Methods of using a soil release polymer in a prewash composition
AssigneeEcolab USA Inc.
InventorsSteven Lundberg, Jonathan P. Fast, Thomas Duerrschmidt, Thomas Merz, Jason Lang
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Abstract
The invention provides methods of cleaning including the use of a soil release polymer. In some embodiments, the soil release polymer can be included in a neutral to low alkalinity prewash or main wash that is substantially free of hydroxide-based alkalinity. In some embodiments, the soil release polymer can be included in a neutral to low alkalinity prewash that is substantially free of hydroxide-based alkalinity, followed by an alkaline main wash with any alkalinity source.
Claims8
A method of cleaning an article, the method comprising:
- (a) providing an article to be cleaned;
- (b) contacting the article in a prewash step with a prewash composition comprising:
- i) a soil release polymer;
- ii) at least about 55 wt % alkali metal silicate as a source of alkalinity;
- and
- iii) water, wherein said prewash step is performed at a pH of about 7.5 to about 10.5, and wherein said prewash composition comprises less than 0.5 wt. % hydroxide-based alkalinity;
- (c) contacting the article with an alkaline detergent in a main wash step wherein the alkaline detergent comprises a hydroxide-based alkalinity source;
- (d) rinsing the article;
- and
- (e) contacting the article with an acid sour composition.
A method of cleaning an article, the method comprising:
- (a) providing an article to be cleaned;
- (b) contacting the article in a prewash step with a prewash composition comprising:
- i) a soil release polymer;
- ii) at least about 55 wt % alkali metal silicate as a source of alkalinity;
- and
- iii) water, wherein said prewash step is performed at a pH of about 7.5 to about 10.5, and wherein said prewash composition comprises less than 0.5 wt. % hydroxide-based alkalinity;
- (c) contacting the article with an alkaline detergent in a main wash step wherein said alkaline detergent has less than 0.5 wt. % hydroxide-based alkalinity;
- (d) rinsing the article;
- and
- (e) contacting the article with an acid sour composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.