Ultrasonic Method Of Cleaning

Abstract

A method of cleaning utilising ultrasound to boost bleach performance.

1 . An ultrasonic method of cleaning soiled items in a cleaning machine comprising:
 preparing a wash liquor from the combination of water with a detergent composition comprising a bleach precursor;   selecting a programmed wash cycle on the cleaning machine;   contacting the soiled items with the wash liquor during the wash cycle; and   applying ultrasonic energy in the cleaning machine;   wherein the ultrasonic energy is not directly applied to the items; and   wherein the ultrasonic energy is used to activate the bleach precursor in the wash liquor.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bleach precursor is an oxygen bleach precursor. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the wash liquor is less than 50° C. for the entire wash cycle. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the wash liquor is less than 45° C. for the entire wash cycle. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition further comprises a bleach catalyst. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition further comprises a bleach activator. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detergent composition further comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of dye, binder, builder, surfactant, preservative, perfume, phosphonate, and polymer. 
     
     
         8 . An automatic dishwashing machine comprising:
 an ultrasound energy emitter; and   a construction such that ultrasound energy emitted from the ultrasound energy emitter cannot encounter the items to be cleaned directly.   
     
     
         9 . The automatic dishwashing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the ultrasound energy emitter is located within a water circulation system of the machine. 
     
     
         10 . The use of ultrasound to activate a bleach precursor in an aqueous cleaning system, wherein the ultrasonic energy is not directly applied to the items to be cleaned. 
     
     
         11 . The use according to  claim 10  wherein the aqueous cleaning system comprises an automatic dishwashing machine. 
     
     
         12 . The use according to  claim 10  wherein the aqueous cleaning system comprises an automatic laundry cleaning machine. 
     
     
         13 . The use according to  claim 10  wherein the aqueous cleaning system comprises a portable device suitable for generating activated bleach for hand cleaning of hard surfaces, hand dish washing and hand washing of laundry. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning machine is an automatic dishwashing machine and the solid items are tableware. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning machine is an automatic laundry cleaning machine and the solid items are clothes. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the bleach precursor is selected from the group consisting of a percarbonate and sodium percarbonate. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the bleach catalyst comprises manganese oxalate. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the bleach activator comprises TAED.