Methods and compositions for cleaning articles

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.

What is claim is:  
     
         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.    
     
     
         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.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the wash solution comprises 0.125 to 2 percent polar solvent.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the wash solution comprises 1 to 6.5 percent polar solvent.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the wash solution comprises 4 to 15 percent polar solvent.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polar solvent comprises water.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-polar solvent comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wash solution further comprises an amine.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wash solution further comprises a detergent composition.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the detergent composition is present in a range from 0.01 to 0.5 percent of the total wash solution.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the detergent comprises an ionic surfactant and a non-ionic surfactant and an emulsifier.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ionic surfactant is present in the range of 0.01-0.5 weight percent, the non-ionic surfactant is present in the range of 0.01-0.5 weight percent, the emulsifier comprises sorbitan sesquioleate present in the range of 0.01-0.5 weight percent.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises at least one of a polyether or siloxane based surfactant.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the detergent comprises a commercially available home laundry detergent.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein detergent is added in the form of a detergent concentrate.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the detergent concentrate comprises a commercially available laundry detergent.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article to wash solution ratio is 60-420 g/L.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the article to wash solution ratio is 100-300 g/L.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the article to wash solution ratio is 150-250 g/L.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein before the article is charged to the washing machine, the article is pretreated by applying a cleaning solution directly to the stained or soiled portion of the article and allowing the cleaning solution to penetrate the stain.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a rinse step wherein the article is mixed with a second wash solution after the first wash solution has been separated from the article; agitating the article and the second wash solution; and draining and separating the second wash solution from the article.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a rinse step wherein the article is mixed with a second wash solution optionally containing non-ionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and salts; agitating the article and the second wash solution; and draining and separating the second wash solution from the article.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is agitated for a period of time from about 5 to about 40 minutes.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is agitated by rotating the basket at a speed of less than 1 G.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is agitated using a bi-directional rotation by rotating the basket containing the article in a clockwise direction, then in a counterclockwise direction, with the bi-directional rotation continuing for a prescribed amount of time.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wash solution is separated from the article by draining the solution from the article; then spinning the article to drive off residual solution.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the article is spun at a rate of 100 to 400 G.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the article is spun at a rate of about 300 G.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of separating the wash solution from the article comprises drying the article by passing air at a temperature of 60 to 180° F. through the wash basket and article until substantially all the wash solution is removed from the article.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the constituents of the wash solution are introduced into a static mixer before the article is exposed to the wash solution.  
     
     
         31 . A method for cleaning an article comprising 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; 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.    
     
     
         32 . A method for cleaning an article comprising 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;    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.    
     
     
         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.  
     
     
         34 . The wash fluid of  claim 33 , wherein the non-ionic emulsifier comprises a siloxane based emulsifier.  
     
     
         35 . The wash fluid of  claim 34 , wherein the non-ionic emulsifier comprises a polyether-siloxane.  
     
     
         36 . The wash fluid of  claim 33 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises sorbitan sesquioleate.  
     
     
         37 . The wash fluid of  claim 33 , wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises alkylamine.  
     
     
         38 . The wash fluid of  claim 37 , wherein the alkylamine has the structure CH 3 (CH 2 ) n NH 2 , wherein n=6-18.  
     
     
         39 . The wash fluid of  claim 33 , wherein the non-polar wash fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane.  
     
     
         40 . The wash fluid of  claim 33 , wherein the polar solvent is water.  
     
     
         41 . The wash fluid of  claim 33 , wherein the polar solvent comprises a simple alkyl alcohol.  
     
     
         42 . The wash fluid of  claim 33 , wherein the polar solvent comprises a di, tri, or tetra alkyoxy ether-alcohol.