Treatment of fabric articles with hydrophobic chelants

Abstract

Methods and compositions to treat fabrics with lipophilic fluid and a hydrophobic chelant are provided by the present invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a fabric article in need of treatment comprising the step of exposing the fabric article to a hydrophobic chelant-containing composition comprising a lipophilic fluid and a hydrophobic chelant, such that the fabric article is treated.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein composition further comprises a polar phase.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein said polar phase comprises water.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein said polar phase comprises at least about 0.1% water by weight of fabric.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein said polar phase comprises at most about 5% water by weight of fabric.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein said polar phase comprises alcohol.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the lipophilic fluid comprises a linear siloxane, a cyclic siloxane and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said lipophilic fluid comprises a lipophilic fluid selected from the group consisting of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane and is substantially free of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising the additional step of exposing said fabric article to an emulsifier.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1  comprising the additional step of exposing said fabric article to a surfactant.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the method occurs at less than about 80° C.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the method occurs at less than about 80° C.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said fabric is also exposed to adjunct ingredients selected from the group consisting of enzymes, bleaches, surfactants, fabric softeners, perfumes, antibacterial agents, antistatic agents, brighteners, dye fixatives, dye abrasion inhibitors, anti-crocking agents, wrinkle reduction agents, wrinkle resistance agents, soil release polymers, sunscreen agents, anti-fade agents, builders, chelants, sudsing agents, composition malodor control agents, composition coloring agents, pH buffers, waterproofing agents, soil repellency agents, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A fabric treating composition comprising a lipophilic fluid and a hydrophobic chelant.  
     
     
         17 . The composition according to  claim 16  wherein said composition further comprises a polar phase.  
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 17  wherein said polar phase comprises water.  
     
     
         19 . The composition according to  claim 18  wherein said polar phase comprises at least about 0.1% water by weight of composition.  
     
     
         20 . The composition according to  claim 18  wherein said polar phase comprises at most about 5% water by weight of composition.  
     
     
         21 . The composition according to  claim 17  wherein said polar phase comprises alcohol.  
     
     
         22 . The composition according to  claim 16  wherein said lipophilic fluid comprises a linear siloxane, a cyclic siloxane, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The composition according to  claim 16  wherein said lipophilic fluid comprises a lipophilic fluid selected from the group consisting of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The composition according to  claim 23  wherein said lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane.  
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 23  wherein said lipophilic fluid comprises decamethylcyclopentasiloxane and is substantially free of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.  
     
     
         26 . The composition according to  claim 16  further comprising adjunct ingredients selected from the group consisting of enzymes, bleaches, emulsifiers, surfactants, fabric softeners, perfumes, antibacterial agents, antistatic agents, brighteners, dye fixatives, dye abrasion inhibitors, anti-crocking agents, wrinkle reduction agents, wrinkle resistance agents, soil release polymers, sunscreen agents, anti-fade agents, builders, non-hydrophobic chelants, sudsing agents, composition malodor control agents, composition coloring agents, pH buffers, waterproofing agents, soil repellency agents, and mixtures thereof.