A concentrated hard surface cleaning composition

Abstract

The present invention is in the fields of hard surface cleaning compositions. It relates to a concentrated composition for providing a storage stable hard surface cleaner on dilution in water, that delivers improved streak free cleaning performance. The present invention provides a concentrated hard surface cleaning composition comprising: (a) 1 to 20 % by weight of a glycol ether selected from ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol mono hexyl ether, di-propylene glycol monomethyl ether, di-propylene glycol mono propyl ether, and diethylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol mono phenyl ether and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate and combinations thereof; (b) 1 to 20 % by weight of C2 to C10 alcohol; (c) 0.5 to 10% by weight of a preservative; and (d) water, wherein the preservative comprises phenoxyethanol. The composition forms a hard surface cleaner on dilution in water, that provides streak free cleaning to a surface. The cleaner shows reduced microbial growth over time, thereby it can be stored and used for a longer period.

Description

[0001] A CONCENTRATED HARD SURFACE CLEANING COMPOSITION

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention is in the fields of hard surface cleaning compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to a concentrated composition for providing a storage stable hard surface cleaner on dilution in water, that delivers improved streak free cleaning performance.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Cleaning hard surfaces such as, kitchen tops, tiles, window glass, tabletop are part of household chores. Often consumers spend considerable amount of time and effort in such cleaning activities. They prefer to use various hard surface cleaning products for the same. These products differ in terms it’s constituents, such as, detersive actives, builder, colourants, pH; products are also available in different formats, for example, liquid, trigger spray, foam and wipe.

[0006] Glass or tiles cleaners are one of the subclasses of hard-surface cleaning products, typically available in liquid form and provided with spray / foam dispenser. Consumer directly dispense an aliquot of the cleaner on a surface and / or apply with and wipe or cloth. Often post wash, such surfaces are left with streaks. Streaks are marks left on surfaces, particularly on shining surfaces, which are not preferred by consumers. Streaks may be attributed to various factors, such as, residues of insoluble present in a product or in the wash water, mixed micelles formed by surfactant combinations and water hardness. Therefore, there is need for an improved streak free hard surface cleaning composition.

[0007] One way to improve streak free performance is to consider organic solvents for cleaning. Such compositions further contain significant amount of water making the product bulkier. Thus, packaging of the product requires substantial amount of materials, such as, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate etc., which are often sourced from non-renewable resources. It is observed that nowadays consumers prefer to have products with a good environmental profile. Good environmental profile herein refers to products produced in ‘eco-friendly’ manner and having less or no impact on the environment. It includes encouraging use of materials from renewable sources, simultaneously, reducing consumption of materials from non-renewable sources.

[0008] On reducing plastic consumption, one route is to formulate the product in concentrated form. A consumer is expected to dilute such product in water to form a cleaning product and store it in a container. Such products are often termed as ‘Do it Yourself’ or abbreviated as ‘DiY’, which implies that a consumer prepare their own cleaning product from a precursor or concentrate by diluting it in water.

[0009] The cleaning products provided by dilution tend to have microbial growth on storage. This may be attributed to the quality of water used for dilution. Typically, consumers used water readily available to them, such as, tap water or ground water. Such water may have microbial contamination that grows over storage. In marketed products such contamination is in check by adding preservatives and maintaining water quality in manufacturing sites. Preservatives inhibit microbial growth in a product in storage. For ‘DiY’ products, it is desired that the cleaning product formed has preservatives in right amount inhibiting microbial grown and ensuring improved storage stability after dilution. Thus, the diluted product can be stored and used for a longer period.

[0010] In this regards, US 2008 / 0010772 discloses cleaning composition containing C8 to C10 alkyl polyglucosides have low filming and streaking when combined with C2 to C4 alcohols and propylene glycol ethers. The low filming and streaking occur even in the presence of quaternary ammonium biocides.

[0011] US 5 849681 discloses an aqueous glass cleaning composition with optimal anti streaking properties contains a non-volatile organic ether having specific formula and an anti-streaking alcohol.

[0012] DE 199 16 182 A1 discloses aqueous compositions for cleaning hard surfaces containing C2- 6C aliphatic alcohols, an end-capped alkylene glycols, and an alkyl aryl ether phosphate.

[0013] EP 1 148 116 A1 discloses a dilutable, non-rinse hard surface cleaner containing either a combination of a specific non-ionic surfactant and a quaternary ammonium surfactant or a combination of a specific non-ionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant, and a water-soluble glycol ether, a builder, d-limonene, and water.

[0014] Although the prior art documents disclose hard surface cleaning compositions, there is still a need for an improved concentrated composition for providing a hard surface cleaning product on dilution. It is desired that the cleaning product can be stored for a longer period and provide enhanced cleaning performance.

[0015] Surprisingly, the present inventors have found that a concentrated composition comprising a combination of select glycol ethers, select alcohol and a preservative comprising phenoxyethanol provides a hard surface cleaner on dilution, that provides streak free cleaning performance. The combination inhibits microbial growth in the cleaner over time, thereby the cleaner can be stored and used for a longer period.

[0016] Summary of the Invention

[0017] In a first aspect, there is provided a concentrated hard surface cleaning composition comprising: a) 1 to 20 % by weight of a glycol ether selected from ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol mono hexyl ether, di-propylene glycol monomethyl ether, di-propylene glycol mono propyl ether, and diethylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol mono phenyl ether and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate and combinations thereof; b) 1 to 20 % by weight of a C2 to C10 alcohol; c) 0.5 to 10% by weight of a preservative; and d) water, wherein the preservative comprises phenoxyethanol.

[0018] In another aspect, there is provided a hard surface cleaning product comprising a container with at least 60 % by volume empty space and a concentrated according to the first aspect.

[0019] In a further aspect, there is provided a process for providing a liquid cleaning composition comprising steps of providing a container with water; adding a composition according to the first aspect, wherein the ratio of the composition to water is in the range 1:2 to 1:20 by weight.

[0020] Yet in a further aspect there is provided a process for cleaning a hard surface comprising steps of: diluting a composition according to the first aspect in water thereby forming a cleaning composition, applying the cleaning composition on the surface, wherein the cleaning liquor is applied as foam or spray using a foam / spray dispenser.

[0021] These and other aspects, features and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from reading of the following detailed description. For the avoidance of doubt, any feature of one aspect of the present invention may be utilized in any other aspect of the invention. The word “comprising” is intended to mean “including” but not necessarily “consisting of” or “composed of.” In other words, the listed steps or options need not be exhaustive. It is noted that the examples given in the description below are intended to clarify the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to those examples per se. Similarly, all percentages are weight / weight percentages unless otherwise indicated. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and / or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about”. Numerical ranges expressed in the format "from x to y" are understood to include x and y. When for a specific feature multiple preferred ranges are described in the format "from x to y", it is understood that all ranges combining the different endpoints are also contemplated.

[0022] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention there is provided a concentrated composition comprising a glycol ether, a C2 to C10 alcohol, a preservative, and water, wherein the preservative comprises phenoxyethanol.

[0024] Glycol ether

[0025] The composition comprises 1 to 20% by weight of a glycol ether. Preferably the composition comprises 1 to 16 % by weight, more preferably the composition comprises 1 to 12% by weight, even more preferably 1 to 10% by weight and most preferably 1 to 8% by weight of the glycol ether.

[0026] Glycol ether herein refers to a class of organic solvent comprising alkyl ether derivative of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol.

[0027] The glycol ether is selected from, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol mono hexyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, di-propylene glycol mono propyl ether, diethylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol mono phenyl ether and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate and combinations thereof.

[0028] Preferably the glycol ether is selected from ethylene glycol hexyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, di-propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol propyl ether and combinations thereof.

[0029] Most preferred glycol ether is propylene glycol propyl ether.

[0030] 02 to C10 alcohol

[0031] The composition comprises 1 to 20% by weight of a 02 to 010 alcohol. Preferably the composition comprises 1 to 16 % by weight, more preferably 1 to 12% by weight, even more preferably 1 to 10% by weight and most preferably 1 to 8% by weight of the 02 to 010 alcohol. The C2 to C10 alcohol may be selected from C2 to C4 monohydric alcohol, C3 to C10 dihydric alcohol and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable C2 to C4 monohydric alcohol are ethanol, propanol, isopropanol.

[0032] Preferably the C2 to C10 alcohol is selected from ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, propane diol and combinations thereof. Most preferred C2 to C10 alcohol is 1 , 3 propane diol.

[0033] Preservative

[0034] The composition comprises 0.5 to 10 % by weight of a preservative. Often preservatives included in a composition to inhibit microbial growth over time, thereby the composition can be stored for a longer period. However, in present invention, it is observed that the preservative alone is not sufficient. Surprisingly the preservative in combination with select solvents inhibits microbial growth significantly.

[0035] Preferably the composition comprises 1.0 to 10 % by weight, more preferably 1.0 to 9% by weight, even more preferably 1.5 to 8% by weight, yet more preferably 1.5% to 7% by weight and most preferably 2.0 to 6% by weight of the preservative.

[0036] The preservative comprises phenoxy ethanol. Examples of preservative that may also present includes ‘IT’-based preservative, such as Benzisothiazolinone (BIT), Octylisothiazolinone (OIT), Methylchloroisothiazolinone(MCIT), Methylisothiazolinone (MIT); phenoxy ethanol or organic acid such as, citric acid, malic acid, adipic acid, formic acid and tartaric acid.

[0037] Most preferred preservative is phenoxy ethanol.

[0038] Surfactant

[0039] The composition may comprise a surfactant. Preferably the amount of the surfactant when present is in the range 0.1 to 5 % by weight, more preferably 0.2 to 4 % by weight and most preferably 0.5 to 3 % by weight of the composition.

[0040] Preferably the surfactant is selected form anionic surfactant, non-ionic surfactant and combinations thereof.

[0041] The composition preferably comprises an anionic surfactant. Preferably the amount of the anionic surfactant is in the range from 0.1 to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.2 to 4% by weight and most preferably 0.5 to 3% by weight of the composition. Preferably the anionic surfactant is selected from linear alkyl benzene sulphonate, alkyl ether sulphate, primary alkyl sulphate and combinations thereof.

[0042] Preferably the anionic surfactant comprises linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS). Preferably the linear alkylbenzene sulphonate has an alkyl chain with 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Commercial LAS is a mixture of closely related isomers and homologues alkyl chain homologues, each containing an aromatic ring sulfonated at the “para” position and attached to a linear alkyl chain at any position except the terminal carbons. The linear alkyl chain typically contains 11 to 15 carbon atoms, predominantly 12 carbon atoms. Each alkyl chain homologue consists of a mixture of all the possible sulpho-phenyl isomers except for the 1-phenyl isomer. LAS is normally formulated into compositions in acid (i.e. , HLAS) form and then at least partially neutralized in-situ with a counterion, such as, sodium, potassium, ammonium and other ammoniacal counterions.

[0043] The anionic surfactant may comprise alkyl ether sulphate (AES). Preferably the alkyl ether sulphate (AES) has alkyl chain containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms. The term “alkyl” being used to include the alkyl portion of higher acyl radicals. The alkyl radicals preferably contain from 10 to 18, more preferably 12 to 14 carbon atoms and may be unsaturated. The alkyl ether sulphate may contain from 1 to 10 ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide units per molecule, preferably contain 1 to 7, more preferably 1 to 5 and most preferably 1 to 3 ethylene oxide (EO) units per molecule. Preferably the anionic surfactant comprises alkyl ether sulphates having a straight or branched chain alkyl group having 12 to 14 carbon atoms and containing an average of 1 to 3 ethylene oxide (EO) units per molecule. A preferred example is lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) with an ammoniacal counterion, in which the predominantly C12 lauryl alkyl group has been ethoxylated with an average of 3 ethylene oxide (EO) units per molecule.

[0044] Example of suitable anionic surfactant also includes alkyl sulphate surfactant (PAS), such as non-ethoxylated primary and secondary alkyl sulphates having alkyl chain length with 10 to 18 carbon atoms.

[0045] The composition may comprise a non-ionic surfactant. The non-ionic surfactant may present alone or in combination with the anionic surfactant. Preferably the amount of the non-ionic surfactant is in the range from 0.1 to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.2 to 4% by weight and most preferably 0.5 to 3% by weight of the composition.

[0046] Suitable non-ionic surfactants include water soluble aliphatic ethoxylated non-ionic surfactants including the primary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates and secondary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates. This includes the condensation products of a higher alcohol (e.g., an alkanol containing about 8 to 16 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration) condensed with about 4 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide, for example, lauryl or myristyl alcohol condensed with about 10 moles of ethylene oxide (EO), tri-decanol condensed with about 6 to 15 moles of EO, myristyl alcohol condensed with about 10 moles of EO per mole of myristyl alcohol, the condensation product of EO with a cut of coconut fatty alcohol containing a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varying from 10 to about 14 carbon atoms in length and wherein the condensate contains either about 6 moles of EO per mole of total alcohol or about 9 moles of EO per mole of alcohol and tallow alcohol ethoxylates containing 6 EO to 11 EO per mole of alcohol. Examples of the secondary alcohol ethoxylate suitable for the invention include those with an alkyl chain with a secondary ethoxylate joined thereto. The secondary ethoxylate comprises from 2 to 20 EO groups, preferably from 5 to 12 and most preferably 9 EO groups. The alkyl chain preferably comprises from 8 to 22 carbons, more preferably from 10 to 14 and most preferably 12. The alkyl chain is preferably saturated. Secondary ethoxylates suitable for the invention available commercially under tradename Tergitol® from Dow.

[0047] Another group of suitable non-ionic surfactants are alkyl polyglycosides(APG) which are sugar derivatives of fatty alcohol. As used herein alkyl polyglycosides are compounds having formula I: R1O(R2O)b(Z)a, wherein R1 is a alkyl radical, having from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms; R2 is an alkylene radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; Z is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; b is a number having a value from 0 to about 12; and a is a number having a value from 1 to about 6 (the degree of polymerization). Due to the method by which they are synthesized, alkyl polyglycosides are generally present as mixtures of alkyl polyglycosides having varying amounts of carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and varying degrees of polymerization. Thus, when referring to alkyl polyglycosides, the alkyl radical is generally referred to as having a range of carbon atoms (e.g. C4 / 22 referring to a range of alkyl radicals having from 4-22 carbon atoms) and the degree of polymerization is generally referred to as the average degree of polymerization of the mixture.

[0048] Preferably the alkyl plolyglycoside surfactant comprises alkyl polyglucoside surfactant and more preferably it is alkyl polyglucoside surfactant. Examples of such surfactants include decyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside, myristyl glucoside. Alkyl polyglucosides are often commercially available, for example, as GLUCOPON branded alkyl polyglucoside compositions from Cognis Corporation. Typically, hard surface cleaning compositions contain one or more quaternary ammonium compound for antimicrobial and / or hygiene benefit. However, the composition according to the present invention is free of a quaternary ammonium compound. It is observed that such compounds tend to leave high streaks after cleaning, thus they are not preferable for the present invention. The term “free of a quaternary ammonium compound” implies that the composition preferably comprises less than 1% by weight, more preferably less than less tha 0.5% by weight and most preferably less than 0.2% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound. Most preferably the composition does not comprise a quaternary ammonium compound, i.e., it comprises 0% by weight of a quaternary ammonium compound.

[0049] The composition may comprise a sequestrant. Preferably the sequestrant is selected from organic detergent builders or sequestrant materials. Examples include the alkali metal, citrates, succinates, malonates, carboxymethyl succinates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyacetyl carboxylates. Specific examples include sodium, potassium and lithium salts of oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acids, and citric acid. Other examples are DEQUEST™, organic phosphonate type sequestering agents sold by Monsanto and alkanehydroxy phosphonates.

[0050] The composition may comprise 0.1 to 6% by weight, more preferably 0.2 to 5% by weight, even more preferably 0.3 to 4% by weight and most preferably 0.5 to 3% by weight of the sequestrant. A preferred sequestrant is Dequest® 2066 (Diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) or Heptasodium DTPMP). Other suitable sequestrant is 1 -Hydroxyethylidene -1 ,1 ,-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid diacetic acid tetra sodium salt (GLDA).

[0051] Most preferred sequestrant is methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA) and / or glutamic acid diacetic acid tetra sodium salt (GLDA).

[0052] Water

[0053] The composition is in aqueous composition, it comprises water. Water preferably works as balance in the composition. Preferably the amount of water in the composition is in the range 50 to 98 % by weight, more preferably 60 to 95% by weight and even more preferably 70 to 92% by weight and most preferably 75 to 90% by weight.

[0054] Further optional ingredients The composition may further contain optional ingredients to enhance performance and / or consumer acceptability. Examples of such ingredients include foam booster, fluorescers, colourants, fragrance, etc. Each of these ingredients will be present in an amount effective to accomplish its purpose. Generally, these optional ingredients are included individually at an amount of up to 3% by weight of composition.

[0055] In another aspect, there is provided a hard surface cleaning product comprising the composition contained in a container with at least 60 % by volume empty space. Preferably the contained has at least 70 % by volume, more preferably at least 80% by volume, most preferably at least 85% by volume. Preferably the product has at most 95% by weight empty space. The container may contain water up to a pre-set mark of the bottle. The pre-set mark may correspond to at least 50% by volume, more preferably at least 60% by volume, even more preferably 70% by volume, most preferably at least 80% by volume of the container. In-use, consumers add water in the container to dilute the composition and form a hard surface cleaner. Preferably the container is filled up to a pre-set mark to form the hard surface cleaner. The container may be equipped with a foam / spray head such that the product dispenses the hard surface cleaner as foam / spray.

[0056] The hard surface cleaning product may be available as a foam dispenser, wherein the composition is housed in the dispenser. The foam dispenser herein includes a foam triggerbased dispenser.

[0057] Preferably the foam dispenser comprises a container to hold the composition and a foam trigger, which includes a trigger lever, a pump, a mixing chamber and a nozzle. The pump comprises a piston moving in a cavity against a spring. The cavity is in fluid communication with the container and the mixing chamber, wherein it has one-way valves which allow the composition to flow from the container to the mixing chamber. Typically, the foam trigger is actuated by pressing the trigger lever, which in turn pressed the piston against the spring thereby pushing the composition stored in the cavity to the mixing chamber. In the mixing chamber the composition mixed with air and pass through a mesh before dispensing out of the nozzle as foam. On subsequent release of the trigger lever, the spring push back the piston, thereby the empty cavity fills with the composition flowing from the container. Foam dispensers equipped with foam trigger rely on the pump action, hence do not require a pressurised gas. The composition is dispensed as foam directly on the surface without a user intervention, such as, pouring on a wipe or cloth or brush and apply with such implements to the surface. The surface may be pre-wetted with water. The composition in foam format clings to the surface providing longer contact time, thus provides enhanced cleaning.

[0058] There is provided a hard surface cleaner obtained by diluting the composition in water. Preferably the ratio of the composition to water when diluted is in the range 1 :2 to 1 : 20 by weight, more preferably 1 :3 to 1 :18, even more preferably 1 :4 to 1:16 and most preferably 1 : 5 to 1:10 by weight. The resulting liquid hard surface cleaner is stable and may be kept by the consumer until ready for use.

[0059] The present invention provides a process for cleaning a hard surface comprising steps of diluting the composition in water thereby forming a cleaning liquor, applying the cleaning liquor on the surface. The ratio of the composition to water in the dilution step is in the range from range 1:2 to 1: 50 by weight, more preferably 1 :5 to 1:40, even more preferably 1 :7 to 1:30 and most preferably 1 : 10 to 1:20 by weight. The hard surface cleaner may be dispensed as spray or foam with the help of spray or foam dispenser. It may also possible that a consumer uses an implement such as, wipe or sponge to apply the composition on the surface.

[0060] The invention will now be illustrated by means of the following non-limiting examples.

[0061] Examples

[0062] Formulations were prepared following the recipe provided in table 1 as set out below:

[0063] Table 1

[0064] Evaluation of cleaning efficacy

[0065] Cleaning efficacy of each formulation was evaluated in terms of residual streak on a black ceramic tile. Each formulation was diluted in demineralised water in a ratio 1 :10 by weight thereby providing a cleaning liquor. Subsequently, an aliquot of the cleaning liquor was applied on a tile with the help of a wet tile and left for drying. Visual assessment was then carried out by a group of trained panellists post drying, and a score was given basis the streaks left on the tile. The panellists scored the tile on a scale of 0 to 10, wherein 10 corresponds to no streaks and 0 corresponds to high number of streaks. Quantitively, the range of 0 to 3 grouped as high streaks, 3 to 7 as medium streaks and 7 to 10 as low streaks. Lower residual streaks correspond to better cleaning.

[0066] Evaluation of preservation efficacy: challenge test

[0067] Preservation relates to inhibition of microbial growth in a product on storage. One way to evaluate preservation efficacy is to spike the test product with known count of microorganisms and monitor the growth of the microorganisms over time. Count of microorganisms are expressed in terms of colony forming unit / mL (CFU / mL). A log reduction in the count over storage indicates inhibition of microbial growth thereby providing better preservation.

[0068] In this example, each cleaning liquor formed on dilution was spiked with the test microorganisms and monitored over time to determine levels of the inoculated microorganisms.

[0069] The following microorganisms were used for this study: Pool of gram-negative non-fermenting microbes (predominantly Pseudomonas aeruginosa - ATCC 15442); Pool of gram-negative fermenting microbes (predominantly Escherichia coli - ATCC 10536); Staphylococcus aureus - ATCC 6358 (gram-positive); and Candida albicans - ATCC 10231 (yeast). Microorganisms were procured from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), USA.

[0070] Performance was marked as pass or fail based on following criteria: for bacteria, no increase within 2 days and 7 log reduction within 7 days was considered as pass, else fail; for yeast at- least 2 log reduction within 2 days and 6 to 8 log reduction in 7 days was as pass, else fail.

[0071] Cleaning and preservation efficacy of all formulation are summarised below:

[0072] Table 2 pass for bacteria, however fail for yeast.

[0073] Ex-1 is according to the invention provides low residual streak, as well pass the preservation test. Whereas Ex-A to C and E to G fails to provide good cleaning benefit leaving high number of streaks. Although Ex-D provide better cleaning efficacy, however, fails to provide efficient preservative benefit.

Claims

Claims:

1. A concentrated hard surface cleaning composition comprising: a) 1 to 20 % by weight of a glycol ether selected from ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol mono n-butyl ether, ethylene glycol mono hexyl ether, di-propylene glycol monomethyl ether, di-propylene glycol mono propyl ether, and diethylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol mono phenyl ether and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate and combinations thereof; b) 1 to 20 % by weight of a C2 to C10 alcohol; c) 0.5 to 10% by weight of a preservative; and d) Water, wherein the preservative comprises phenoxyethanol.

2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 wherein the glycol ether is selected from ethylene glycol hexyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, di-propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol butyl ether, propylene glycol propyl ether and combinations thereof.

3. A composition as claimed in claim 2 wherein the glycol ether is propylene glycol propyl ether.

4. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the alcohol is selected from C2 to C4 monohydric alcohol, C3 to C10 dihydric alcohol and combinations thereof.

5. A composition as claimed in claim 4 wherein the alcohol is selected from ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, propane diol and combinations thereof.

6. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the composition comprises 1.0 to 10% by weight of the preservative.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the preservative is phenoxyethanol.

8. A composition as claimed in claim any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the composition further comprises 0.1 to 5% by weight of surfactant.

9. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 further comprising a sequestrant.

10. A composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the composition is free of quaternary ammonium compound.

11. A hard surface cleaning product comprising a composition as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 10 contained in a container with at least 60 % by volume empty space.

12. A product as claimed in claim 11 wherein the container contains water up to a pre-set mark.

13. A product as claimed in claim 11 or 12 further comprises a foam / spray head, wherein the foam / spray head is fitted with the container to dispense the hard surface cleaner as foam / spray.

14. A hard surface cleaner obtained by diluting a composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 in water, where the ratio of the composition to water is in the range 1 :2 to 1 :20 by weight.

15. A process for cleaning a hard surface comprising steps of: diluting a composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 in water thereby forming a cleaning liquor, applying the cleaning liquor on the surface, wherein the cleaning liquor is applied on the surface as foam or spray using a foam / spray dispenser.

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