Multi-purpose Cleaning Concentrate

Abstract

A water miscible cleaning composition contains: A glycol ether such as ethylene glycol monobutly ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether or diethylene glycol monoethyl ether; A glycol such as propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, hexylene glycol (2-methyl-2, 4 pentanediol), triethylene glycol or dipropylene glycol; A monohydroxy alcohol such as isopropanol, n-propanol or isobutanol; Ammonium hydroxide; and An amine, such as triethanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, monoisopropanolamine, diisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, monomethylamine, dimethylamine, ethylenediamine, propylenediamine, cyclohexylamine, diethylethanolamine, ethyl diethanolamine, or morpholine; and A synthetic detergent.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Contaminates on various surfaces such as glass, metal, enamel, glazed ceramic, floor tile, chrome, plastic, paint, etc. are removed with the aid of cleaning compositions. This invention relates to concentrated liquid cleaning compositions which are mixed with water in various proportions and used to remove contaminants from a variety of surfaces.

2. Prior Art

There are a number of prior art cleaning compositions which are commercially available. Examples of prior art cleaning compositions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,551,634, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,685. Some of the cleaning compositions are very good for removing certain types of contaminants while not being effective in removing other types of contaminants. Also, some cleaning compositions are highly reactive and unsuitable for handling by hand since they can cause considerable skin irritation. In addition, some of the cleaning compositions leave residues or films of soaps which must be removed by rinsing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is a new and improved cleaning composition which contains no primary irritants and can be readily used by hand without causing hazardous skin irritation.

Another object of the invention is a new and improved cleaning composition which may be used to remove a wide variety of contaminants without leaving any films or residues which necessitate rinsing.

A further object of the invention is a new and improved cleaning composition which may be diluted with water in a desired manner to accommodate different cleaning situations.

In accordance with these and other objects of the invention a multi-purpose cleaning composition contains: a glycol ether such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether or diethylene glycol monoethyl ether; and glycol selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, hexylene glycol, triethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol; a monohydroxy alcohol selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, n-propanol and isabutanol, ammonium hydroxide; and amine selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, monoisopropanolamine, diisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, monomethylamine, dimethylamine, ethylenediamine, propylenediamine, cyclohexylamine, diethylethanolamine, ethyl diethanolamine and morpholine; and a synthetic detergent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The multi-purpose cleaning concentrate of the invention is a liquid composition of cleaning agents which may be used to remove a number of contaminants from a variety of surfaces. For example, gums, resins, oils, greases, fats, dirt, etc., can be removed by the cleaning composition (selectively diluted with water) from windows, stoves, walls, floors, etc. All of the agents of the composition cooperate to remove the contaminants from the surfaces. Preferrably the composition is blended in a concentrated form with less than about 23 parts or percent by volume water. Additional water is added by the user to make a cleaning composition of desired strength.

As used herein, the term "part" refers to a selected volume. Accordingly, each part has the same volume.

The composition contains, generally, from 5 to 60 parts of a glycol ether. Preferrably 10 to 40 parts of the glycol ether are mixed in the compositions. The glycol ethers which may be used are ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether. Mixtures of two or more of the glycol ethers may also be employed. Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether appear to generally produce better cleaning solutions than the other glycols. The glycol ethers are aggressive solvents for many oils, gums, resins, greases and waxes. Since the glycol ethers are water-soluble they also serve as coupling agents and emulsifiers.

Generally about 5 to 60 parts of a glycol, such as propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, hexylene glycol (2-methyl-2, 4 pentanediol), triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol or mixtures of two or more thereof are included in the composition. Preferrably from 10 to 40 parts of the composition is glycol. The glycols are hygroscopic high boiling solvents which are completely miscible with water. The glycols aid in the dissolution of various resins, gums and oils. Once the contaminants are removed from a surface, the glycols tend to prevent redeposition of the removed contaminants. Also, the glycols add lubricity to the composition and permit soil or solid particles to be easily wiped away before the surface dries. Further, the glycols aid in the penetration and wetting of the composition into the contaminants. Of glycols, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol and diethylene glycol are preferred over the other glycols.

A monohydroxy alcohol such as isopropanol n-propanol, isobutanol or a mixture of two or more thereof forms about 1 to 30 parts of the composition. Preferrably from 5 to 20 parts of the monohydroxy alcohol is included. The monohydroxy alcohols add additional solvent power to the composition as well as enhancing the action and cooperation of the other agents.

The composition also contains about 1 to 15 parts and preferrably from 2 to 10 parts of an amine selected from triethanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, monoisopropanolamine, diisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, monomethylamine, dimethylamine, ethylenediamine, propylenediamine, cyclohexylamine, diethylethanolamine, ethyl diethanolamine, morpholine, and mixtures of two or more thereof. Triethanolamine, monoethanolamine and diethanolamine are preferred over the other amines with triethanolamine being the most preferred and diethanolamine the least preferred. The amines are miscible with water and the other agents of the composition. They are good penetrating and softening agents while capable of saponifying and emulsifying oils, greases and waxes. The amines tend to lower the surface tension of water and aqueous solutions. They also serve as solvents for many organic gums, oils and resins.

Aqueous ammonium hydroxide is included in the composition. Based upon a 28 percent solution, about 2 to 30 parts of aqueous ammonium hydroxide may be used. Preferrably from 5 to 15 parts of aqueous ammonium hydroxide are mixed in the solution. Aqueous ammonium hydroxide is a good cleaning agent which neutralizes acids and changes fatty oils into water miscible soaps.

To further enhance the cleaning properties of the composition 1 to 15 parts, and preferrably from 2 to 6 parts, of a liquid synthetic detergent are included. The synthetic detergent is one of the commercially available materials which have a cleaning action like soap but are not derived directly from fats and oils. They are surface active agents and have structurally unsymmetrical molecules with a hydrophilic group and hydrophobic oil-soluble group. Three acceptable synthetic detergents are IGEPAL CO--630 sold by GAF, Inc., TERGITOL NPX sold by Union Carbide, Inc. AND TRITON X 100 sold by Rohm and Haas, Inc. IGEPAL-CO--630 is a nonyl phenoxy poly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol obtained by condensation reaction of ethylene oxide on nonyl phenol and having about eight ethyleneoxy groups. TERGITOL NPX is a nonyl phenol ethylene glycol ether formed by condensation reaction of 1 mole nonyl phenol with 10.5 moles ethylene oxide. TRITON X--100 is an alkyl polyether alcohol formed by the reaction of octylphenol with ethylene oxide, and having about nine to ten oxyethylene groups. The synthetic detergent is selected for its ability not to leave significant films and residues of detergent on surfaces when incorporated in the composition of the invention. It is believed that this class of detergents volitilizes. Also, the synthetic detergent is selected to be compatable with the other agents of the composition.

One important aspect of the invention is the discovery that the above combination of cleaning agents of the invention produces a cleaning composition with particularly improved cleaning powers. While all of the agents may have been used individually or in combination with one or two of the other agents in cleaning compositions, the advantages of the invention are not achieved with less than the combination of all the agents.

The composition may also contain additional components such as coloring agents and perfume agents to give the composition a pleasing color and smell.

The following examples illustrate concentrated compositions made in accordance with the invention. All the parts are blended together to form the compositions.

EXAMPLE I ______________________________________ Ingredients Parts ______________________________________ Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether 30 Propylene glycol 30 Isopropanol 10 27% aqueous ammonium hydroxide 10 Triethanolamine 4 TERGITOL NPX 3 Water 13 ______________________________________

For light duty cleaning of enamel surfaces, windows, plastic surfaces, table tops, etc., 1/4 cup of the concentrated composition of EXAMPLE I is mixed with 1 gallon of watter. The diluted cleaner is sprayed on the surfaces and wiped off with a cotton cloth to remove the contaminants. After drying no films or residues are visible on the surfaces.

For cleaning baked or burnt oils, greases, gums and foods on metal articles, 1 pint of the concentrated composition of EXAMPLE I is mixed with 1 gallon of water. The articles may be soaked and scrubbed in the diluted cleaner to remove the contaminants. After wiping and drying no films or residues are visible on the articles.

EXAMPLE II ______________________________________ Ingredients Parts ______________________________________ diethylene glycol monobutyl ether 30 diethylene glycol 30 n-propanol 10 27% aqueous ammonium hydroxide 10 monoethanolamine 4 IGEPAL CO-630 3 Water 13 EXAMPLE III ______________________________________ Ingredients Parts ______________________________________ ethylene glycol monomethyl ether 30 hexylene glycol 30 isobutanol 10 27% aqueous ammonium hydroxide 10 diethanolamine 4 TRITON X 100 3 Water 13 EXAMPLE IV ______________________________________ Ingredients Parts ______________________________________ ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 10 diethylene glycol monomethyl ether 10 diethylene glycol monoethyl ether 10 triethylene glycol 15 dipropylene glycol 15 isopropanol 10 27% aqueous ammonium hydroxide 10 monoisopropanolamine 2 diisopropanolamine 2 TERGITOL NPX 3 Water 13 ______________________________________

The concentrated compositions of EXAMPLES II, III, and IV may be diluted and used in a manner similar to the compositions of EXAMPLE I.

The above described embodiments and examples of the invention are simply illustrative of the principles of the invention. Many other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A cleaning composition which is absent significant residue leaving agents and which is capable of being diluted with water consisting essentially of a blend of the following parts having the same volume:

5 to 60 parts of a glycol ether selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and mixtures of two or more thereof;

5 to 60 parts of a glycol selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, hexylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and mixtures of two or more thereof;

2 to 30 parts of a monohydroxy alcohol selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, n-propanol, isobutanol and mixtures of two or more thereof;

an aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution equivalent to 2 to 30 parts of a 28 percent aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution;

1 to 15 parts of an amine selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, monoisopropanolamine, diisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, monomethylamine, dimethylamine, ethylenediamine, propylenediamine, cyclohexylamine, diethylethanolamine, ethyl diethanolamine, morpholine, and mixtures of two or more thereof; and

1 to 15 parts of a liquid synthetic detergent which does not form any substantial film or residue when a film of water solution thereof is

2. A cleaning composition as defined in claim 1 consisting essentially of:

10 to 40 parts of the glycol ether;

10 to 40 parts of the glycol;

5 to 20 parts of the monohydroxy alcohol;

5 to 15 parts of the aqueous ammonium hydroxide;

2 to 10 parts of the amine; and

3. A cleaning composition as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the glycol ether is ethylene glycol monobutyl ether or diethylene glycol monobutyl ether;

the glycol is propylene glycol, diethylene glycol or hexylene glycol;

the monohydroxy alcohol is isopropanol; and

4. A cleaning composition as defined in claim 3, consisting essentially of:

10 to 40 parts of the glycol ether;

10 to 40 parts of the glycol;

5 to 20 parts of the monohydroxy alcohol;

2 to 10 parts of the aqueous ammonium hydroxide;

2 to 10 parts of the amine; and

2 to 6 parts of the synthetic detergent.