Method for cleaning a soiled article

A method for cleaning a soiled article in a liquid medium, the method comprising;

• a) a wetting step wherein the soiled article is brought into contact with a liquid medium to initiate removal of soil from the soiled article;
• b) a soil sensing step wherein the soil-containing liquid medium is contacted with a plurality of soil-sensing means each responsive to a distinct physico-chemical soil characteristic and providing one or more soil parameter measurements corresponding thereto;
• c) a data processing step wherein the soil parameter measurements are entered as input data into a model algorithm defined on the basis of an algorithm dataset comprising experimental or consumer-generated soil parameter and soil concentration information and which functions to generate predicted soil data of enhanced confidence level;
• d) a communication step wherein one or more signals dependent upon the predicted soil data is issued to an output device, data store, user interface, data processor or an appliance director or module;
• and
• e) a cleaning step wherein the soiled article is treated with one or more detergent products of a type or amount determined prior to treatment in accord with the predicted soil data.

A method for measuring a degree of soiling of a soiled article or for cleaning the soiled article in a wash liquor or other liquid medium, the method comprising;

• a) a wetting step wherein the soiled article is brought into contact with a liquid medium to initiate removal of soil from the soiled article;
• b) a soil sensing step wherein the soil-containing liquid medium is contacted with a plurality of soil-sensing means each responsive to a distinct physico-chemical soil characteristic and providing one or more soil parameter measurements corresponding thereto, said plurality of soil sensing means including at least a conductivity-based sensor and a turbidity-based sensor;
• c) a data processing step wherein the soil parameter measurements for each sensing means are entered as input data into a model algorithm which functions to generate predicted soil data of enhanced confidence level;
• d) a communication step wherein one or more signals dependent upon the predicted soil data is issued to an output device, data store, user interface, data processor or an appliance director or module;
• and optionally
• e) a cleaning step wherein the soiled article is treated with one or more detergent products of a type or amount determined prior to treatment in accord with the predicted soil data.