Method of use of chlorine dioxide as an effective bleaching agent

Abstract

A method for cleaning items comprising a washing system that includes a washing device employing a water source and a bleaching agent, which is composed of a chlorine dioxide composition. The washing system further including a detergent system. Chlorine dioxide as the bleaching agent of the washing system in at least 10 ppm and most preferable from 20 to 75 ppm.

1 . A method of cleaning an item comprising a cleaning apparatus, employing water source and a bleaching agent wherein the bleaching agent is halogen dioxide composition.  
     
     
         2 . The method of cleaning an item wherein the halogen dioxide composition is chlorine dioxide.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning method further includes a surfactant.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the surfactant is a detergent system.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the surfactant delivers an in use pH of at least 2.5.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  where in the cleaning method further includes a surfactant delivering an in use pH in the range of 7-10.5.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  where in the surfactant and the bleaching agent are placed in the cleaning apparatus at approximately the same time.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the bleaching agent is chlorine dioxide.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the chlorine dioxide is produced using a sodium chlorite in the presence of an acid, a two or three component generator or electrolytic means.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  where in t halogen dioxide is present in the washing system in at least 2 ppm.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  where in the halogen dioxide is present in the washing system at 20 to 500 ppm.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the wash temperature of the system is at least 10° C.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the wash temperature of the system is in the range of 40-60° C.  
     
     
         14 . A method of cleaning an item soiled with chlorexidine gluconate without setting the stain comprising a cleaning device, a water source and a bleaching agent.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  where in the bleaching agent is a halogen dioxide.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  where in the bleaching agent is chlorine dioxide.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the cleaning method further includes a surfactant.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the surfactant is a detergent system.  
     
     
         19 . A method of cleaning an item comprising a cleaning apparatus, employing a water source, the water from the water source passes into the cleaning apparatus where the soiled item is contained, to the water and item there is added a surfactant and a bleaching agent wherein the bleaching agent is a halogen dioxide composition.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the bleaching agent is chlorine dioxide.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the surfactant is a detergent system.  
     
     
         22 . The method of cleaning fabric items wherein the fabric item is placed into a cleaning apparatus with a water source leading to the fabric item and a halogen dioxide is added to the water from the water source to clean and bleach the fabric item.  
     
     
         23 . The method of cleaning fabric items of  claim 22  further including a surfactant.  
     
     
         24 . The method of cleaning fabric items of  claim 23  wherein the surfactant is a laundry detergent.  
     
     
         25 . The method of cleaning a fabric item of  claim 24  wherein the halogen dioxide is chorine dioxide.  
     
     
         26 . The method of cleaning a fabric item of  claim 24  wherein the halogen dioxide bleaching agent and the laundry detergent are added to the cleaning apparatus at approximately the same time.