Cleaning process

Abstract

Process for cleaning dishes in a dishwasher during which the aqueous washing liquor contained in the interior of the dishwasher is at least partly removed from the interior of the dishwasher at a point in time t. The process involves metering a dishwasher detergent A containing one or more surfactants and one or more anionic polymers at a time t1<t in an amount m1 and at a time t2>t in an amount m2 into the interior of the dishwasher. The process according to the invention differs from conventional cleaning processes in that formation of deposits is reduced and drying efficiency improved.

1 . Process for cleaning tableware in an automatic dishwasher comprising:
 at least partially removing aqueous cleaning liquor present in an interior of the automatic dishwasher from the interior of the automatic dishwasher at a time t, and   metering an automatic dishwashing agent A into the interior of the automatic dishwasher in a quantity m1 at a time t1<t and in a quantity m2 at a time t2>t,   wherein the dishwashing agent A comprises
 a) surfactant(s), and 
 b) anionic polymer(s). 
   
   
   
       2 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the surfactant(s) in the automatic dishwashing agent A is at least a non-ionic surfactant present in an amount of 0.1 to 30 wt. %, based on total weight of the automatic dishwashing agent A. 
   
   
       3 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the anionic polymer(s) in the automatic dishwashing agent A is present in an amount of 0.1 to 40 wt. %, based on total weight of the automatic dishwashing agent A. 
   
   
       4 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the anionic polymer(s) is at least a homopolymer and/or copolymer of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. 
   
   
       5 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the anionic polymer(s) is at least a copolymer of
 i) unsaturated carboxylic acids,   ii) sulfonic acid groups containing monomers, and   iii) optionally, ionic or nonionogenic monomers.   
   
   
       6 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the automatic dishwashing agent A comprises
 a) 0.5 to 10 wt. % nonionic surfactant(s),   b) 0.2 to 20 wt. % sulfonic acid group-containing polymer(s),   c) 10 to 40 wt. % phosphate or 10 to 40 wt. % citrate, and   d) 0.5 to 5 wt. % enzyme(s).   
   
   
       7 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the dishwashing agent A further comprises 1 to 20 wt. % sodium percarbonate, based on total weight of the automatic dishwashing agent A. 
   
   
       8 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the dishwashing agent A further comprises 0.01 to 2 wt. % bleach catalyst, based on total weight of the automatic dishwashing agent A. 
   
   
       9 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the dishwashing agent A is in liquid form. 
   
   
       10 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the weight ratio of the metered amounts m1 and m2 is from 20:1 to 2:1. 
   
   
       11 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the time between times t1 and t2 is from 5 to 50 minutes. 
   
   
       12 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the temperature of the wash liquor at time t1 is from 12 to 45° C. 
   
   
       13 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the temperature of the wash liquor at time t2 is from 30 to 65° C. 
   
   
       14 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the process improves drying in automatic dishwashing. 
   
   
       15 . Process according to  claim 1  wherein the process reduces formation of deposits in automatic dishwashing.