Method of enhancing a fabric article

Abstract

A method of enhancing a fabric article includes drying the fabric article in a fabric article drying appliance and applying a benefit composition as a spray to the fabric article in the fabric article drying appliance. The benefit composition includes an agent for enhancing the whiteness and/or brightness of the fabric article.

1 . A method of enhancing a fabric article, comprising: 
 drying the fabric article in a fabric article drying appliance; and    applying a benefit composition as a spray to the fabric article in the fabric article drying appliance, wherein the benefit composition comprises an agent for enhancing the whiteness and/or brightness of the fabric article.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the whiteness and/or brightness enhancement agent comprises a brightener or dye, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the benefit composition provides a Whiteness Index measurement increase of 1.0 when a solution of >0.0001 ppm active is sprayed on white cotton fabric according to ASTM E 313.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein from about 0.1 ml to about 2,000 ml of the benefit composition is applied to the fabric article in the fabric article drying appliance.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein from about 1 ml to about 1,000 ml of the benefit composition is applied to the fabric article in the fabric article drying appliance.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein from about 10 ml to about 200 ml of the benefit composition is applied to the fabric article in the fabric article drying appliance.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spray has a liquid droplet size of from about 10 μm to about 100 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the spray has a liquid droplet size of from about 100 μm to about 1 mm.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the spray has a liquid droplet size of from about 200 μm to about 700 μm.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is dried without the addition of heat.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is dried with air heated to a temperature of from about 50° F. to about 300° F.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the benefit composition comprises a liquid or gel.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the whiteness and/or brightness enhancement agent is in a microencapsulated form.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of: basic dye, direct dye, acid dye, azoic dye, vat dye, reactive dye, disperse dye, polymer dye classes of the Color Index and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the whiteness and/or brightness enhancement agent comprises a dye having a maximum reflecting wavelength of from about 350 nm to about 550 nm.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the whiteness and/or brightness enhancement agent comprises a dye having a maximum reflecting wavelength of from about 420 nm to about 500 nm.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the whiteness and/or brightness enhancement agent comprises a dye having a maximum reflecting wavelength of from about 430 nm to about 480 nm.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enhancement agent comprises one or more conjugated bonds to enhance fabric substantivity.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the benefit composition comprises from about 1×10 −8  weight percent to about 0.5 weight percent enhancement agent.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the benefit composition further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of: silicones, lubricants, wetting agents, polyanilines, polypyrroles, polyacetylene, polyphenylene, polythiophenes, fabric softeners, wrinkle mitigating agents, water absorbing agents, humectants, perfumes, anti-abrasion agents, reflectance agents, bleaches, superwetting agents, preservatives, buffering agents, pH adjusting agents, emulsion stabilizing agents, malodor control agents, oil dispersing solvents, anti-foaming agents, salts, viscosity adjusting agents, chelating agents, anti-oxidant, radical scavenging agents, soil releasing agents, anti-soiling agents, and anti-microbial agents.