US 7,682,403 B2 · Method for treating laundry

Abstract

A method for treating laundry is provided. The method includes steps of applying a bleaching and antimicrobial composition to laundry in a laundry washing machine at a first pH that favors bleaching properties and at a second pH that favors antimicrobial properties, wherein the first pH and the second pH are different, and draining the bleaching and antimicrobial composition from the laundry. The step of applying a bleaching and antimicrobial composition to laundry can include a step of washing the laundry with a detergent composition for the removal of soil. In addition, the step of applying a bleaching and antimicrobial composition to laundry can precede or follow a step of washing laundry with a detergent composition for the removal of soil. A bleaching and antimicrobial composition and a laundry washing machine are provided.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for treating laundry, the method comprising:

(a) washing the laundry with a detergent use solution at an alkaline pH in an industrial laundry washing machine for removal of soil from the laundry;
and thereafter draining at least a portion of the detergent use solution from the laundry washing machine;
and thereafter
(b) applying a laundry treatment composition comprising a bleaching/antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of a halogen bleach, an oxygen bleach, and mixtures thereof, to the laundry in an industrial laundry washing machine at a pH from about 2 to about 4 for about 3 minutes to about 10 minutes, and thereafter at a pH from about 8 to about 11 for about 3 minutes to about 10 minutes;
wherein a pH adjusting agent is added to increase the pH;
and
(c) draining the laundry treatment composition from the laundry.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for treating laundry

Life of this patent

Method for treating laundry

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12