and mixtures thereof.

7. The cleaner of claim 6 wherein said quaternary ammonium surfactant is a di-long-chain, di-short-chain, tetraalkyl ammonium halide.

8. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein said organic solvent of (b) is selected from the group consisting of alkanols, diols, glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof.

9. The cleaner of claim 8 wherein said organic solvent is a C_3-24 glycol ether.

10. The cleaner of claim 1 further comprising (e) at least one adjunct selected from the group consisting of builders, buffers, fragrances, thickeners, dyes, pigments, foaming stabilizers, water-insoluble organic solvents, and hydrotropes.

11. A method for removing a soil from a hard surface, said method comprising applying to said soil a hard surface cleaner which comprises:

(a) either

(i) a combination of a nonionic surfactant and a quaternary ammonium surfactant or

(ii) an amphoteric surfactant, the total amount of said surfactant being present from about 0.001-10%. wherein said nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkoxylated alkylphenol ether. an alkoxylated alcohol, or a semi-polar nonionic surfactant which itself is selected from the group consisting of mono-long-chain alkyl, di-short-chain trialkyl amine oxides. alkylamidodialkyl amine oxides. phosphine oxides and sulfoxides;

(b) no more than 50% of at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25°

C., said at least one organic solvent present in a solubilizing or dispersion--effective amount;

(c) 0.01-25% of tetraamnmonium ethylenediamine - tetraacetate (tetraammonium EDTA) as a chelating agent and (d) the remainder, water.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising removing said soil and said cleaner from said surface.

13. A concentrate for an aqueous hard surface cleaner having improved soil removal comprising:

(a) either

(i) a combination of a nonionic surfactant and a quaternary ammonium surfactant or

(ii) an amphoteric surfactant, the total amount of said surfactant being present up to about 25% of said concentrate, wherein said nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkoxylated alkylphenol ether, an alkoxylated alcohol, or a semi-polar nonionic surfactant which itself is selected from the group consisting of mono-long-chain alkyl, di-short-chain trialkyl amine oxides, alkylamidodialkyl amine oxides, phosphine oxides and sulfoxides;

(b) no more than 50% of at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25°

C., said at least one organic solvent present in a solubilizing--or dispersion--effective amount;

(c) 0.01-25% of tetraammonium ethylenediamine - tetraacetate (tetraammonium EDTA) as a chelating agent; and

(d) the remainder, water.

14. A method for the rapid removal of a soil from a hard surface comprising contacting the soil with a hard surface cleaner which comprises:

(a) either

(i) a combination of a nonionic surfactant and a quaternary ammonium surfactant or

(ii) an amphoteric surfactant, the total amount of said surfactant being present from about 0.001-10%, wherein said nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an alkoxylated alkylphenol ether, an alkoxylated alcohol, or a semi-polar nonionic surfactant which itself is selected from the group consisting of mono-long-chain alkyl, di-short-chain trialkyl amine oxides, alkylamidodialkyl amine oxides, phosphine oxides and sulfoxides;

(b) no more than 50% of at least one water-soluble or dispersible organic solvent having a vapor pressure of at least 0.001 mm Hg at 25°

C, said at least one organic solvent present in a solubilizing or dispersion--effective amount;

(c) 0.01-25% of tetraammonium ethylenediamine - tetraacetate (tetraammonium EDTA) as a chelating agent; and

(d) the remainder, water.