Method and device for lint removal in clothes dryers

Abstract

Provided is an improved method of removing lint in clothes dryers utilizing a lint capturing sheet in the lint screen. Also provided is a method of utilizing the lint capturing sheet to clean other internal surfaces of the dryer. The lint capturing sheet includes a non-woven fabric saturated in an aqueous solution of from 90 to 99.999 vol. % water and from 0.001 to 10 vol. % of water soluble ingredients that increase the electrical conductivity of the water. The non-woven fabric is negative on the Triboelectric series and the weight ratio of non-woven fabric to the aqueous solution in the lint capturing sheet ranges from 1:1 to 1:30. Also provided are methods of making the lint capturing sheet and devices including the lint capturing sheet for wiping difficult to clean internal areas of the dryer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of capturing lint from the lint screen during a clothes drying process comprising:
 providing a lint capturing sheet comprising a non-woven fabric saturated in an aqueous solution of from 90 to 99.999 vol. % water and from 0.001 to 10 vol. % of water soluble ingredients, wherein the non-woven fabric is negative on the Triboelectric series, wherein the water soluble ingredients increase the electrical conductivity of the water, and wherein the weight ratio of non-woven fabric to the aqueous solution in the lint capturing sheet ranges from 1:1 to 1:30,   placing the lint capturing sheet on a dryer lint screen prior to a clothes drying cycle, and   removing the lint capturing sheet from the dryer lint screen after the clothes drying cycle to remove lint from the clothes drying process.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution is from 99 to 99.99 vol. % water and from 0.01 to 1 vol. % of water soluble ingredients. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water soluble ingredients are chosen from ionic water soluble compounds, non-ionic water soluble compounds and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the non-ionic water soluble compounds are chosen from acids, bases, alcohols, glycols, polyglycols, vinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, aldehydes, ketones, carbowaxes, ethoxylated surfactants, propoxylated surfactants and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ionic water soluble compounds are chosen from salts of alkali halides, sulphates and phosphates; alkali metal salts of water soluble organic acids; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of non-woven fabric to the aqueous solution in the lint capturing sheet ranges from 1:1 to 1:20. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-woven fabric is chosen from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, and polyvinyl acetate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution further includes a disinfecting agent at from 0.01 to 10 vol. %. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the disinfecting agent is chosen from propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, hydrogen peroxide, triclosan, benzalkonium chloride, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, phenols, chloramines, peracids and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution further includes a fragrancing agent at from 0.01 to 1 vol. %. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fragrancing agent is chosen from esters, linear terpenes, cyclic terpenes, aromatics, alcohols, ketones, fragrant aldehydes and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution further includes an anticorrosive agent at from 0.01 to 1 vol %. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the anticorrosive agent is chosen from alkali benzoates, amines, phosphates, tin salts, hydrazines and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein static charge is removed from the lint screen by providing grounding of charges. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further including using a clip, a non-magnetic adhesive, a magnetic adhesive, a magnetic non-woven fabric, or combinations thereof to secure the lint capturing sheet to the dryer lint screen prior to a clothes drying cycle. 
     
     
         16 . A lint capturing sheet comprising a non-woven fabric saturated in an aqueous solution of from 90 to 99.999 vol. % water and from 0.001 to 10 vol. % of water soluble ingredients, wherein the non-woven fabric is negative on the Triboelectric series, wherein the water soluble ingredients increase the electrical conductivity of the water, and wherein the weight ratio of non-woven fabric to the aqueous solution in the lint capturing sheet ranges from 1:1 to 1:30. 
     
     
         17 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 16 , wherein the aqueous solution is from 99 to 99.99 vol. % water and from 0.01 to 1 vol. % of water soluble ingredients. 
     
     
         18 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 16 , wherein the water soluble ingredients are chosen from ionic water soluble compounds, non-ionic water soluble compounds and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 18 , wherein the non-ionic water soluble compounds are chosen from acids, bases, alcohols, glycols, polyglycols, vinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, aldehydes, ketones, carbowaxes, ethoxylated surfactants, propoxylated surfactants and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 18 , wherein the ionic water soluble compounds are chosen from salts of alkali halides, sulphates and phosphates; alkali metal salts of water soluble organic acids; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 16 , wherein the weight ratio of non-woven fabric to the aqueous solution in the lint capturing sheet ranges from 1:1 to 1:20. 
     
     
         22 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 16 , wherein the non-woven fabric is chosen from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, and polyvinyl acetate. 
     
     
         23 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 22 , wherein the non-woven fabric is polyester. 
     
     
         24 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 16 , wherein the aqueous solution further includes a disinfecting agent at from 0.01 to 10 vol. %. 
     
     
         25 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 24 , wherein the disinfecting agent is chosen from propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, hydrogen peroxide, triclosan, benzalkonium chloride, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, phenols, chloramines, peracids and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 16 , wherein the aqueous solution further includes a fragrancing agent at from 0.01 to 1 vol. %. 
     
     
         27 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 26 , wherein the fragrancing agent is chosen from esters, linear terpenes, cyclic terpenes, aromatics, alcohols, ketones, fragrant aldehydes and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 16 , wherein the aqueous solution further includes an anticorrosive agent at from 0.01 to 1 vol %. 
     
     
         29 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 28 , wherein the anticorrosive agent is chosen from alkali benzoates, amines, phosphates, tin salts, hydrazines and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The lint capturing sheet of  claim 16 , wherein the water is non-deionized water. 
     
     
         31 . A method of making a lint capturing sheet comprising:
 providing a non-woven fabric in roll form with perforations along the length of the roll to provide for ease of tearability of sheets from the roll,   inserting the roll into a container such that the roll stands on one of its ends,   placing into the container an aqueous solution of from 90 to 99.999 vol. % water and from 0.001 to 10 vol. % of water soluble ingredients, wherein the non-woven fabric is negative on the Triboelectric series, wherein the water soluble ingredients increase the electrical conductivity of the water, and wherein the weight ratio of non-woven fabric to the aqueous solution in the lint capturing sheet ranges from 1:1 to 1:30, and   placing an openable cover onto the top of the container for sealing the container and for removal of a lint capturing sheet from the roll saturated in the aqueous solution.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the aqueous solution is from 99 to 99.99 vol. % water and from 0.01 to 1 vol. % of water soluble ingredients. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the water soluble ingredients are chosen from ionic water soluble compounds, non-ionic water soluble compounds and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the non-ionic water soluble compounds are chosen from acids, bases, alcohols, glycols, polyglycols, vinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, aldehydes, ketones, carbowaxes, ethoxylated surfactants, propoxylated surfactants and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the ionic water soluble compounds are chosen from salts of alkali halides, sulphates and phosphates; alkali metal salts of water soluble organic acids; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the non-woven fabric is chosen from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, and polyvinyl acetate. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the aqueous solution further includes a disinfecting agent at from 0.01 to 10 vol. %. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the disinfecting agent is chosen from propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, hydrogen peroxide, triclosan, benzalkonium chloride, ethyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, phenols, chloramines, peracids and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the aqueous solution further includes a fragrancing agent at from 0.01 to 1 vol. %. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the fragrancing agent is chosen from esters, linear terpenes, cyclic terpenes, aromatics, alcohols, ketones, fragrant aldehydes and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the aqueous solution further includes an anticorrosive agent at from 0.01 to 1 vol %. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the anticorrosive agent is chosen from alkali benzoates, amines, phosphates, tin salts, hydrazines and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein static charge is removed from the lint screen by providing grounding of charges. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the container and openable cover comprise plastic or glass. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the plastic is chosen from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyester. 
     
     
         46 . A method of making a lint capturing sheet comprising:
 providing a non-woven fabric in sheet form,   inserting a stack of the non-woven fabric in sheet form into a container such that the stack sits on the bottom of the container,   placing into the container an aqueous solution of from 90 to 99.999 vol. % water and from 0.001 to 10 vol. % of water soluble ingredients, wherein the non-woven fabric is negative on the Triboelectric series, wherein the water soluble ingredients increase the electrical conductivity of the water, and wherein the weight ratio of non-woven fabric to the aqueous solution in the lint capturing sheet ranges from 1:1 to 1:30, and   placing an openable cover onto the top of the container for sealing the container and for removal of a lint capturing sheet from the stack saturated in the aqueous solution.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the water soluble ingredients are chosen from ionic water soluble compounds, non-ionic water soluble compounds and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the non-ionic water soluble compounds are chosen from acids, bases, alcohols, glycols, polyglycols, vinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, aldehydes, ketones, carbowaxes, ethoxylated surfactants, propoxylated surfactants and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the ionic water soluble compounds are chosen from salts of alkali halides, sulphates and phosphates; alkali metal salts of water soluble organic acids; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the non-woven fabric is chosen from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, and polyvinyl acetate. 
     
     
         51 . A method of cleaning lint from the internal surfaces of a clothes dryer using a lint capturing sheet comprising:
 providing a lint capturing sheet including a non-woven fabric in sheet form saturated in an aqueous solution of from 90 to 99.999 vol. % water and from 0.001 to 10 vol. % of water soluble ingredients, wherein the non-woven fabric is negative on the Triboelectric series, wherein the water soluble ingredients increase the electrical conductivity of the water, and wherein the weight ratio of non-woven fabric to the aqueous solution in the lint capturing sheet ranges from 1:1 to 1:30;   placing the lint capturing sheet onto a wand or other extensional device to form a lint capturing cleaning device; and   using the lint capturing cleaning device to wipe lint from non-readily accessible areas of the clothes dryer.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the water soluble ingredients are chosen from ionic water soluble compounds, non-ionic water soluble compounds and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the non-ionic water soluble compounds are chosen from acids, bases, alcohols, glycols, polyglycols, vinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, aldehydes, ketones, carbowaxes, ethoxylated surfactants, propoxylated surfactants and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the ionic water soluble compounds are chosen from salts of alkali halides, sulphates and phosphates; alkali metal salts of water soluble organic acids; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the non-readily accessible areas include the opening of the lint trap and the housing between the lint trap and the exhaust vent of the clothes dryer.