Abstract:
Compositions and methods for removing and/or reducing incidental soils from fabric articles, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery, wherein the compositions provide improved cleaning of incidental soils, either with or without a subsequent wash process or other entire fabric care process are provided. The compositions and methods are safe for use on a wide range of fabric articles, even in the home.
Abstract:
Methods for washing fabric loads without water or using water only as a co-solvent are disclosed. One method of non-aqueous clothes washing includes the steps of disposing clothing in a wash container, delivering a wash liquor to the fabric load, the wash liquor comprising a substantially non-reactive, non-aqueous, non-oleophilic, apolar working fluid and at least one washing additive, applying mechanical energy to the clothing and wash liquor for a sufficient amount of time to provide fabric cleaning and, thereafter, substantially removing the wash liquor from the fabric load. The working fluid may be selected from the group consisting of perfluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, fluorinated hydrocarbons and fluoroinerts.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided for dry cleaning articles utilizing a siloxane solvent. The system includes a cleaning basket for receiving articles therein and a one or more tanks for containing a siloxane solvent. Coupled between the tank and the cleaning basket is a pump for immersing the articles in the cleaning basket with the siloxane solvent. Also included is a still for distilling the dirty siloxane solvent to recover the pure siloxane solvent. A condenser is coupled to the cleaning basket and/or the still for recovering condensed vapors. For decanting any water in the siloxane solvent received from the condenser, a separator is coupled to the condenser. A fan is coupled to the cleaning basket for circulating air past the condenser, then the heater coils and into the cleaning basket for drying and cooling the articles.
Abstract:
The present invention comprises a closed loop dry cleaning system and method, in which dry cleaning machinery is used in conjunction with a specific solvent which is derived from an organic/inorganic hybrid (organo silicone). In this class of organo silicones is a group known as cyclic siloxanes. The cyclic siloxanes present the basis for material composition of the solvent chemistry which allows this dry cleaning system to be highly effective. The cyclic-siloxane-based solvent allows the system to result in an environmentally friendly process which is, also, more effective in cleaning fabrics and the like than any known prior system. The siloxane composition is employed in a dry cleaning machine to carry out the method of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of loading articles into a cleaning basket; agitating the articles and the siloxane composition in which they are immersed; removing most of the siloxane composition; centrifuging the articles; and removing the articles from the basket after cooling the articles.
Abstract:
Method includes the steps of (1) treating the textile with a predetermined amount of a non-durable sacrificial repellent material before putting the textile in service; (2) cleaning the textile with a mixture of a non-polar solvent and at least one cleaning additive to remove non-polar solvent soluble, insoluble and resistant contaminants from the textile; (3) washing the textile with a mixture of a polar solvent and at least one washing additive to remove polar solvent soluble contaminants from the textile; and (4) maintaining a predetermined amount of a non-durable sacrificial repellent material on the textile. The non-polar solvent may be perchloroethylene or the like, while the cleaning additive is a mixture of a dialkyl ketone, a carboxylic ester and a glycol ether. A second cleaning additive may be used to enhance contaminant removal. The polar solvent used is water, while the washing additive is a blend of surfactants. The repellent material used is either a fluorocarbon polymeric material or a hydrocarbon polymeric material, which is applied as necessary to maintain a predetermined amount of the non-durable sacrificial repellent material on the textile in the range of from about 0.5 to about 3.0% solids on fabric by weight. Drying steps are preferred after the non-polar solvent cleaning step so as to remove any residual non-polar solvents, and after the maintaining step so as to cure the non-durable sacrificial repellent material thereon.
Abstract:
A stearate-matrix, pre-spotter composition in solid, stick form to be applied by direct contact to stained areas of fabric, thereby transferring the composition to the stained areas of the fabric. The composition includes an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid and/or sulfonate, at least one nonionic surfactant and an enzyme uniformly dispersed throughout a semi-hard stearate matrix. The composition optimizes the pH to promote enzyme action, while simultaneously achieving a satisfactory drop point for shipping and warehousing. Hardness and transferability are achieved at a low pH level that was previously not thought to be possible without the addition of various salts.
Abstract:
A process for the washing of printed textile materials includes the steps of wetting a printed material with a treatment liquor, allowing the wetted printed material to dwell in a steeping bowl containing a treatment liquor for several minutes in a folded state with the material moving slowly through the steeping bowl and removing substances loosened by the steeping treatment from the printed material in an intensive flow-through washing stage by passing the printed material over a perforated surface of a perforated drum means within a washing bowl.
Abstract:
Ion-exchange resins provide a convenient means for reducing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in drycleaning solvents. The ion-exchange method is adaptable to automated drycleaning processes requiring removal of residual hydrogen peroxide from fabrics.
Abstract:
A process for simultaneous cleaning and finishing of soiled textile material in which the textile is (A) agitated in a cleaning bath consisting essentially of a major amount of a textile dry cleaning solvent and optionally minor amounts of water, and containing (1) an insoluble polyfluoroalkylsubstituted stain repellent material and (2) optionally an emulsion-promoting agent which does not adversely influence the stain repellency of the treated textile material, and then (B) is dried.
Abstract:
Oil impregnated textile cleaning utensils can be cleaned and prepared for reuse in a single brief operation by using a petroleum mineral oil as the cleaning medium. The utensils are cleaned by placing them into the wheel of a commercial dry cleaning apparatus then adding an excess of oil beyond that necessary to saturate the utensils at a temperature between 60250*F. and agitating the wheel for about 15 minutes. The oil is drained off and the utensils are spun to remove excess oil but leave about 20 to 40 wt. percent oil in the utensil based on the weight of the clean, dry utensil or implement.