Use of sulfonated polystyrene polymers in hard surface cleaners to provide easier cleaning benefit

Abstract

An aqueous hard surface cleaner composition contains a surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof, a germicidal agent, which may be absent if the surfactant comprises a quaternary ammonium surfactant, a hydrophilic polymer comprising styrene sulfonate repeating units, and water, wherein the composition exhibits a pH of greater than or equal to about 6, and provides an easier cleaning benefit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An aqueous hard surface cleaner composition, comprising: 
 a surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof,    a germicidal agent, which may be absent if the surfactant comprises a quaternary ammonium surfactant,    a hydrophilic polymer comprising styrene sulfonate repeating units, and    water,    wherein the composition exhibits a pH of greater than or equal to about 6.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition, from about 0.01 to about 10 parts by weight of the primary surfactant, from about 0.01 to about 10 parts by weight of the germicidal agent, and from about 0.01 to about 1 parts by weight of the hydrophilic polymer.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the primary surfactant comprises a nonionic surfactant.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the germicidal agent comprises one or more quaternary ammonium surfactants  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a homopolymer of para-styrenesulfonate.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a copolymer of para-styrenesulfonate and a monomer selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, or salt or anhydride thereof, acrylamide, styrene, polyethylene glycol, hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid, or salt thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises at least one polymer selected from poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), poly(styrenesulfonic acid co-maleic acid) sodium salt, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-poly(styrene) random copolymer, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-b-poly(acrylamide) block copolymer, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-b-poly(styrene) block copolymer, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-b-poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate) block copolymer, and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-b-poly(methacrylic acid) block copolymer.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a water soluble organic solvent.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a chelating agent.  
     
     
         10 . A method for cleaning a hard surface, comprising contacting the hard surface with the aqueous hard surface cleaner of  claim 1.