Method for refreshing fabric articles

Abstract

A method for refreshing fabric articles without the need for additional cleaning treatment. The method comprises the steps of loading fabric articles to be treated into a drum of a home appliance, contacting said fabric articles with an aqueous fabric refreshing composition containing both antimicrobial active agent and deodorizing active agent under a temperature of from about 30° C. to about 120° C. for about 1 minute to about 120 minutes.

1 . A method for refreshing a fabric article, comprising the steps of loading the fabric article to be treated into a drum of a home appliance, contacting said fabric article with an aqueous fabric refreshing composition under a temperature of from about 30° C. to about 120° C. for about 1 minute to about 120 minutes, wherein said fabric refreshing composition comprises from about 0.001% to about 1.0% by weight of an antimicrobial active agent and from about 0.01% to about 20% by weight of an deodorizing active agent. 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein such refreshed fabric articles are ready for use without the need for additional cleaning treatment. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric refreshing composition is applied to said fabric articles in the form of fine droplets having an average droplet size of from about 10 microns to about 1000 microns. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said fine droplets have an average droplet size of from about 20 microns to about 120 microns. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein weight ratio of said fabric refreshing composition to said fabric articles to be treated is from about 1:1000 to about 1:1. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric refreshing composition is applied to the fabric articles while said drum is under rotation. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said home appliance is selected from the group consisting of a washing machine and a dryer. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said antimicrobial active agent is selected from the group consisting of an antibacterial halogenated compound, a quaternary ammonium compound, a phenyl or phenolic compound, a metallic salt, an organic acid or its salts and a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said antimicrobial active agent is di-(C 6 -C 14 )alkyl di-(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl quaternary ammonium compound. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said deodorizing active agent is selected from the group consisting of a cyclodextrin, a water-soluble polyionic polymer, a pH-adjusting mineral salt, a zeolite, an activated carbon or a mixture thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric articles contact with the fabric refreshing composition at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 70° C. for about 20 minutes to about 45 minutes.