Liquid bleaching compositions packaged in spray-type dispenser and a process for pretreating fabrics therewith

Abstract

Liquid pretreater compositions packaged in a spray-type dispenser are described, said compositions comprising a peroxygen bleach, a surfactant and a bleach activator. A process of cleaning fabrics with a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and a surfactant, said process comprising the steps of dispensing said composition from a spray-type dispenser onto a least a portion of said fabrics, allowing said composition to remain in contact with said fabrics and then washing said fabrics, is said to reduce the loss of tensile strength and/or the color damage in said fabrics.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process of cleaning fabrics with a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and a surfactant, said process comprising the steps of dispensing said composition from a spray-type dispenser onto at least a portion of said fabrics, allowing said composition to remain in contact with said fabrics and then washing said fabrics.  
     
     
         2 . A process of cleaning fabrics according to  claim 1  wherein said composition further comprises a bleach activator.  
     
     
         3 . A liquid composition packaged in a spray-type dispenser for pretreating fabrics, said composition comprising a peroxygen bleach, a surfactant and a bleach activator.  
     
     
         4 . A process or composition according to any of the preceding claims wherein said peroxygen bleach is hydrogen peroxide, or a water source thereof, or mixtures thereof, and is present in an amount of from 0.5% to 20% by weight of the total composition and preferably of from 2% to 15%.  
     
     
         5 . A process or composition according to any of the preceding claims wherein said surfactant, or mixtures thereof, is present in an amount up to 40% by weight of the total composition, preferably of from 0.05% to 30% and more preferably of from 1% to 20%.  
     
     
         6 . A process according to  claim 2  or a composition according to any of the  claims 3  to  5  wherein said bleach activator or mixtures thereof is present in an amount up to 20% by weight of the total composition, preferably of from 1% to 10% and more preferably of from 2% to 7%.  
     
     
         7 . A process or a composition according to  claim 6  wherein said bleach activator is a liquid hydrophobic bleach activator and is preferably acetyl triethyl citrate.  
     
     
         8 . A process or composition according to  claim 7  wherein said composition is formulated as a microemulsion of said hydrophobic liquid bleach activator in a matrix comprising water, said peroxygen bleach and as said surfactant, a hydrophilic surfactant system comprising an anionic and a nonionic surfactant.  
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 8  wherein at least one of said surfactants in said system has an HLB value that differs by at least 1 HLB unit, preferably 2 to that of said bleach activator.  
     
     
         10 . A process or composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said composition further comprises from 1% to 10% by weight of the total composition, preferably from 2% to 4% of an alcohol according to the formula HO—CR′R″—OH, wherein R′ and R″ are independently H or a C 2 -C 10  hydrocarbon chain and/or cycle, or mixtures thereof, and/or up to 20% by weight of the total composition, preferably from 0.1% to 10%, more preferably from 0.5% to 5% of an alcohol having the following formula or mixtures thereof:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n is an integer between 0 and 10, wherein R, R′, R″, R′″ and R iv  may be H or C1-C10 linear or branched alkyl chains, or C1-C10 linear or branched alkenyl or alkinyl chains.  
     
     
         11 . A process or composition according to any of the preceding claims wherein said spray-type dispenser is a trigger spray.  
     
     
         12 . The use of a liquid composition packaged in a spray-type dispenser, said composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and a surfactant, for pretreating a colored soiled fabric before said colored soiled fabric is washed, for reducing color damage of said fabric.  
     
     
         13 . The use of a liquid composition packaged in a spray-type dispenser, said composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and a surfactant, for pretreating a soiled fabric before said soiled fabric is washed, for reducing the loss of tensile strength in said fabric.