# US 12,760,244 B2 · Cleaning compositions comprising surface modification polymers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,760,244 B2 - Document ID: US12760244B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/760,294 - Filed: 2024-07-01 - Published: 2025-01-09 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-30 - Assignees: Ecolab USA Inc. - Applicants: Ecolab USA Inc. - Inventors: Eileen McIntire; Peter Reed; David Riehm; Jennifer Stokes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12760244B2 ## CPC - C11D 1/94: Mixtures with anionic, cationic or non-ionic compounds - C11D 1/008: {Polymeric surface-active agents} - C11D 1/58: Heterocyclic compounds - C11D 1/662: {Carbohydrates or derivatives} - C11D 1/835: Mixtures of non-ionic with cationic compounds - C11D 1/90: Betaines - C11D 3/0047: {pH regulated compositions} - C11D 3/2082: {Polycarboxylic acids-salts thereof} - C11D 17/0008: {aqueous liquid non soap compositions (C11D3/0015, C11D3/3947, C11D3/3956 take precedence)} - C11D 2111/14: Hard surfaces - C11D 2111/44: Multi-step processes - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL ## Abstract The invention relates to neutral cleaning compositions comprising a surface modification polymer to beneficially aid in removing typical bathroom soils, such as hard water deposits, at a neutral pH. The neutral cleaning compositions effectively remove and/or otherwise assist in general cleaning of difficult bathroom soils without the harsh effects of a traditional acidic cleaning composition and without requiring PPE. Additionally, use of the cleaning composition beneficially aids in and/or improves subsequent cleanings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaning composition comprising: about 1 wt-% to about 80 wt-% of a buffer, an alkalinity source, and/or a chelant; up to about 30 wt-% of a surfactant; up to about 30 wt-% of an organic acid; from about 0.1 wt-% to about 40 wt-% of a cationic, hydrophilic surface modification polymer comprising a polyampholyte; up to about 75 wt-% additional functional ingredients; and about 20 wt-% to about 90 wt-% water, wherein the cleaning composition does not include glycerine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the cationic, hydrophilic surface modification polymer comprises diallyldimethylammonium chloride and acrylic acid monomers, wherein the molar ratio of diallyldimethylammonium chloride to acrylic acid is from about 70 to 30 to about 5 to 95. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the cationic, hydrophilic surface modification polymer further comprises a polyamidoamine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The composition of claim 3, wherein the cationic, hydrophilic surface modification polymer comprises a high molecular weight polyamidoamine with a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 1,000,000 Da. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the cationic, hydrophilic surface modification polymer further comprises a cationically modified guar gum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the cleaning composition comprises a buffer comprising sodium citrate dihydrate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises a non-ionic surfactant. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The composition of claim 7, wherein the non-ionic surfactant comprises a C8-C10 alkyl polyglucoside and/or a C10-C16 alkyl polyglucoside. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the surfactant comprises a betaine surfactant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The composition of claim 9, wherein the betaine surfactant comprises a cocamidopropyl betaine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the acid comprises citric acid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the additional functional ingredients comprise defoaming agents, anti-redeposition agents, bleaching agents, solubility modifiers, tracers, dispersants, metal protecting agents, soil anti-redeposition agents, stabilizing agents, corrosion inhibitors, enzymes, fragrances, dyes, rheology modifiers, solubility modifiers or thickeners, hydrotropes or couplers, solvents, preservatives, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method of cleaning a hard surface comprising: contacting a hard surface with the cleaning composition of claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the method comprises first diluting the cleaning composition form a ready-to-use cleaning composition, wherein the ready-to-use cleaning compositions comprises from about 0.001 wt-% to about 10 wt-% of the buffer, alkalinity source, and/or chelant; up to about 10 wt-% of the surfactant; up to about 10 wt-% of the organic acid; from about 0.001 to about 20 wt-% of the cationic, hydrophilic surface modification polymer; up to about 25 wt-% of the additional functional ingredients; and from about 70 wt-% to about 99.99 wt-% of the water. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises rinsing the surface after contacting the surface with the cleaning composition. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the method comprises using mechanical force during the contacting step. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the method removes soils by at least about 50%, at least about 65%, at least about 70%, at least about 90% or at least about 95%, and/or, wherein the method removes hard water deposits by at least about 50%, at least about 65%, at least about 70%, at least about 90% or at least about 95%. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the surface is contacted with the cleaning composition for at least about 10 seconds, at least about 30 seconds, at least about 1 minute, about 10 minutes, or between about 10 seconds and 10 minutes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the hard surface is a bathroom surface.