WO2008046449A1

WO2008046449A1 - Sanitary cleaner on a new acid combination

Info

Publication number: WO2008046449A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/067522
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elena Cabero Rego; Christian Liko; Matthias Menzel; Stephan Uhl
Original assignee: Ecolab Inc.
Priority date: 2006-10-17
Filing date: 2006-10-17
Publication date: 2008-04-24
Also published as: EP2069469A1; EP2069469B1

Abstract

It is provided an aqueous sanitary cleaning composition comprising an sulfamic acid in an amount of up to 8 wt.% , a hydroxycarboxylic acid and water, wherein the weight ratio of the sulfamic acid to the hydroxycarboxylic acid is 80:20 to 20:80. Said cleaning composition can be used for cleaning of, disinfecting of, and/or lime removal from surfaces made of brass, copper, aluminium, stainless steel, zinc, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyacetat, polystyrene, polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, plexiglas), polycarbonate, ceramic, tiles, porcelain, painted and plastic coated surfaces and enamel or any other surfaces which can be found in, for example, sanitary or kitchen areas.

Description

SANITARY CLEANER ON A NEW ACID COMBINATION

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an aqueous sanitary cleaning com- position and to the use of said cleaning composition for cleaning of, disinfecting of, and/or lime removal from surfaces, especially from surfaces in bathrooms, kitchens and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Aqueous cleaning compositions for the removal of dirt and lime in sanitary or kitchen areas are already well-known. These compositions normally are based on inorganic and/or organic acids as well as surfactants. As additional agents these compositions often further comprise colouring agents, perfumes, viscosity control agents, disinfecting and bleaching agents, preservatives, and further auxiliary substances.

[0003] For the removal of persistent lime scale it is required that the cleaning compositions have a high acidity. Since strong inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid lead to corrosion of metallic surfaces, material incompatibility and cause environmental pollution nowadays cleaning compositions are widely used which are based on sulfamic acid. Sulfamic-acid-based cleaning compositions have a high scale-removing capability. Additional advantages of these cleaning compositions are that they can be used safely and that they are eco-friendly. [0004] On the other hand, cleaning compositions merely based on sulfamic acid have some disadvantages with respect to labelling regulations, material compatibility, perfume stability, and oxidation problems.

[0005] For example, in many countries sulfamic acid based cleaning com- positions have to be labelled with the irritant sign "Xi" due to the acidity properties of the compositions. Since customers and professional users prefer to buy and to use cleaning compositions which can be used safely it is desirable for suppliers to provide a sanitary cleaning composition which has not to be labelled with the irritant sign "Xi".

[0006] Furthermore, sulfamic acid has some drawbacks with respect to its oxidative properties. Sulfamic acid causes corrosion when it comes into contact with metal surfaces. In contact with plastic surfaces it causes an accelerated aging of the plastic materials which may lead to, for example, stress corrosion cracking. Another problem which is sometimes observed with cleaning compositions accord- ing to the state of the art is that the plastic bottles in which the compositions are filled begin to shrink after a certain storage time. This is not acceptable for safety and aesthetical reasons. Therefore, it is also desirable to provide a sanitary cleaning composition being less corrosive to metal surfaces and more compatible to various other materials such as plastics.

[0007] Another problem which can be observed when formulating cleaning composition with sulfamic acid as the sole acid component is that the stability of perfumes also contained in the cleaning composition may be reduced. It is assumed that due to the oxidative properties of the sulfamic acid the perfumes decompose within a few weeks or months when storing the aqueous composition.

[0008] Therefore, it is the aim of the present invention to provide an aqueous sanitary cleaning composition which is less irritant to the skin, has an increased material compatibility, enables higher perfume stability, and is less corro- sive to metal surfaces such as steel and aluminium, but nevertheless has good lime-removing capacity and good cleaning properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Now it has surprisingly been found that the above-defined object can be achieved by providing an aqueous sanitary cleaning composition according to claim 1 of the invention. Said cleaning composition of the invention comprises an sulfamic acid in an amount of up to 8 wt.%, a hydroxycarboxylic acid and water, wherein the weight ratio of the sulfamic acid to the hydroxycarboxylic acid is 80:20 to 20:80.

[0010] The relatively low amount of sulfamic acid in combination with the presence of the hydroxycarboxylic acid gives the cleaning composition of the i nvention good lime-removal properties as well as a good material compatibility with respect to plastic and metallic materials. Furthermore, the perfume stability of such a composition is better when compared with cleaning compositions of the state of the art based solely on sulfamic acid.

[0011] In order to further improve the material compatibility, the perfume stability and to further reduce the skin-irritant properties the sulfamic acid is in an alternative embodiment of the invention present in an amount of only up to 6 wt.- %, preferably in an amount of below 5 wt.-%. In order to ensure sufficient lime- removing properties of the cleaning composition according to the invention the sulfamic acid is preferably present in a minimum amount of 1 wt.-% and more preferably in a minimum amount of 2 wt.-%.

[0012] The sulfamic acid to be used is favourably sulfamic acid itself but is not limited to this acid. Also N-alkyl, N-aryl, or N-allyl derivatives thereof if highly soluble in water can be used. [0013] Hydrocarboxylic acids are defined as organic acids having at least one hydroxyl group and at least one carboxyl group in the molecule. A wide range of hydrocarboxylic acids can be used in the cleaning compositions according to the invention. These acids are for example lactic acid, maleic acid, citric acid, gly- colic acid, tartaric acid, hydracylic acid, α-hydroxybutyric acid, glyceric acid, tartronic acid, salicylic acid, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, mandelic acid, and tropic acid or mixtures thereof.

[0014] The preferred acid is lactic acid. Lactic acid has the further advantage that it is slightly antimicrobial. That is why lactic acid is notified as having dis- infecting properties whereas, for example, sulfamic acid is not notified accordingly. Notification procedures follow European biocide regulations. In Germany they are integrated in the chemical regulations stated in the year 2002. The advantage of using lactic acid as component in a sanitary cleaning composition therefore is that such a composition additionally has disinfecting properties and is allowed to be labelled accordingly.

[0015] The hydroxycarboxylic acid of the sanitary cleaning composition according to the invention is present in an amount of up to 10 wt. -%. An amount of up to 6 wt. -% or even below 4 wt.-% is also sufficient with respect to the aimed properties of the cleaning composition according to the invention. In order to en- sure a sufficient perfume-stability of the cleaning composition according to the invention the hydroxycarboxylic acid is preferably present in a minimum amount of 1 wt.-% and more preferably in a minimum amount of 2 wt.-%.

[0016] The weight ratio of the sulfamic acid and the hydroxycarboxylic acid in the sanitary cleaning composition according to the invention is 80:20 to 20:80 as mentioned above. However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the ratio is below 60:40 to 40:60, and more preferred between below 60:40 and 50:50.

[0017] In a further aspect of the invention the sanitary cleaning composition comprises urea. The cleaning composition according to the invention comprises urea especially in the case that also perfumes are contained in the composition. The reason therefore is that urea increases the solubility and stability of the perfumes in the aqueous cleaning composition. If urea is used it is present in an amount of 0.5 to 10 wt.-%, preferably 2 to 8 wt.-%, and more preferably in an amount of 4 to 6 wt.-%.

[0018] Furthermore, the composition according to the invention may comprise one ore more surfactants, preferably selected from the group consisting of non-ionic, anionic and/or amphoteric surfactants, or mixtures thereof. The preferred surfactants are non-ionic surfactants. If surfactants are used they are usu- ally present in the composition in an amount of 0.1 to 10 wt.-%, preferably 0.5 to 5 wt.-%, and more preferably in an amount of 1 to 4 wt.-%.

[0019] Non-ionic, anionic and amphoteric surfactants which are usable in context with aqueous cleaning compositions are well-known for the person skilled in the art. All members of these known surfactants can be used in the cleaning compositions according to the present invention as long as they are compatible with the other compounds used in these compositions. Furthermore, it is within the routine work of a person skilled in the art to choose an appropriate surfactant from the groups of non-ionic, anionic and amphoteric surfactants or a mixture of more than one such surfactants. However, in the cleaning composition according to the present invention the surfactant or the mixture of surfactants is preferably selected from the group of non-ionic and/or anionic surfactants which comprises, for example, ethoxylates of alcohols, amines, amides and acids. Preferred su rfactants are alcohol ethoxylates.

[0020] Other compounds which can be used as auxiliary compounds in the sanitary cleaning composition are perfumes and dyes. If one or more perfumes are used in the cleaning composition of the invention they are usually present in an amount of 0.01 to 2 wt.-%, preferably in an amount of 0.05 to 0.8 wt.-%, and most preferably in an amount of 0.1 to 0.6 wt.-%. If one or more dyes are used they are usually present in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.1 wt.-%, preferably in an amount of 0.0005 to 0.01 wt.-%, and most preferably in an amount of 0.001 to 0.005 wt.-%.

[0021] An auxiliary compound which may also be comprised in the cleaning composition according to the invention is one or more alcohols. The alcohol can 5 be used to solve the perfume and/or other auxiliary compounds in a premix solution which is then used to formulate the cleaning composition. The preferred alcohol is ethanol. If one or more alcohols are used they are usually present in an amount of 0.05 to 10 wt.-%, preferably in an amount of 0.1 to 5 wt.-%, and most preferably in an amount of 0.5 to 2 wt.-%.

io [0022] In further embodiments the sanitary cleaning composition of the invention may optionally comprise additional agents like disinfecting agents, preservatives, corrosion inhibitors, complex builders, enzymes and bleaching agents.

[0023] In order to provide a sanitary cleaning composition being less irritant to the human skin the pH value of the freshly formulated cleaning composition ac- i5 cording to the invention is adjusted to be equal or above 0.8, preferably equal or above 0.9, and most preferably equal or above 1.05. However, it is generally observed that after a storage time of a few weeks or month the pH value of such cleaning compositions increases due to decomposing reactions. Therefore, a cleaning composition according to the invention which had an pH value of, for ex-

20 ample, 1.05 after freshly formulated may have a pH value of up to 1.4 after 4 month storage at 40 ⁰C.

[0024] A further advantage of the present inventive cleaning composition is that the shrinking effect of plastic bottles observed with 1 -liter PE-bottles filled with a cleaning composition according to the state of the art was not observed with the 25 same bottles filled with a cleaning composition according to the invention. The shrinking effect means that the PE-bottles filled with cleaning compositions or the like begin after a few weeks or month of storage to loose their original shape, mostly observed as a shrinking of the bottles. [0025] In a typical embodiment of the present invention the cleaning composition comprises sulfamic acid in an amount of up to 6 wt.-%, lactic acid in an amount of up to 6 wt.-%, one or more surfactants in an amount of 0.5 to 5 wt.-%, urea in an amount of 2 to 8 wt.-%, one or more alcohols in an amount of 0.1 to 5 wt.-%, one or more perfumes in an amount of 0.05 to 0.8 wt.-%, one or more dyes in an amount of 0.0005 to 0.01 wt.-% and water, wherein the weight ratio of the sulfamic acid to the lactic acid is between below 60:40 and 40:60.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the cleaning composition comprises sulfamic acid in an amount of 1 to below 5 wt.-%, lactic acid in an amount of 1 to below 4 wt.-%, one or more non-ionic surfactants in an amount of 1 to 4 wt.-%, urea in an amount of 4 to 6 wt.-%, one or more alcohols in an amount of 0.5 to 2 wt.-%, one or more perfumes in an amount of 0.1 to 0.6 wt.- %, one or more dyes in an amount of 0.001 to 0.005 wt.-% and water, wherein the weight ratio of the sulfamic acid to the lactic acid is between below 60:40 and 50:50.

[0027] In a further aspect of the invention the sanitary cleaning composition does not comprise any thickening agents, for example does not comprise polysaccharide thickener. However, in other aspects of the invention thickening agents may also be present in the sanitary cleaning composition according to the inven- tion.

[0028] Furthermore, the cleaning composition according to the invention normally does not comprise ammonium sulfate as an auxiliary compound. However, in a special aspect of the invention also ammonium sulfate may be comprised in the composition.

[0029] In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention the cleaning composition comprises sulfamic acid in an amount of 2 to below 5 wt.-%, lactic acid in an amount of 2 to below 4 wt.-%, one or more non-ionic and/or anionic surfactants in an amount of 1 to 4 wt.-%, urea in an amount of 4 to 6 wt.-%, ethanol in an amount of 0.5 to 2 wt.-%, one or more perfumes in an amount of 0.1 to 0.6 wt.- %, one or more dyes in an amount of 0.001 to 0.005 wt.-% and water, wherein the weight ratio of the sulfamic acid to the lactic acid is between below 60:40 and 50:50 and wherein no thickening agent and no ammonium sulfate is present in the composition.

[0030] The sanitary cleaning composition according to the invention can be used for cleaning of, disinfecting of, and/or lime removal from various surfaces. Examples for such surfaces which can be found in sanitary or kitchen areas are brass, copper, aluminium, stainless steel, zinc, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypro- pylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyacetat, polystyrene, polyethylene (PE), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, plexiglas), polycarbonate, ceramic, tiles, porcelain, painted and plastic coated surfaces and enamel or any other surfaces in sanitary or kitchen areas.

[0031] The sanitary cleaning composition according to the invention can be used as a concentrated composition. However, typically it is used as a ready-to- use solution in any desired dilution in the range of 10:1 to 1 :400 of the composition in water. A preferred dilution is 1 :10 in water. The ready-to-use solution can be applied by spraying or as a foam cleaner.

[0032] The aqueous sanitary cleaning composition according to the inven- tion can be formed by mixing together all compounds comprised in the composition, preferably beginning with water. Then the other compounds are added to the water. If desired, a ready-to-use composition can then be prepared as mentioned above. An additional pre-mix step is normally not required especially not for the perfume added to the aqueous mixture. In cleaning compositions which are only sulfamic-acid-based according to the state of the art it is normally necessary to solve the perfume compound in, for example, ethanol and then to add this pre-mix to the aqueous mixture prepared before. Therefore, it is a further advantage of the sanitary cleaning composition of the present invention that this pre-mix step can be avoided. Examples

[0023] In the following tests aqueous sanitary cleaning compositions according to the invention and according to the state of the art were prepared and compared with respect to their lime-removal capacity, their cleaning capacity, their stability of perfumes and their material compatibility and corrosiveness.

[0024] According to the compounding amounts listed in table 1 certain aqueous cleaning compositions according to the state of the art and according to the invention were prepared.

[0025] Table 1 : Example compositions

LIME-REMOVAL CAPACITY

[0026] The lime-removal capacity was tested using the marble-block method according to which marble blocks of 30x30x20 mm dimension were brushed under water and dried for 24 hours in a drying chamber at 50 ⁰C. For the examination of the lime-removing capacity the marble-block is put for 1 hour at room temperature in 200 ml of the aqueous sanitary cleaning composition to be tested. The lime- removing capacity is the amount of marble in mg which dissolves within the 1 hour the block was in the 200 ml aqueous cleaning solution. The difference in weight of the marble block at the beginning and in the end of the dissolving procedure is equalled to the lime-removing capacity.

[0027] Table 2 shows the lime-removing capacity at room temperature (RT) of the cleaning compositions according to the examples listed in table 1. The lime- removing capacity was tested with freshly formulated compositions (column 2) and with compositions stored for 1 , 2, 3 and 4 month at 38 ⁰C (columns 3-6).

[0028] Table 2: Lime-removal capacity

[0027] As can be seen from table 2 and from the chart in figure 1 the best lime-removing capacity is observed with freshly formulated compositions according to the comparative examples 1 and 2 whereas the lime-removing capacity of the compositions according to examples 3 to 6 is somewhat lower. However, after 1 month storage at 38 ⁰C the lime-removing capacity of all composition 1 to 6 are comparable, wherein the best performances are achieved with the compositions according to the invention (examples 4 and 5). After 2 month storage at 38 ⁰C the lime-removing capacity of the compositions according to comparative examples 1 and 2 tends to zero, whereas the capacity of the compositions according to examples 3 to 6 is quite acceptable or even good as in example 6. After 3 and 4 month storage at 38 ⁰C the lime-removing capacity of all compositions, except of composition according to example 6, tends to zero. The cleaning composition according to example 6 has even after 3 and 4 month storage an acceptable or good lime- removing capacity.

CLEANING CAPACITY

[0030] The cleaning capacity is measured using a test procedure recommended by the IKW (Industrieverband Kδrperpflege- und Waschmittel e.V.). The details of the test conditions can be found in SOFW-Journal, 130, 10-2004, 83-93. For the evaluation of the cleaning capacity the test were made with pure compositions (examples 2 and 6) and with diluted use compositions (concentration: 2 %, examples 2b and 6b). The test results are shown in table 3.

[0031] Table 3: Cleaning capacity

[0032] As can be seen from the results in table 3 the cleaning capacity of the aqueous sanitary cleaning composition according to the invention and a cleaning composition merely based on sulfamic according to the state of the art is more or less the same.

STABILITY OF PERFUMES

[0033] The stability of perfumes in the aqueous sanitary cleaning composition according to the invention was compared with the stability of perfumes in an sulfamic-acid-based composition according to the state of the art. To evaluate the stability various perfumes were added in an amount of 0.5 wt.-% to the cleaning composition of example 6 and of comparative example 1 (examples 6c and 1c). The stability of the resulting compositions was visually evaluated. The results are listed in table 4.

[0034] Table 4: Stability of Perfumes

1 ) Ref. 05-9278, Henkel Fragrance Center; 2) Ref. 1 1937, Sozio; 3) Ref. 18024, Sozio; 4) Ref. 304-685, Dϋllberg; 5) Ref. 56213, Sozio; 6) Ref. 146344, Symrise

[0035] As can be seen from table 4 perfumes in the aqueous sanitary cleaning compositions according to the invention are stable (^) at 0⁰C, 25°C and 40⁰C for at least 4 month. Furthermore, perfume stability for at least 4 month can also be observed when the temperature of the composition is increased from -10⁰C to 40⁰C within 24 hours every day. In case that the temperature is increased to 50⁰C the compositions according to example 6c separates into two phases. However, this phenomenon is reversible when the temperature is decreased again. In this case the perfumes do not decompose.

[0036] On the contrary, the cleaning composition according to comparative example 1c shows after 3 months at 25°C and 40°C a film on the bottom. How- ever, these "two phases" do not reversibly combine to one phase when the temperature is decreased again. This is an indication of decomposition of the perfume.

[0037] Furthermore, the composition according to comparative example 1c has an unpleasant smell of sulfamic acid after a certain time of storage whereas the cleaning compositions according to example 6c do not show a change in smell after three months at both 40⁰C and changing temperatures.

CORROSIVENESS

[0037] The corrosiveness was tested with test samples of steel and aluminium (50x20x2 mm). The loss of mass of the test samples was evaluated after their exposure to the cleaning composition for three weeks at 55°C. In one test the test samples were entirely submerged in the aqueous sanitary cleaning composition and in a second test only half the surface of the metal sheet was exposed to the cleaning composition. The results are listed in table 5.

[0038] Table 5: Corrosiveness

[0039] As can be seen from table 5 the loss of mass is lower when the metal sheets were exposed to the sanitary cleaning composition according to the invention (example 6) compared to metal sheets which were exposed to a cleaning composition according to the state of the art (comparative example 2).

[0040] Therefore, the results demonstrate that the sanitary cleaning composition according to the invention is less corrosive to metal surfaces. MATERIAL COMPATIBILITY

[0041] To evaluate the shrinking effect a 1 -liter PE-bottle was filled with the cleaning composition according to example 6b (ready-to-use-composition) and stored at 25°C, 40⁰C and by changing temperatures (-10 to 40⁰C). No shrinking effect was observed within 2 month. The same bottle filled with the cleaning composition according to example 2b (ready-to-use-composition) show the above described shrinking effect. This demonstrates the better material compatibility of the sanitary cleaning composition according to the invention with respect to plastics.

[0042] Another example for good material compatibility or even, depending on the point of view, less corrosiveness can be observed when plates of copper or brass are exposed for 1 month in diluted cleaning compositions according to examples 6b and 2b (concentration: 2 %, "ready-to-use-composition"). As can be verified from the figures 2 and 3 there is only little change in the appearance of the copper (figure 2) and the brass plates (figure 3) which were put into a composition according to example 6b compared with plates which were put into a composition according to example 2b.

[0043] In summary, the above evaluations show that the cleaning compositions according to the invention have an increased material compatibility, enables higher perfume stability, and are less corrosive to metal surfaces such as steel and aluminium, but nevertheless have good lime-removing capacity and good cleaning properties compared to cleaning compositions of the state of the art which are merely sulfamic-acid-based.

Claims

1. Aqueous sanitary cleaning composition comprising: a) an sulfamic acid in an amount of up to 8 wt. -%, b) a hydroxycarboxylic acid, and c) water, wherein the weight ratio of the sulfamic acid to the hydroxycarboxylic acid is 80:20 to 20:80.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the hydroxycarboxylic acid is present in an amount of up to 10 wt.-%, preferably in an amount of up to 6 wt.-%, more preferably in an amount of 1 to below 4 wt.-%, and most preferably in an amount of 2 to below 4 wt.-%.

3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the sulfamic acid is present in an amount of up to 6 wt.-%, preferably in an amount of below 5 wt.-%, more preferably in an amount of 1 to below 5 wt.-%, and most preferably in an amount of 2 to below 5 wt.-%.

4. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of the sulfamic acid to the hydroxycarboxylic acid is below 60:40 to 40:60, and most preferably between below 60:40 and 50:50.

5. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hydroxycarboxylic acid is selected from the group comprising lactic acid, maleic acid, citric acid, glycolic acid, tartaric acid, hydracylic acid, α-hydroxybutyric acid, glyceric acid, tartronic acid, salicylic acid, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, p- hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, mandelic acid and tropic acid or mixtures thereof.

6. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hydroxycarboxylic acid is lactic acid.

7. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sulfamic acid is sulfamic acid or a N-alkyl, N-aryl or N-allyl derivative thereof, preferably sulfamic acid.

5

8. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising urea.

9. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the urea is present in an io amount of 0.5 to 10 wt.-%, preferably in an amount of 2 to 8 wt.-% and most preferably in an amount of 4 to 6 wt.-%.

10. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a surfactant, preferably selected from the group of non-ionic and anionic sur- i5 factants.

11. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more of the compounds selected from the group comprising perfumes, dyes and alcohols.

20

12. An aqueous sanitary cleaning composition comprising sulfamic acid in an amount of up to 6 wt.-%, lactic acid in an amount of up to 6 wt.-%, one or more surfactants in an amount of 0.5 to 5 wt.-%, urea in an amount of 2 to 8 wt.-%, one or more alcohols in an amount of 0.1 to 5 wt.-%, one or more per-

25 fumes in an amount of 0.05 to 0.8 wt.-%, one or more dyes in an amount of

0.0005 to 0.01 wt. -% and water, wherein the weight ratio of the sulfamic acid to the lactic acid is between below 60:40 and 40:60.

13. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pH

30 value is equal or above 0.8, preferably equal or above 1.0, and most preferably equal or above 1.2.

14. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein no thickening agents, preferably no polysaccharide thickener are present.

15. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein no am- monium sulfate is present.

16. A ready-to-use solution of the composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition according to any of the preceding claims is diluted with water in a range of 10:1 to 1 :400.

17. Use of the aqueous sanitary cleaning composition or the ready-to-use solution according to any of the preceding claims for cleaning of, disinfecting of and/or lime removal from surfaces.

18. The use according to claim 17, wherein the aqueous sanitary cleaning composition or the ready-to-use solution is applied to the surfaces by spraying or as a foam cleaner.

19. The use according to claim 18, wherein the material of the surface is selected from the group comprising brass, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, zinc, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyacetat, polystyrene, polyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, plexiglas), polycarbonate, ceramic, tiles, porcelain, painted and plastic coated surfaces and enamel.