Methods for laundering delicate garments in a washing machine

Abstract

A product and process for laundering delicate or dry-clean only garments in a washing machine, such as a conventional home washing machine. The process may utilize a garment container, such as a flexible wrap to protect the garments. The process also includes at least one cleaning composition specially formulated for delicate garments. The cleaning composition(s) can be in a number of suitable forms, and can be introduced into the process in a number of different manners. The products used in the process may be provided in the form of a kit. The kit may also include a pretreatment applicator.

1 . A dispensing applicator for applying a substance to a material, said dispensing applicator comprising: 
 a container for holding a liquid, said container having an opening;    a valve joined to the opening of said container for containing the flow of liquid from the container; and    an applicator pad on top of said container, said applicator pad comprising multiple layers of netting, through which said liquid passes.    
   
   
       2 . A process for washing garments in a washing machine comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing a garment within a flexible wrap container, the flexible wrap container comprising:    a flexible panel having a right edge, a left edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge;    at least one strap and a first fastening device attached to said strap for securing the wrap container in a more compact configuration;    a first flap attached to said right edge of said flexible panel; and    a second flap attached to said left edge of said flexible panel, wherein said first and second flaps overlap when folded about their respective edges;    (b) folding the flexible wrap container with the garment therein at least once and retaining the folded flexible wrap container in a folded configuration;    (c) placing the flexible wrap container and an effective amount of a cleaning composition inside a washing machine; and    (d) operating the washing machine.    
   
   
       3 . A process for washing garments in a washing machine comprising the steps of: 
 (a) applying a cleaning composition to a garment;    (b) placing the garment in a garment container;    (c) placing the garment container with the garment therein inside a washing machine; and    (d) operating the washing machine.    
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 3  wherein the cleaning composition is applied in at least one of the following manners: 
 (a) directly to the garment;    (b) indirectly to the garment;    (c) inside the garment container, and at least some of the cleaning composition comes into contact with the garment during the washing process; and    (d) the cleaning composition is applied to another material, and this other material is brought into contact with the garment.    
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein the cleaning composition is applied directly to the garment in a manner selected from at least one of the following: 
 (a) applying a liquid cleaning composition onto the garment with a brush;    (b) drizzling a liquid cleaning composition onto the garment;    (c) spraying the cleaning composition onto the garment;    (d) applying the cleaning composition onto the garment with a roller;    (e) applying the cleaning composition onto the garment by padding;    (f) dispensing a foam cleaning composition onto the garment; and    (g) dusting a powder cleaning composition onto the garment.    
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 4  wherein the cleaning composition is indirectly applied to the garment in a manner selected from the group consisting of the following: 
 (a) applying the cleaning composition into the washing machine using a material with a dried cleaning composition thereon;    (b) applying the cleaning composition into the washing machine using a material with a wet cleaning composition thereon; and    (c) rolling or folding the wrap and inserting the cleaning composition into the rolled or folded wrap.    
   
   
       7 . A pretreatment composition for treating stains on delicate clothes, said pretreatment composition comprising: 
 (a) an anionic surfactant;    (b) a nonionic surfactant; and    (c) a solvatrope.    
   
   
       8 . The pretreatment composition of  claim 7  wherein said solvatrope has a ClogP between about 0.1-0.6, and at least a degree of polarity.  
   
   
       9 . The pretreatment composition of  claim 8  wherein said solvatrope comprises a composition selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol;    (b) 1,2-hexanediol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol (EHD);    (c) mono-ol or diol principal solvents having the ClogP values within the specified range;    (d) 1,4 cyclohexanedimethanol; and    (e) ethoxylated phenol;    (f) alcohol ethoxylate.    
   
   
       10 . The pretreatment composition of  claim 9  wherein the solvatrope is a mixture of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol in a weight ratio of from 80:20 to 50:50.  
   
   
       11 . A pretreatment composition according to  claim 7  having a viscosity between about 50-100 cps.  
   
   
       12 . A liquid detergent composition suitable for washing and conditioning delicate fabrics comprising: 
 (a) an anionic surfactant;    (b) a quaternary ammonium surfactant;    (c) a silicone softening agent; and    (d) a solvatrope;    wherein the weight ratio of anionic surfactants to quaternary ammonium surfactants is from about 2:1 to 6:1.    
   
   
       13 . The liquid detergent composition of  claim 12  wherein the anionic surfactant comprises C 12-15  alkyl ethoxy sulfonate containing an average of 1.1 ethoxy groups.  
   
   
       14 . The liquid detergent composition of  claim 12  wherein the quaternary ammonium surfactant comprises C10-C14 tri-methyl ammonium chloride.  
   
   
       15 . The liquid detergent composition of  claim 12  wherein the solvatrope comprises a composition selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol;    (b) 1,2-hexanediol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol (EHD);    (c) mono-ol or diol principal solvents having the ClogP values within the specified range;    (d) 1,4 cyclohexanedimethanol;    (e) ethoxylated phenol; and    (f) alcohol ethoxylate.