Hard surface cleaner with enhanced soil removal

• US 6,004,916 A
• Filed: 09/18/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clorox Company
• Original Assignee: Clorox Company
• Inventors: Julian, Jennifer C., Mills, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gupta, Yogendra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hardee, John R.
• Application Number:
  US09/157,036
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 510/238, 510/362, 510/421, 510/422, 510/423, 510/434, 510/480, 510/504, 510/493, 510/469, 510/503
• 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) a nonionic surfactant with optionally, a quaternary ammonium 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 tetraamnmonium 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 tetra-alkyl 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 stabilizer, 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) a nonionic surfactant with optionally, a quaternary ammonium 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.

12. 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) a nonionic surfactant with optionally, a quaternary ammonium 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.