Cleaning process

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a process for cleaning a cleaning object, comprising the steps of: placing water and organic substances containing a nonionic surfactant composition having a cloud point of not higher than 100.degree. C. in a ratio of not less than 30% by weight, with or without previous blending, in a cleaning vessel, wherein the organic substances have a specific gravity higher than that of water and, when mixed with water, placed in the cleaning vessel and kept standing at a temperature of from 20.degree. to 100.degree. C. for 30 minutes, exhibit phase separation such that not less than 50% by weight of the organic substances is separated into a lower layer; maintaining a temperature above the cloud point of the nonionic surfactant, thereby allowing water and the organic substances to be in the state of phase separation in which the concentration of the organic substances in a lower layer is higher than that in an upper layer; and cleaning the cleaning object in the lower layer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.