WO1996030580A1

WO1996030580A1 - Container for dry cleaning

Info

Publication number: WO1996030580A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/002884
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Peter Siklosi; Bruce Albert Yeazell
Original assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date: 1995-03-30
Filing date: 1996-03-04
Publication date: 1996-10-03
Also published as: CA2216833A1; JPH11502739A; BR9607896A; MX9707448A; EP0817878A1

Abstract

A bag or other flexible container is coated on its interior surfaces with a cleaning composition. Soiled garments are placed in the bag, which is then sealed and placed in a hot-air clothes dryer. After tumbling in the dryer for 20-30 minutes, the cleaned, refreshed garments are removed from the bag for use.

Description

CONTAINER FOR DRY CLEANING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The inside surface of a container such as a flexible bag is wholly or partially coated with a cleaning composition. Fabrics placed within the bag and agitated are cleaned and refreshed. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending Serial No. 08/415,062. filed March 30, 1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION By classical definition, the term "dry cleaning" has been used to describe processes for cleaning textiles using nonaqueous solvents. Dry cleaning is an old art, with solvent cleaning first being recorded in the United Kingdom in the 1860's. Typically, dry cleaning processes are used with garments such as woolens which are subject to shrinkage in aqueous laundering baths, or which are judged to be too valuable or too delicate to subject to aqueous laundering processes. Various hydrocarbon and halocarbon solvents have traditionally been used in immersion dry cleaning processes, and the need to handle and reclaim such solvents has mainly restricted the practice of conventional dry cleaning to commercial establishments. While solvent-based dry cleaning processes are quite effective for removing oily soils and stains, they are not optimal for removing particulates such as clay soils, and may require special treatment conditions to remove proteinaceous stains. Ideally, particulates and proteinaceous stains are removed from fabrics using detersive ingredients and operating conditions which are more akin to aqueous laundering processes than to conventional dry cleaning. In addition to the cleaning function, dry cleaning also provides important "refreshment" benefits. For example, dry cleaning removes undesirable odors and extraneous matter such as hair and lint from garments, which are then generally folded or pressed to remove wrinkles and restore their original shape. Of course, such refreshment benefits are also afforded by aqueous laundering processes. As can be seen from the foregoing, and aside from the effects on certain fabrics such as woolens, there are no special, inherent advantages for solvent-based immersion dry cleaning over aqueous cleaning processes with respect to fabric cleaning or refreshment. Moreover, on a per- garment basis, commercial dry cleaning is much more expensive than aqueous cleaning processes.

While it would be of considerable benefit to consumers to provide dry cleaning compositions and processes which can be used in the home, the typical solvent systems used in commercial dry cleaning render this impractical. Indeed, various in-home dry cleaning systems have been suggested but have not been widely accepted. For example, commercial dry cleaning systems which employ sawdust as a paniculate earner for solvents or other cleamng composiuons have been suggested in the patent literature In-use. the earner and articles to be cleaned are placed in a bag and agitated Similarly, vanous sheets impregnated with cleamng compositions have been suggested for use within a bag-type container By the present invenuon. fabnes are cleaned and refreshed by means of an article of manufacture compnsing a bag or other container whose internal surfaces are wholly or partially coated with a cleamng composition Such articles overcome the disadvantages of paniculate earners and provide good contact between the fabπcs being cleaned and the cleamng composiuons In addition to the aforementioned advantages, the containers herein provide an additional performance benefit over pπor art processes As descπbed in the art. separate dry cleamng sheets or pads can be employed in a container in certain dry cleamng processes Unfortunately, such sheets or pads may compnse fibrous mateπals which cause lint to be deposited on the fabnc surfaces This is unacceptable, especially for dark fabπcs The present invenuon does not use such pads thereby avoiding the lint problem BACKGROUND ART

Dry cleamng processes are disclosed in EP 429.172A1. published 29 05 91. Leigh, et al and in U S 5,238,587, issued 8/24/93, Smith, et al Other references relaung to dry cleamng composiuons and processes, as well as wnnkle treatments for fabπcs, include GB 1,598,911, and U S Patents 4,126,563, 3,949,137, 3,593,544, 3.647,354. 3,432.253 and 1,747,324, and German app cauons 2.021.561 and 2,460,239, 0,208 989 and 4,007,362 Cleaning/pre-spotUng composiuons and methods are also disclosed, for example, in U S Patents 5.102,573, 5 041 230 4.909,962. 4,115,061, 4.886,615, 4.139,475, 4 849,257, 5,112,358, 4,659,496, 4 806.254 5,213.624. 4,130.392, and 4,395,261 Sheet substrates for use in a laundry dryer are disclosed in Canadian 1,005,204 U S Patent 4,663,198 discloses a pnnUng method such as rotogravure pnnUng for applying softemng agents to dryer added sheets U S 4,692,277 discloses the use of 1.2- octanediol in liquid cleaners

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invenuon encompasses a container for use in dry cleamng fabπcs. compnsing walls having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surfaces of said walls having releasabh deposited thereon an effecUve amount of a cleamng composiuon The container herein preferably also compnses a closure means and a sealing means In a preferred mode, the container is a flexible bag Depending on the desires of the formulator, the container herein can have the cleamng composiuon deposited on the inner surface of die walls in a conunuous layer, or intermittently

In a prefened embodiment, the invenuon provides a container wherein the cleamng composiuon compnses

(a) water,

(b) one or more cleamng solvents and wetting agents as descπbed hereinafter. (c) an emulsifier;

(d) optionally, one or more surfactants: and

(e) optional ingredients such as perfumes, thickeners and the like; and wherein the cleaning composition is releasably affixed to the inner surface of one or more of the wails of the container. Again, in this mode the container is preferably in the form of a sealable, flexible plastic bag.

The invention also encompasses a process for cleaning fabrics, comprising placing said fabrics within a container as described above and agitating said container, whereby said fabrics come in contact with the cleaning composition. Such process is conveniently conducted in a tumbling apparatus, such as a hot air clothes dryer or a washing machine having a horizontally mounted rotatable drum. Heat is preferably used during the process, as disclosed more fully, hereinafter.

All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified. All documents cited are. in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective of a flexible plastic bag according to the present invention in a pre- folded configuration.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the bag shown in Figure 1 in folded configuration. Figure 3 is a perspective similar to Figure 1 of an alternate embodiment showing a striped pattern of cleaning composiuon according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a perspective of the bag shown in Figure 3 in folded configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The ingredients of the dry cleaning composiuons and their use in the process of the present invention are described seriatim hereinafter.

Cleaning Compositions - The chemical compositions which are used to provide the cleaning function in the present dry cleaning process comprise ingredients which are safe and effective for their intended use. Since the process herein does not involve an aqueous rinse step, the cleaning compositions employ ingredients which do not leave undesirable residues on fabrics when employed in the manner disclosed herein. Moreover, since the process may be carried out in a hot air clothes dryer, the compositions contain only ingredients whose flash points render them safe for such use. The cleaning compositions contain water, since water not only aids in the cleaning function, but also can help remove wrinkles and restore fabric drape and appearance, especially in hot air dryers. While conventional laundry detergents are typically formulated to provide good cleaning on cotton and cotton/polyester blend fabrics, the cleaning compositions herein must be formulated to safely and effectively clean and refresh fabrics such as wool, silk, rayon, rayon acetate. and the like.

In addition, the cleaning compositions herein comprise ingredients which are specially selected and formulated to minimize dye removal from the fabrics being cleaned. In this regard, it is recognized that the solvents typically used in immersion dry cleamng processes can remove some portion of certain types of dyes from certain types of fabncs However, such removal is tolerable in immersion processes since the dye is removed relauvely uniformly across the surface of the fabnc In contrast, it has now been determined that high concentrauons of certain types of cleamng ingredients at specific sites on fabnc surfaces can result in unacceptable localized dye removal The prefeπed cleamng composiuons herein are formulated to minimize or avoid this problem

The dye removal attnbutes of the present cleamng composiuons can be compared with art- disclosed cleaners using photographic or photometnc measurements, or by means of a simple, but effecUve, visual grading test Numeπcal score units can be assigned to assist in visual grading and to allow for staUstical treatment of the data, if desired Thus, in one such test, a colored garment (typically, silk which tends to be more suscepttble to dye loss than woolen or rayon fabπcs) is treated by padding-on cleaner using an absorbent, white paper hand towel Hand pressure is applied, and the amount of dye which is transfened onto the white towel is assessed visually Numeπcal units ranging from (1) "I think I see a little dye on the towel", (2) "I know I see some dye on the towel", (3) I see a lot of dye on the towel", through (4) "I know I see qmte a lot of dye on the towel" are assigned by panelists

Having due regard to the foregoing considerauons, the following illustrates the ingredients used in the cleamng composiuons herein, but is not intended to be limiung thereof

(a) Water -The composiuons will compnse at least about 60%, typically from about 80% to about 95%, by weight, of water Stated otherwise, the objecUve is to provide at least about 6 g of water per kg of fabπcs being cleaned

(b) Solvent - The composiuons will compnse at least about 4%, typically from about 5% to about 25%, by weight, of organic solvent The objecuve is to provide at least about 04 g, preferably from about 0 5 g to about 2 5 g, of solvent per kg of fabπcs being cleaned

(c) Emulsifier - The composiuons will compnse sufficient emulsifier to provide a stable, homogeneous composiuon compnsing components (a), (b) and (d) For the prefened emulsifiers disclosed hereinafter, levels as low as 0 05%, preferably 007% to about 0 20%. by weight are quite saϋsfactory If less efficient emulsifiers are used levels up to about 2%, by weight, can be used, but may leave some nouceable residues on the fabπcs

(d) Opuonals - The composiuons herein may compnse vaπous opUonal ingredients, including perfumes, convenuonal surfactants, earners and the like If used such opuonal ingredients will typically compnse from about 0 1% to about 10%. by weight, of the composiuons, having due regard for residues on the cleaned fabπcs

It has now been determined that 1.2-octanedιol ("OD") affords special advantages in the formulauon of the cleamng composiuons herein From the standpoint of aestheucs. OD is a relauvely innocuous and low odor mateπal Moreover, OD appears to volaulize from fabnc surfaces without leaving visible residues This is especially important in a dry cleamng process of the present type which is conducted without a nnse step From the performance standpoint, OD appears to funcUon both as a solvent for greasy/oily stains and as what might be termed a "pseudo-surfactant" for paniculate soils and water-soluble stains Whatever the physical-chemical reason, OD has now been found to be a supeπor wetting agent with respect to both cleamng and ease-of-use in the present context of home-use cleamng composiuons and processes

A prefened solvent herein is butoxy propoxy propanol (BPP) which is available in commercial quanuues as a mixture of isomers in about equal amounts The isomers, and mixtures thereof, are all useful herein The isomer structures are as follows n— C 4H9— O — C H2C H2C H2 — O — C H₂C H₂C H₂— O H

C H₃ n—C4H9—0—CH₂—C—O—CH₂CH₂CH₂—OH

H

CH₃ n—C4H9—O—CH₂CH₂CH2—0—CH₂—C—OH

I H

BPP is outstanding for cleamng, and is so effecUve that it allows the amount of the relauvely expensive 1,2-octanedιol to be minimized Moreover, it allows for the formulauon of effecUve cleamng composiuons herein without the use of convenUonal surfactants Importantly, the odor of BPP is of a degree and character that it can be relauvely easily masked by convenUonal perfume ingredients While BPP is not completely nuscible with water and hence, could negaUvely impact processing of the cleamng composiuons herein, that potenual problem has been successfully overcome by means of the PEMULEN-type polyacrylate emulsifiers, as disclosed hereinafter

The BPP solvent used herein is preferably a mixture of the aforesaid isomers In a prefened mode, the cleamng composiuons compnse a mixture of the 1,2-octanedιoI and BPP, at a weight rauo of OD BPP in the range of from about 1 250 to about 2 1, preferably from about 1 200 to about 1 5

A highly preferred emulsifier herein is commercially available under the trademark PEMULEN, The B F Goodπch Company, and is descnbed in U S Patents 4,758,641 and 5,004.557 incorporated herein by reference PEMULEN polymenc emulsifiers are high molecular weight polyacrylic acid polymers The structure of PEMULEN includes a small portion that is oil- loving ( pophilic) and a large water-loving (hydrophi c) portion The structure allows PEMULEN to function as a pnmary oil-in-water emulsifier The hpophilic portion adsorbs at the oil-water interface and the hydrophihc portion swells in the water forming a network around the oil droplets to provide emulsion stability An important advantage for the use of such polyacrylate emulsifiers herein is that cleamng composiuons can be prepared which contain solvents or levels of solvents that are otherwise not soluble or readily miscible with water A further advantage is that effecUve emulsificaUon can be accomplished using PEMULEN-type emulsifier at extremely low usage levels (005-02%), thereby minimizing the level of any residue left on fabncs following product usage For compaπson, typically about 3-7% of convenUonal anionic or nomomc surfactants are required to stabilize oil-m-water emulsions, which increases the likelihood that a residue will be left on the fabπcs Another advantage is that emulsificaUon (processing) can be accomplished effecUvely at room temperature

In addiuon to the prefened solvents and emulsifiers disclosed above, the cleamng composiuons herein may compnse vanous opuonal ingredients, such as perfumes, preservauves, co- solvents, bπghteners. salts for viscosity control, pH adjusters or buffers, anu-stauc agents, softeners, colorants, mothproofing agents, insect repellents and the like

While the cleamng composiuons herein funcuon quite well with only the 1.2-octanedιol, BPP PEMULEN and water, they may also opuonally contain detersive surfactants to further enhance their cleamng performance While a wide vanety of detersive surfactants such as the C _j %■ Ci6 alkyl sulfates and alkylbenzene sulfonates, the Ci2-C_j6 ethoxylated (EO 0 5-10 avg ) alcohols, the Ci2"Ci4 N-methyl glucamides, and the like can be used herein, it is highly prefened to use surfactants which provide high grease/oil removal Included among such prefened surfactants are the Cj2-Cj6 alkyl ethoxy sulfates (AES), especially in their magnesium salt form, and the

dimethyl amine oxides An especially prefened mixture compnses MgAEi S/MgAEg 5S/C12 dimethyl amine oxide, at a weight rauo of about 1 1 1 If used, such surfactants will typicallv compnse from about 005% to about 2 5%, by weight, of the cleamng composiuons herein

Container - The present cleamng process is conducted using a flexible container The fabncs to be cleaned are placed within the container/cleaning composiuon article, and the container is agitated, thereby providing contact between the cleamng composiuon and the surfaces of the fabncs

The container used herein can be provided in any number of configurauons. and is conveniently in the form of a flexible pouch, or "bag", which has sufficient volume to contain the fabncs being cleaned Suitable containers can be manufactured from any economical mateπal. such as polyester, polypropylene, and the like, with the proviso that it must not melt if used in contact with hot dryer air It is prefened that the walls of the container be substanually impermeable to water vapor and solvent vapor under the intended usage condiuons It is also prefened that such containers be provided with a sealing means which is sufficiently stable to remain closed duπng the cleamng process Simple Ue stnngs or wires, vanous snap closures such as ZIP LOK® closures, and VELCRO®-type closures, contact adhesive, adhesive tape, zipper-type closures, and the like suffice The container can be of any convement size, and should be sufficiently large to allow tumbling of the container and fabncs therein, but should not be so large as to interfere with the operauon of the tumbling apparatus With special regard to containers intended for use in hot air clothes dryers, the container must not be so large as to block the air vents. If desired the container may be small enough to handle only a single shirt, blouse or sweater, or be sufficiently large to handle a man's suit.

Container/Cleaning Composition Article - The cleaning compositions can be applied to the internal surfaces of the containers herein by any convenient means, including, but not limited to, rinsing, spraying, dipping, and the like. In one method a flexible sheet of bag material is coated with the cleaning composition, excess composition is removed by a doctor blade, and the sheet is folded and sealed to provide the container article of the present type having the cleaning composition as a substantially continuous coating on all or any selected parts of its inner surfaces. In another mode, the cleaning composition is applied to all or any selected parts of the sheet in an intermittent pattern, e.g.. as stripes, dots, figures, or the like. Again, the sheet is folded to provide a bag having the cleaning composition in whatever intermittent pattern has been selected.

There is some additional advantage for applying the cleaning compositions as an intermittent pattern. For example, if two or more of the ingredients of the composiuons are incompatible, it may be difficult to apply them as a single admixture in a continuous coating process. However, if applied in an intermittent pattern, e.g., as dots, the individual ingredients may be applied in the individual dots. To illustrate this point further, in the case of a perfume ingredient which may be unstable on storage with a surfactant ingredient, the formulator can separately apply surfactant-free "perfume dots" and perfume-free "surfactant dots" to the article, thereby securing stability by the physical separation of the dots.

The cleaning compositions can be applied in an intermittent pattern by means of any apparatus having one or more orifices through which the composition can flow. For example, a manifold with 5-100 orifices can be used to lay-out a spot pattern of cleaning composiuon on the surface of a plastic sheet as shown in Figure 1. The sheet is then folded to provide a bag with the cleaning composition present in a spot pattern on its internal surfaces as shown in Figure 2. In an alternate mode, the cleaning composition can be applied using rotogravure or other types of "printing" processes; see U.S. 4,663,198 cited hereinabove. Alternatively, the cleaning composition can be encapsulated in capsules which are designed to be ruptured by heat or by the friction of fabrics passing across them. Process • The present cleaning process can be conducted in any manner which provides mechanical agitation, such as a tumbling action, to the container with the fabrics being cleaned. If desired, the agitation may be provided manually. However, in a convenient mode a container/cleaning composition article enveloping the soiled fabric is sealed and placed in the drum of an automatic clothes dryer. The drum is allowed to revolve, which imparts a tumbling action to the container and agitation of its contents concurrently with the tumbling. By virtue of this agitation, the fabrics come in contact with the releasable cleaning composiuon. It is prefened that heat be employed during the process. Of course, heat can easily be provided in a clothes dryer. The tumbling and optional (but prefened) heating is carried out for a period of at least about 10 minutes, typically from about 20 minutes to about 30 minutes. The process can be conducted for longer or shorter periods, depending on such factors as the degree and type of soiling of the fabrics, the nature of the soils, the nature of the fabrics, the fabric load, the amount of heat applied and the like, according to the needs of the user. The following illustrates a typical process in more detail, but is not intended to be limiting thereof.

EXAMPLE I

In one embodiment of the invention, a flat sheet (1) of flexible plastic having a random anay of dots (2) comprising the cleaning composition on its surface is prepared as shown in Figure 1. The border (3) of the sheet along its lateral edges is free of cleaning composition. Strip (4) comprises a layer of contact adhesive as a sealing means on closure flap (5). As shown in Figure 2, a bag is formed by folding the sheet of Figure 1 and bonding along the border (3). The dots (2) of cleaning composition are on the inner walls of the bag, and are visible in the opening (6) of the bag as shown in the Figure. Closure flap (5) with sealing means (4) allow closing and sealing of the bag by imposing sealing means (4) onto contact surface (7).

As depicted in Figure 3, an alternate embodiment of the invention can be prepared using a flat sheet (3) having a striped pattern of cleaning composition (2) applied to part of its surface. As shown in Figure 4, the sheet is folded to form a bag of the present type having stripes of the cleaning composition (2) on one of its inner walls. Bags in the size range of from about 10,000 cm³ to about 25,000 cm' can thus be prepared for use herein.

A dry cleaning bag is assembled using a polyethylene sheet substrate and a cleaning composiuon prepared by admixing die following ingredients.

Ingredient % (wt.)

BPP* 7.0 1,2-Octanediol 0.5

PEMULEN TR-1** 0.15

KOH 0.08

Perfume 0.75

Water Balance "Isomer mixture, available from Dow Chemical Co.

**PEMULEN TR-2, B. F. Goodrich, may be substituted.

In an optional mode, conventional gelling agents such as polyvinylpynolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamides. canageenan, and the like, may be used at levels typically above about 0.25%, by weight, to thicken the cleaning composiuons. thereby assisting in their application to die walls of the container.

15-23 Grams of the above-noted cleaning composition are evenly applied to the sheet in the form of a dot matrix. The sheet is then folded and sealed into die form of a bag, as shown in the Figures.

EXAMPLE II

2 Kg of garments to be cleaned are placed in a dry cleaning bag of the foregoing type having a volume of about 25,000 cm³. The bag is closed, sealed and placed in a conventional hot- air clothes dryer. When the garments are placed in the bag, the air is preferably not squeezed out of the bag before closing and sealing. This allows the bag to billow, thereby providing sufficient space for the fabrics and cleaning sheet to tumble freely together. The dryer is started and the bag is tumbled for a period of 30 minutes at a dryer air temperature in the range from about 50°C to about

85°C. After the machine cycle is complete, the bag and its contents are removed from the dryer, and the cleaned refreshed garments are removed from the bag.

In an alternate mode, heavily soiled areas of die fabric being cleaned can optionally be pre- treated by rubbing a small amount of the cleaning composition on die area. The pre-treated fabric is then placed in the container, and the dry cleamng process is conducted in the manner described herein. Having thus described and exemplified the present invention, the following further illustrates various cleaning compositions which can be formulated and used in the practice thereof.

EXAMPLE III Ingredient % (wt.) Formula Range

BPP* 5-25% 1.2-Octanediol 0.1-7%

MgAEiS 0.01-0.8%

MgAE_{6 5}S 0.01-0.8%

C₁₂ Dimethyl Amine Oxide 0.01-0.8%

PEMULEN** 0.05-0.20% Perfume 0.01-1.5%

Water Balance pH Range from about 6 to about 8. •Other solvents or co-solvents which can be used herein include various glycol ethers, including materials marketed under trademarks such as Carbitol, methyl Carbitol, butyl Carbitol, propyl Carbitol. and hexyl Cellosolve, methoxy propoxy propanol (MPP), ethoxy propoxy propanol (EPP). propoxy propoxy propanol (PPP), and all isomers and mixtures, respectively, of MPP, EPP, and PPP. and the like, and mixtures thereof. If desired and having due regard for safety for in-home use. various conventional chlorinated and hydrocarbon dry cleaning solvents may also be used. Included among these are 1.2-dichloroethane, trichloroethylene. isoparaffins. and mixtures thereof. **As disclosed in U.S. Patents 4,758,641 and 5,004,557, such polyacrylates include homopolymers which may be crosslinked to varying degrees, as well as non-crosslinked. Prefened herein are homopolymers having a molecular weight in the range of from about 100,000 to about 10.000.000. preferably 200,000 to 5,000,000

Excellent cleamng performance is secured using any of the foregoing non-immersion processes and articles to provide from about 5 g to about 50 g of the cleamng composiuons per kilogram of fabπcs being cleaned EXAMPLE IV

A diy cleamng composiuon with reduced tendency to cause dye "bleeding" or removal from fabncs as disclosed above is as follows

INGREDIENT PERCENT (wt ) (RANGE)

Butoxypropoxy propanol (BPP) 7 000 4 0 - 25 0% NEODOL 23 - 6 5* 0 750 0 05 - 2 5%

1.2-Octanedιol 0 500 0 1 - 10 0%

Perfume 0 750 0 1 - 2 0%

Pemulen TR-1 0 125 0 05 - 0 2%

Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) 0060 0 024 - 0 10 Potassium Chloπde 0 075 0 02 - 0 20

Water (disUlled or deiomzed) 90 740 60 0 - 95 0%

Target pH = 70

^♦Shell, C_]2-C_j3 alcohol, ethoxylated widi average EO of 6 5

The composiuon of Example IV is used in the manner disclosed herein to clean and refresh soiled fabncs

In a prefened mode, the container bag used herein is constructed of thermal resistant film in order to provide resistance to hot spots (350°F-400°F, 177°C to 204°C) which can develop in some dryers This avoids internal self-sealing and external surface deformauon of the bag In a prefened embodiment, 00025 mm to 00075 mm thickness nylon film is converted into a 26 inch (66 cm) x 30 in (76 cm) bag Bag manufacture can be accomplished in a convenUonal manner using standard impulse heaung equipment, air blowing techniques, and the like In an alternate mode, a sheet of nylon is simply folded in half and sealed along two of its edges

In addition to thermally stable "nylon-only" bags, the container bags herein can also be prepared using sheets of co-extruded nylon and/or polyester or nylon and/or polyester outer and/or inner layers sunounding a less thermally smtable inner core such as polypropylene In an alternate mode, a bag is constructed using a nonwoven outer "shell" compnsing a heat-resistant mateπal such as nylon or polyethylene terephthalate and an inner sheet of a polymer which provides a vapor barner The non-woven outer shell protects the bag from melUng and provides an improved tacule impression to the user Whatever the construcuon. the objecuve is to protect the bag's integπtv under condiUons of thermal stress at temperatures up to at least about 400-500°F (204°C to 260°C)

Nylon VELCRO®-type, ZIP-LOK®-type and/or zipper-type closures can be used to seal die bag, m- use Besides the optional nonionic surfactants used in the cleaning compositions herein, which are preferably Cg-C_jg ethoxylated (E01-15) alcohols or the corresponding ethoxylated alkyl phenols, the compositions can contain enzymes to further enhance cleaning performance. Lipases, amylases and protease enzymes, or mixtures thereof, can be used. If used such enzymes will typically comprise from about 0.001% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.01% to about 1%, by weight, of the composition. Commercial detersive enzymes such as LEPOLASE, ESPERASE, ALCALASE, SAVINASE and TERMAMYL (all ex. NOVO) and MAXATASE and RAPIDASE (ex. International Bio-Synthesis, Inc.) can be used.

If an anustatic benefit is desired the compositions used herein can contain an anti-stauc agent. If used, such anti-static agents will typically comprise at least about 0.5%, typically from about 2% to about 8%, by weight, of the compositions. Prefened anti-stats include die seπes of sulfonated polymers available as VERSAFLEX 157, 207, 1001, 2004 and 7000, from NaUonal

Starch and Chemical Company.

The compositions herein can optionally be stabilized for storage using convenUonal preservatives such as KATHON® at a level of 0.001%-1%, by weight.

If the composiuons herein are used in a spot-cleaning mode, they are preferably pressed

(not rubbed) onto the fabric at the spotted area using an applicator pad comprising looped fibers. such as is available as APLIX 200 or 960 Uncut Loop, from Aplix, Inc., Charlotte, NC An underlying absorbent sheet or pad of looped fibers can optionally be placed beneath the fabric in this mode of operation.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A container for use in dry cleaning fabrics, comprising walls having inner and outer surfaces, characterized by the inner surfaces of said walls having releasably deposited thereon an effective amount of a cleamng composition.

2. A container according to Claim 1 which additionally comprises a closure and sealing means.

3. A container according to Claim 2 wherein said container is a flexible bag.

4. A container according to Claim 1 wherein die cleaning composition is deposited on die inner surface of the walls in a continuous layer.

5. A container according to Claim 1 wherein die cleamng composition is intermittently deposited on the inner surface of the walls.

6. A container according to Claim 1 wherein the cleaning composition comprises: (a) water; (b) one or more organic cleaning solvents and wetting agents;

(c) an emulsifier; and

(d) optionally, one or more surfactants, and wherein die cleaning composiuon is releasably affixed to die inner surface of die walls of die container.

7. A container according to Claim 6 in die form of a sealable, flexible plastic bag.

8. A process for cleaning fabrics, characterized in that it comprises placing said fabrics wiϋiin a container according to Claim 1 and agitating said container, whereby said fabrics come in contact with the cleamng composition.

9. A process according to Claim 8 which is conducted in a tumbling apparatus.

10. A process according to Claim 9 wherein said tumbling apparatus is a hot air clothes dryer or a washing machine having a horizontally mounted rotatable drum.