Methods and equipment for removing stains from fabrics

• US 6,946,435 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LHTaylor Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lawnie Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Lawnie H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOYER, CHARLES I
• Application Number:
  US10/373,787
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 510/276, 510/281, 510/286, 510/302, 510/339, 510/367, 510/379, 510/380
• US Class Current: 510/380
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/12 Soft surfaces, e.g. textile
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3956 Liquid compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/06 Hydroxides

Abstract

Methodologies and equipment for using a sodium hypochlorite solution to remove menstrial fluid, underarm perspiration or other hard-to-remove stains from soft fabric articles. In one embodiment, the sodium hypochlorite solution contains at least 0.2% by weight of sodium hydroxide. In another embodiment, the sodium hypochlorite solution contains about 0.5–3% by weight of sodium hydroxide.

Claims

1. A method for removing a stain form a soft fabric article, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a cleaning composition, wherein the active ingredients of said cleaning composition consist of an effective amount of a metallic salt of hypochlorous acid and at least 0.2 weight percent of an alkali metal hydroxide; and

(b) contacting said cleaning composition with said stain on said fabric article for at least one minute.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said metallic salt of hypochlorous acid is sodium hypochlorite, and said alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said sodium hydroxide is at least 0.3 weight percent.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said sodium hydroxide is about 0.5 to about 3 weight percent.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the weight concentration ratio of sodium hypochlorite over sodium hydroxide is about 1:

5 to about 5;

1.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the weight concentration ratio of sodium hypochlorite over sodium hydroxide is about 2:

1.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said stain is a menstrual fluid stain or an underarm perspiration stain.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said soft fabric article is a white cloth which is made of cotton or a blend of cotton and polyester.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said soft fabric article is selected from the group consisting of panty, shirt, blouse, pant, jean and trousers.

10. The method according to claim 1, said method comprising the step of contacting said cleaning composition with said stain on said soft fabric article for at least five minutes.

11. The method according to claim 1, said method comprising the step of contacting said cleaning composition with said stain on said soft fabric article for at least fifteen minutes.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein said cleaning composition is free of chelating agents, phosphorus-containing salts, surfactants and abrasive agents.

12. A method for removing a stain from a soft fabric article, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a cleaning composition, wherein the active ingredients of said cleaning composition consist of (1) an effective amount of a metallic salt of hypochlorous acid, which has a pH of at least 11.8, and (2) at least 0.2 weight percent of an alkali metal hydroxide; and

(b) contacting said cleaning composition with said stain on said soft fabric article for at least one minute.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said metallic salt of hypochlorous acid is sodium hypochlorite and said alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said sodium hydroxide is at least 0.3 weight percent.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said sodium hydroxide is about 0.5 to about 3 weight percent.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said cleaning composition has a pH of at least 12.5.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein said cleaning composition has a pH of at most 13.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein said soft fabric article is selected from the group consisting of panty, shirt, blouse, pant, jean and trousers.

19. The method according to claim 12, said method comprising the step of contacting said cleaning composition with said stain on said soft fabric article for at least five minutes.

20. The method according to claim 12, said method comprising the step of contacting said cleaning composition with said stain on said soft fabric article for at least fifteen minutes.

31. The method of claim 12, wherein said cleaning composition is free of chelating agents, phosphorus-containing salts, surfactants and abrasive agents.

21. A kit useful for removing a stain from a soft fabric article, said kit comprising:

a cleaning composition, wherein the active ingredients of said cleaning composition consist of (1) an effective amount of a metallic salt of hypochlorous acid, and (2) at least 0.2 weight percent of an alkali metal hydroxide; and

an instruction for removing said stain from said soft fabric article employing said cleaning composition.

22. The kit according to claim 21, wherein said metallic salt of hypochlorous acid is sodium hypochlorite, and said alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.

23. The kit according to claim 22, wherein said sodium hydroxide is about 0.5 to about 3 weight percent.

24. The kit according to claim 23, wherein the weight concentration ratio of sodium hypochlorite over sodium hydroxide is about 1:

5 to about 5;

1.

25. The kit according to claim 24, wherein the weight concentration ratio of sodium hypochlorite over sodium hydroxide is about 2:

1.

26. The kit according to claim 21, further comprising a spray bottle which contains said cleaning composition.

32. The kit of claim 21, wherein said cleaning composition is free of chelating agents, phosphorus-containing salts, surfactants and abrasive agents.

27. A kit useful for removing a stain from a soft fabric article, said kit comprising:

a cleaning composition, wherein the active ingredients of said cleaning composition consist of (1) an effective amount of a metallic salt of hypochlorous acid, which has a pH of at least 11.8, and (2) at least 0.2 weight percent an alkali metal hydroxide; and

an instruction for removing said stain from said soft fabric article employing said cleaning composition.

28. The kit according to claim 27, wherein said metallic salt of hypochlorous acid is sodium hypochlorite, and said alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide, said sodium hydroxide having a weight concentration of about 0.5 to 3 percent.

33. The kit of claim 27, wherein said cleaning composition is free of chelating agents, phosphorus-containing salts, surfactants and abrasive agents.

29. A kit useful for removing a stain from a soft fabric article using a cleaning composition, said kit comprising:

a first compartment which includes therein a first active ingredient of said cleaning composition consisting of a sodium hypochlorite solution having a pH of between 11 and 13;

a second compartment which includes therein a second active ingredient of said cleaning composition consisting of a sodium hydroxide solution; and

an instruction for removing said stain from said soft fabric article employing said kit.

34. The kit of claim 29, wherein said cleaning composition is free of chelating agents, phosphorus containing salts, surfactants and abrasive agent.