Use of a disposable wipe for cleaning and / or disinfecting inanimate surfaces

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of a disposable wipe made of CAC material, which is a composite material consisting of two carded viscose outer layers and a cellulose middle layer, bonded together by water jet bonding, with a basis weight of > 80 g / m² 2 , wherein the CAC material is impregnated with an impregnating agent, for cleaning and / or disinfecting inanimate surfaces.

Description

[0001] It is well known that germs of all kinds thrive on surfaces, especially in warm and / or humid environments. Therefore, regular cleaning and / or disinfection of these surfaces is essential in both public and private areas to thoroughly remove dirt and germs and ensure the cleanliness of the respective surface. This is of course particularly important in places such as schools, swimming pools, restaurants and cultural institutions where large numbers of people regularly gather, as well as in places such as hospitals and doctor's offices where sick people and those with weakened immune systems are present. But regular and effective cleaning of surfaces is also necessary in private areas, especially in bathrooms and kitchens, to effectively remove germs and prevent their spread.

[0002] To clean or disinfect surfaces, a cleaning agent or disinfectant is often applied to a nonwoven fabric, which is then used for cleaning and then the nonwoven fabric is washed after cleaning. This needs improvement in several respects. Firstly, it is possible that the nonwoven fabric is forgotten to be washed thoroughly and instead is simply rinsed under running water, which leaves germs on the surface and can spread. Even if the fabric is not washed immediately, the germs on the surface of the nonwoven fabric spread if it is stored in the washing machine until the next wash cycle is started. In this way, the nonwoven fabric actually intended for cleaning actually represents a risk of spread contamination or a source of contamination.

[0003] This problem is addressed in the state of the art by providing disposable wipes that are intended for cleaning or disinfecting surfaces and are therefore pre-soaked with an antimicrobial impregnation agent.

[0004] It is known that such pre-soaked disposable wipes should comprise several layers of nonwoven fabric, which are usually of different compositions. This ensures sufficient stability of the wipe and, with layers of nonwoven fabrics of different compositions, can ensure, for example, that a first layer provides good liquid absorption, while a second layer provides good liquid release.

[0005] US Pat. No. 4,298,649 A describes a disposable floor wipe with two different layers of thermoplastically processed polypropylene, one of which is said to have absorbent properties due to the foaming of the polypropylene. The two layers are bonded together by heat and pressure treatment.

[0006] The disadvantage of the aforementioned disposable floor wipe and similar multi-layer wipes containing thermoplastics is, of course, their lack of biodegradability, as these wipes cannot be decomposed by environmental influences and / or microorganisms. The ecological footprint left behind by such wipes is accordingly very high.

[0007] Biodegradable disposable floor wipes, on the other hand, are described, for example, in DE 10 2021 122 041 B3. The different layers of these wipes are made of natural fibers and / or regenerated fibers.

[0008] Wipes made of CAC (Carded / Airlaid / Carded) material are also known. CAC material is a composite material consisting of two carded viscose outer layers and a cellulose middle layer, bonded together by hydroentanglement. The CAC material known from the state of the art has a basis weight of < 70 g / m². 2 and is known for uses that do not require high tear resistance or high storage capacity for impregnating agents, such as baby cleaning and care, make-up removal or personal hygiene items.

[0009] DE 10 2022 122 316 A1 describes a disinfectant wipe pack whose wipes, according to a preferred embodiment, have a three-layer structure and are made of hydroentangled CAC material. The wipes are designed to indicate, through a color reaction, when the alcohol content is no longer high enough for a disinfectant effect. The basis weight of the wipes is between 25 and 80 g / m². 2 .

[0010] KR 10 2005 0 016 281 A describes a composite layered material for personal care and body cleansing products such as diapers, disposable wipes, and wet wipes. It comprises an inner, fluffy layer and two outer layers of nonwoven material. The outer layers can be made of any synthetic or natural cellulose material, for example, carded fabric, airlaid cellulose, or pulp.

[0011] US 2005 / 0148264 A1 describes a two- or multi-layer nonwoven laminate material for cleaning and disinfecting inanimate surfaces, which has a basis weight of 13.6-339 g / m 2 A first layer has a pore radius of > 100 µm, while a second layer has a pore radius of < 100 µm. The material of the first layer can be carded, and airlaid nonwoven fabric can be used as the material of the second layer. Generally, fibers of natural origin, especially cellulose fibers, are preferred as the material. Object of the invention

[0012] It is the object of the present invention to provide an alternative use of multi-layer disposable wipes which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages known from the prior art and is characterized in particular by good environmental compatibility as well as high durability and liquid storage capacity of the wipes used. General description of the invention

[0013] The invention solves this problem with the features of the claims and in particular with the use of a disposable wipe made of CAC material with a basis weight of > 80 g / m 2 , wherein the CAC (Carded / Airlaid / Carded) material is impregnated with an impregnating agent, for cleaning and / or disinfecting inanimate surfaces.

[0014] The CAC material contained in the disposable wipe used according to the invention is fundamentally similar in composition to the CAC material already known from the prior art, i.e., it is a three-layer material in which an airlaid cellulose layer is arranged between two carded viscose outer layers. The CAC material is therefore characterized by the fact that it is made from 100% natural raw materials and is completely biodegradable. The layers are also bonded together without a potentially non-biodegradable binding agent, namely by hydroentanglement.

[0015] In contrast to the CAC material known from the state of the art, which has a basis weight of < 80 g / m 2 However, the CAC material used in the invention has a basis weight of > 80 g / m 2 or > 90 g / m 2 on.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the CAC material of the disposable wipe used has a basis weight of 80 g / m 2 up to 120 g / m 2 on.

[0017] Due to the aforementioned high grammage of the disposable wipe used according to the invention, it is significantly more stable than CAC material known from the prior art. Furthermore, the middle layer, i.e., the airlaid cellulose layer, is also considerably thicker than in CAC material known from the prior art and therefore has a significantly higher capacity for absorbing impregnating agents. The storage capacity of the disposable wipe used for cleaning and / or disinfecting inanimate surfaces for impregnating agents can be, in particular, 70–1,200%, for example, 80–1,000%, or 100–800% of the mass of the CAC material per unit area.

[0018] Because it was not possible to produce CAC material with a basis weight of 80 g / m 2 or more, CAC material has so far only been used for applications that do not require a high storage capacity for impregnating agents and do not place increased demands on the material's stability or tear resistance. Therefore, current applications are limited to personal applications on the human body, such as wet wipes for baby cleansing and care, cosmetic wipes, and panty liners.

[0019] With the aid of the now available CAC material with a new basis weight, the applicant has discovered the inventive use of a disposable wipe made of CAC material for cleaning and / or disinfecting inanimate surfaces.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inanimate surfaces are floors. Accordingly, the inventive use of the disposable wipe made of CAC material preferably relates to the cleaning and / or disinfection of floors / floors, wherein the inventive use of the disposable wipe made of CAC material most preferably relates to the disinfection of floors / floors. This is where the particular advantage of the inventive use is best demonstrated, in which a high degree of impregnation made possible by the high absorption capacity of the middle layer of the CAC material ensures sufficient release of the impregnating agent to a floor surface to be cleaned or disinfected. In this way, a greater range can be achieved when cleaning or disinfecting floors with the disposable wipe made of CAC material than with biodegradable wipes known from the prior art that are used for cleaning or disinfecting floors.Disinfection of floors pre-soaked with a cleaning or disinfectant solution as an impregnating agent.

[0021] Particularly in the field of disinfection, it is also a huge advantage that, when used according to the invention, a high degree of impregnation, which is made possible by the high liquid storage capacity of the middle layer of the CAC material, not only achieves an increased range in surface disinfection, but also releases the impregnating agent onto the surface as a seamless liquid film. This is extremely important for reliably killing germs present on a surface.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the disposable wipe used according to the invention for cleaning and / or disinfecting inanimate surfaces has an embossing, which is located particularly on the side of the disposable wipe facing the surface to be cleaned / disinfected during cleaning and / or disinfection. Although the disposable wipe used according to the invention already has very good sliding properties without embossing, it has been found that embossing, particularly on the side of the disposable wipe facing the floor or the surface to be cleaned / disinfected, significantly improves its sliding properties.

[0023] The impregnating agent contained in the disposable wipe used according to the invention for cleaning and / or disinfecting inanimate surfaces preferably contains at least one compound with antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, the impregnating agent can contain all ingredients found in conventional impregnating agents, in particular water, oil, preservatives, surfactants, emulsifiers, skin-care ingredients, moisturizing ingredients, and any combination thereof.

[0024] Optionally, the disposable wipe used according to the invention can comprise or be connected to fastening means, e.g., straps, buttons, hooks, a zipper, or, in particular, a hook-and-loop fastener, whereby the disposable wipe can be fastened to a wiping device using the aforementioned fastening means. Alternatively, the disposable wipe used according to the invention can not comprise these fastening means itself, but can be engaged with them, for example, by attaching a hook-and-loop fastener arranged on a wiping device to the disposable wipe or by engaging a hook or button arranged on a wiping device with an eyelet arranged on the disposable wipe.

[0025] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the use according to the invention is for disinfecting surfaces, wherein the disposable wipe is moved over the surface to be disinfected by means of wiping movements and the impregnating agent with which the CAC material of the disposable wipe used is impregnated is released onto the surface to be disinfected during the wiping movements and leaves a continuous liquid film on the surface.

[0026] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description and in the claims may be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims

[1] Use of a disposable wipe made of CAC material, which is a composite material consisting of two carded viscose outer layers and a cellulose middle layer bonded together by hydroentangling, with a basis weight of > 80 g / m 2 , wherein the CAC material is impregnated with an impregnating agent, for cleaning and / or disinfecting inanimate surfaces. [2] Use according to claim 1, characterized by that the CAC material of the disposable wipe used has a basis weight of 80 g / m 2 up to 120 g / m 2 has. [3] Use according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the storage capacity of the disposable wipe for impregnating agents used for cleaning and / or disinfection of inanimate surfaces is 70-1,200% of the mass of the CAC material per unit area. [4] Use according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the disposable wipe is used for cleaning and / or disinfecting floors. [5] Use according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the disposable wipe is used to disinfect inanimate surfaces. [6] Use according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the CAC material of the disposable wipe used has an embossing. [7] Use according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the impregnating agent with which the CAC material of the disposable wipe used is impregnated contains at least one compound with antimicrobial properties. [8] Use according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat this is done to disinfect surfaces, whereby the disposable wipe is moved over the surface to be disinfected by means of wiping movements and the impregnating agent with which the CAC material of the disposable wipe used is impregnated is released onto the surface to be disinfected during the wiping movements and leaves a continuous liquid film on it.