Method of sanitizing textile articles and the like

Abstract

Provided herein is a method of removing hair from a textile article or the like. The method comprises providing a solid or liquid composition comprising sodium hydroxide, dispersing the solid or liquid concentrate in an aqueous medium that is contacted with the textile article or the like, such that the concentration of sodium hydroxide in the aqueous medium is 1-15% w/w, and maintaining the aqueous medium in contact with the textile article or the like at a temperature between 10° C. and 120° C. for a period of between 1 and 180 minutes. The sodium hydroxide causes dissolution of hair from the textile article. There is also provided a concentrate comprising sodium hydroxide used in such method. Such method is particularly useful in treating human hairwear, especially hairwear used in sanitary conditions, such as food production, and for pet products to which animal hair may adhere.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of removing hair from a textile article, the method comprising:
 providing a solid or liquid composition comprising sodium hydroxide;   dispersing the solid or liquid composition in an aqueous medium that is contacted with the textile article, such that a concentration of sodium hydroxide in the aqueous medium is from about 1% to about 15% w/w; and   maintaining the aqueous medium in contact with the textile article at a temperature between about 10° C. and about 120° C. for a period of between about 1 and about 180 minutes, wherein the sodium hydroxide causes dissolution of hair from the textile article.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of sodium hydroxide in the aqueous medium is about 1 to about 10% w/w; wherein the aqueous medium is maintained in contact with the textile article or the like at a temperature between about 30° C. to about 90° C. for a period of between about 3 to about 90 minutes. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the textile article to which the sodium hydroxide is applied is an item of workwear. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the textile article to which the sodium hydroxide is applied is a carpet, an item of furniture, an item of clothing, a pet accessory, an equestrian item or item of horsewear, or an item incorporating a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the hair to be removed is pet hair, including horse hair. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method forms part of a laundering process. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising one or more hair-dissolving chemicals selected from the group consisting of the group selected from thioglycolic acid or a salt thereof and enzymes. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of sodium hydroxide is from about 1% w/w to about 5% w/w. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprising the sodium hydroxide is an aqueous liquid or gel composition. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition is supplied as a solid or liquid concentrate. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the method comprises a one bath process. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the sodium hydroxide is contacted with the articles during the main wash of a laundry process. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , carried out in the presence of a washing liquor aqueous medium wherein the ratio of articles to the washing liquor aqueous medium is in the range from about 1:1 to about 1:10 parts by weight. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the method comprises a pre-soak operation. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprising the sodium hydroxide is applied as a spray or as a coating on the article. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous medium containing the sodium hydroxide chemical is maintained at a temperature of from about 70° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the aqueous medium containing the sodium hydroxide chemical is maintained at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sodium hydroxide is in contact with the article for between about 1 minute and about 30 minutes. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more additional ingredients are applied to the textile article, the one or more additional ingredients being selected from the group consisting of detergents, antimicrobial agents, fragrances, optical brighteners, anti-creasing agents, softening agents, fire retardants, flame proofing agents, and water repellents. 
     
     
         20 . A concentrated composition suitable for and intended to be dispersed in an aqueous medium, the concentrated composition comprising:
 sodium hydroxide at a concentration such that, when the concentrated composition is, in use, dispersed in an aqueous medium the sodium hydroxide is present at about 1% to about 15% w/w, wherein the concentrated composition is in the form of   a) a liquid concentrate comprising sodium hydroxide at a concentration of about 20% to about 50% w/w put up in a container having a volume of about 0.3 to about 1.0 liter; or   b) a solid concentrate comprising sodium hydroxide in an amount of about 10 to about 300 g in the form of a tablet or powder, which solid concentrate comprises sodium hydroxide at a concentration of at least about 60% w/w in combination with a carrier.