Methods for cleaning textile materials

Abstract

Methods for cleaning a textile material, particularly methods of removing one or more stains from a stained textile material, are provided. The methods comprise contacting the stained textile material with a detergent composition or wash solution comprising one or more nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles, which are advantageously capable of adsorbing the stain-causing substance(s) in the one or more stains. Advantageously, the contacting step results in a stain removal index for the portion of the stained textile material bearing the stain of at least 80.

Description

METHODS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MATERIALSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

[0001] The present invention is generally directed toward methods for cleaning textile materials, particularly methods of removing stains from stained textile materials.Description of the Prior Art

[0002] Many detergents and cleaning agents have been developed in order to remove soils and odors from textile materials, such as clothing, upholstery, carpet, bed linens, towels, and the like. Some types of soils are easy to remove from textile materials, whereas certain other soils are much more difficult due to their propensity to cause stains that become tightly adhered to the fibers making up the textiles. Some conventional detergents work very well in removing loosely adhered soils, but struggle to completely remove stains attributable to strongly adhered soils. Specialized stain removal agents have been devised to attack stubborn stains and remove them from the textile materials. However, these stain removers are generally not well suited for general laundry applications and usually require time consuming, spot treatment of a particular stain. If a stain is not spot treated prior to the first laundering of the soiled textile, the stain can become set in and even more difficult to treat with follow up laundering.

[0003] Additionally, textile materials being laundered in batches may comprise a wide variety of textile materials having stains attributable to a wide variety of sources. Commercially available stain removers may not address all such different types of stains equally, thus requiring application of multiple types of stain removers or detergents. It is burdensome to inspect each textile material in the laundry load, identify and characterize each stain, and select the type of detergent or stain remover needed to remove each stain. Thus, in most cases, textile materials are treated with a single detergent and as a result contain residual stains after they are treated.

[0004] There is a need in the art for detergent compositions that possess the ability to clean textile materials that may contain stains attributable to a variety of soils without requiring spot treatment or multiple types of stain removers.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is broadly concerned with a method of removing stains from a stained textile material. The method comprises contacting the stained textile material with a detergent composition comprising one or more nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles. Advantageously, the contacting step results in a stain removal index for the portion of the stained textile material bearing the stain of at least 80. In most embodiments, the one or more nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles is selected from the group consisting of MgO, CeCh, CaO, TiCh, ZrO2, FeO, V2O3, V2O5, MmCh, Fe2O3, NiO, CuO, AI2O3, ZnO, SiCh, Ag2O, SrO, BaO, Mg(OH)2, Ca(OH)2, A1(OH)3, Ti(OH)4, Sr(OH)2, Ba(OH)2, Fe(OH)3, Cu(OH)2, Ni(0H)2, CO(OH)2, Zn(OH)2, AgOH, coated metal oxides and hydroxides, doped metal oxides and hydroxides, and mixtures thereof.

[0006] In another embodiment, the contacting step may further comprise dispersing the detergent composition in water to form a wash solution, the wash solution being contacted with the stained textile material. In yet another embodiment, the contacting step may further comprise adding the stained textile material and the detergent composition to a washing machine and commencing an automated washing cycle in which the detergent composition is diluted or dispersed in water to form a wash solution.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] The present invention is broadly concerned with a method of removing one or more stains from a stained textile material. As used herein, the term “textile material” refers to any material made from natural or synthetic fibers, yams, threads, and / or blends thereof. As used herein, the term “stain” refers to a discoloration produced by foreign matter (i.e., stain-causing substance) having penetrated into or chemically reacted with a material, such as a textile material, that is not easily removed by water and / or conventional detergents that comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of one or more surfactants. In the context of stained textile materials, the foreign matter responsible for the discoloration has at least partially penetrated into the fibers, yams, or threads from which the textile is comprised. Common stains include, but are not limited to peat stains (which may be attributable to the presence of dark-colored organic compounds), chocolate stains(which may be attributable to the presence of cocoa solids and cocoa butter present within the chocolate), blood stains (which may be attributable to the presence of hemoglobin and / or other proteins and lipids making up blood), coffee stains (which can be attributed to Maillard reaction products present within the coffee), plant or grass stains (which may be attributable to the presence of chlorophyll), grease stains (which may be attributable to the presence of lipids, e g., vegetable oils, or petroleum products in the case of motor oil, for example), ink stains (which may be attributable to the presence of pigments or dyes), sauce / condiment stains, including ketchup and mustard stains (which can be attributable to the presence of carotenoids, such as lycopene, or curcuminoids, such as curcumin, which is present in turmeric), sweat stains (which may be attributable to the presence of urea), wine stains (which can be attributable to the presence of anthocyanins), and stains from pigmented substances (e.g., make-up, baby food, clay, tomato sauce, animal fat, tea). Stains may also be accompanied by related odors attributable to the same or different chemical compounds making up the stain.Detergent Composition

[0008] In one or more embodiments, the method comprises contacting the stained textile material with a detergent composition, which may be in a powder or liquid form. In most embodiments, the detergent composition may comprise one or more nanocrystalline materials, preferably nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or nanocrystalline metal hydroxide particles. Preferred nanocrystalline materials for use in connection with the present invention include the metal oxides and metal hydroxides of Mg, Sr, Ba, Ca, Ti, Zr, Fe, V, Mn, Ni, Cu, Al, Si, Zn, Ag, Mo, Sb, and mixtures thereof. Additional preferred nanocrystalline materials include coated nanocrystalline materials such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,093,236, and 5,759,939 (metal oxide coated with another metal oxide), halogenated particles such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,653,519, 6,087,294 and 6,057,488 (nanocrystalline materials having reactive atoms stabilized on the surfaces thereof, the reactive atoms including oxygen ion moieties, ozone, halogens, and group I metals), air stable nanocrystalline materials such as those described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,887,302 and 6,860,924 (nanocrystalline materials coated with a surfactant, wax, oil, silyl, synthetic or natural polymer, or resin), biocidal doped metal oxides, such as silver-doped alumina, and metal oxide or metal hydroxide particles impregnated with a biocide as described in U.S. Pat. No.6,827,766, pelletized nanocrystalline materials such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,236 and U.S. Reissued Pat. No. RE39,098, and composites using agglomerated nanocrystalline particles with a first material coated by second material such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,341,977 and 7,566,393, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

[0009] In one preferred embodiment, the detergent composition comprises, consists essentially of, consists of at least one nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or nanocrystalline metal hydroxide particles selected from the group consisting of MgO, CeCh, CaO, TiO2, ZrO2, FeO, V2O3, V2O5, Mn2O3, Fe2O3, NiO, CuO, AI2O3, ZnO, SiO2, Ag2O, SrO, BaO, Mg(OH)2, Ca(OH)2, A1(OH)3, Ti(OH)4, Sr(OH)2, Ba(OH)2, Fe(OH)3, Cu(OH)2, Ni(0H)2, Co(OH)2, Zn(OH)2, AgOH, coated metal oxides and hydroxides, doped metal oxides and hydroxides, and mixtures thereof. In another preferred embodiment, the detergent composition comprises, consists essentially of, consists of at least two nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles selected from the group consisting of MgO, TiO2, ZnO, AI2O3, Mg(OH)2, Ti(OH)4, Zn(OH)2, and Al(0H)3. In another preferred embodiment, the detergent composition comprises, consists essentially of, consists of at least three nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles selected from the group consisting of MgO, TiO2, ZnO, AI2O3, Mg(OH)2, Ti(OH)4, Zn(OH)2, and A1(OH)3. The nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles are present in the detergent composition at a level of from about 1% to about 40% by weight, preferably from about 2% to about 30% by weight, more preferably from about 5% to about 20% by weight, and most preferably about 10% by weight. All wt. % ranges expressed herein are based upon the weight of the total detergent composition being 100% unless otherwise specified.

[0010] In most preferred embodiments, the nanocrystalline metal oxide particles comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of nanocrystalline MgO particles, nanocrystalline ZnO particles, and nanocrystalline AI2O3 particles. In such embodiments, the MgO particles are present within the detergent composition at a level of from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight, or from about 1% to about 15% by weight, from about 2.5% to about 10% by weight, or about 5% by weight. The ZnO particles are present at a level of from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, or from about 0.5% to about 7.5% by weight, from about 1% to about 5% by weight, or about 2.5% by weight. The A12O3 particles are present at a level of from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, or from about 0.5% to about 7.5% by weight, from about 1% to about 5% by weight, or about 2.5% by weight. In certainembodiments, the MgO particles make up the predominant component of the nanocrystalline metal oxide particles, with ZnO and AI2O3 particles each being minority components of the nanocrystalline metal oxide particles.

[0011] The nanocrystalline materials preferably present crystallite sizes of less than about 25 nm, more preferably less 20 than nm, and most preferably less than 10 nm. The nanocrystalline particles preferably exhibit a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) multipoint surface area of at least about 15 m2 / g, more preferably at least about 70 m2 / g, and most preferably from about 100-850 m2 / g. Exemplary nanocrystalline materials are available from Timilon Corporation, Bonita Springs, Florida, under the name NanoActive®.

[0012] Advantageously, the nanocrystalline materials in the detergent composition are particularly useful in methods of cleaning textile materials, and especially in the removal of stains from stained textile materials. Though nanocrystalline metal oxide and hydroxide particles have been shown to be useful as destructive adsorbents for various malodors and toxic materials, including acid gases, air pollutants, and chemical and biological warfare agents, due to their high surface reactivity (see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,183,426, 8,038,935, 7,956,232, 7,566,393, 7,341,977, 7,335,808, 7,279,129, RE39,098, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,887,302, 6,860,924, 6,827,766, 6,740,141, 6,653,519, 6,093,236, 6,057,488, and 5,990,373, each incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), it was unexpectedly discovered that these nanocrystalline particles, when used in conjunction with one or more components making up a detergent composition, are capable of removing different types of stains in textile materials. Particularly, unlike the ingredients in conventional detergents, the nanocrystalline materials are capable of adsorbing and neutralizing the stain-causing substances in the textile materials.

[0013] In preferred embodiments, the detergent composition further comprises one or more additives, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,362,784, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The additives may be, but are not limited to, anti-dispersion agents, builders / boosters (e.g., sodium carbonate, aluminosilicates, citrates, and sodium silicate), emulsifying and suspension agents (e.g., sodium metasilicate ), chelators (e.g., organic acids, such as citric acid, sodium and potassium salts of ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid and nitrilotri acetic acid, sodium and potassium salts of methyl glycine diacetic acid, and bisphosphonates, that react with naturally occurring metal ions in water and prevent the ions from interfering with the cleaningaction of the surfactants), solubilizing agents (e.g, low molecular weight alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, glycols such as propylene glycol and polypropylene glycols, cyclic terpenes such as pine oils and their components as the monoterpene alcohols, terpineols, or pine oil derivatives and their isomers alpha, beta and gamma), dyes, enzymes, fragrance, optical brighteners, preservatives, pH adjusters (e.g., mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid, mineral bases, organic acids such as citric acid, and amines), stabilizers, surfactants, thickening agents (e.g., sodium chloride, acrylic polymers, carbomers, polysaccharides as starches and vegetable gums, proteins, and polyethylene glycol), preservatives (e.g., natural and synthetic agents including benzisothiazolinone, phenoxyethanol, quatemium-15, potassium sorbate, optiphen, phenonip, rosemary oil, citric acid, parabens as methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and other p-hydroxy benzoic acids).

[0014] In embodiments where the detergent composition comprises a surfactant, the surfactant may be an anionic surfactant, cationic surfactant, or a nonionic surfactant. Exemplary anionic surfactants include alkyl sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth (sodium lauryl ether sulfate-SLES) sulfate; ammonium lauryl or laureth sulfate, TEA lauryl or laureth sulfate, MEA lauryl or laureth sulfate, potassium lauryl or laureth sulfate, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium octyl / decyl sulfate, sodium 2-ethyl-hexyl sulfate, sodium octyl sulfate, alkyl ethoxylates, alkyl ethoxylate sulfates, alkyl aryl sulfates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, fatty acid soaps, natural acids saponified such as ricinoleate, alkylsulfonic acid salts, fatty alcohol sulfates, sodium xylene sulphonate, ammonium xylene sulphonate, sodium toluene sulphonate, sodium cumeme sulfate and other hydrotropes, alkyl phosphates as lauryl phosphate, sulfosuccinates as disodium lauryl and laureth sulfosuccinates, alphaolefin sulphonate, and alkyl phenol ether sulfate. Exemplary amphoteric surfactants include the general class of alkyl betaines as laurylamidopropyl betaine, oleyl betaine, ether amine oxides as lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, cocoamidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide and phospholipids composed of diester and triester phosphatides. Exemplary nonionic surfactants include various linear or non-phenol alcohols or fatty acids, ethers of fatty alcohols, octylphenoxy polyethoxy ethanol, ethoxylated alcohols (e.g., laueth-7, PEG-10, and PEG 400), ethoxylated amines, ether amines and ether diamines as cocoamid DEA, cocoamide MEA, esters as ethylene glycol monostearate, ethylene glycol distearate as polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters, polysorbates, linear ethylene oxide / propylene oxide and / or butylenes oxide blockcopolymers, poly(5) oxyethylene isodecyloxypropylamine, poly (5) oxyethylene isotridecyloxypropylamine, glycols, and amine oxides as long chain alkyls. Preferred nonionic surfactants include polysorbates (e.g., Tween 20, 40, or 80), Igepal, Tritons, and glucosides as decyl glucoside, lauryl glucosides, D-glucopyranoside CIO to C16 alkyl oligomer and D- glucopyranoside C6 to C12 alkyl oligomer.

[0015] The ranges of various ingredients making up the detergent composition are set forth in Table 1.

[0016] Table 1: Detergent Formulations

[0017] The ranges of various ingredients of a preferred detergent composition made in accordance with the present invention are set forth in Table 2. In these embodiments, the nanocrystalline particles comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of nanocrystalline MgO particles, nanocrystalline ZnO particles, nanocrystalline AI2O3 particles, SLS, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, and sodium metasilicate.

[0018] Table 2Methods of Cleaning Textile Materials

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the method comprises contacting the stained textile material with the above-described detergent composition or a wash solution comprising the abovedescribed detergent composition. Though the appropriate delivery method of the detergent composition and / or wash solution will largely depend upon the object, surface, or area involved, such modes of delivery are within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0020] In embodiments where a wash solution is used, the wash solution may be formed according to any method known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, the wash solution may advantageously be formed before or during the contacting step. For example, when the wash solution is formed before the contacting step, the method may comprise diluting and / or dispersing the detergent composition in a liquid, such as water, to form the wash solution, which is then contacted with the stained textile material. When the wash solution is formed during the contacting step, in one embodiment, the contacting step may comprise adding the stained textile material and the detergent composition to a washing machine and commencing an automated washing cycle in which the detergent composition is diluted or dispersed in water to form the wash solution. The washing machine may be a residential-type washing machine or a commercial-grade washing machine.

[0021] Regardless of when the wash solution is formed, in the foregoing embodiments, the method / contacting step comprises diluting and / or dispersing within a desired quantity of the liquid to form the wash solution from about 1 gram to about 25 grams, preferably from about 4 grams toabout 20 grams, and more preferably from about 7.5 grams to about 1 grams of the detergent composition per kilogram of the stained textile material to be cleaned.

[0022] It will be appreciated that, after the portion of the stained textile material bearing the stain is contacted with the above-described detergent composition or wash solution, the contacting step removes at least a portion of the stain. In preferred embodiments, the contacting step results in a stain removal index (SRI) of at least 80, at least 85, at least 90, at least 95, or at least 97. As used herein, the terms “stain removal index” refers to the performance / effectiveness of the detergent composition and / or wash solution in treating a stain and / or stained textile material. That is, the SRI defines the relationship of the appearance of an unstained textile to the appearance of a treated stained textile of the same material. The SRI is a scale from 0-100, with 0 meaning no stain removal, and 100 meaning complete stain removal.

[0023] There are several methods for determining the SRI. For example, the SRI may be measured directly using an instrument, such as a spectrophotometer, or the SRI may be calculated. To calculate the SRI, the degree of the stain / stained textile material should first be evaluated. To do this, averaged reflectance measurements of the stained textile material may be taken using a colorimeter or similar device known to one of ordinary skill in the art. These measurements are preferably taken at three different times: (1) before the textile material is stained, (2) after the textile material is stained, and (3) after the textile material is treated or washed with the detergent composition and / or wash solution. After the degree of the stain is evaluated, the SRI may then be calculated, preferably using the following formula:100 (WS-UT)M *(US-UT), where US = unwashed stain area, UT = unwashed (unstained) textile area, WS = washed stain area, l^*(US-UT) = delta-E color difference between the unwashed stain and the unwashed textile, and M *(WS-UT) = delta-E color difference between the washed stain and the unwashed textile.

[0024] The AE color difference (absolute color difference) value AE may be calculated as follows: AE* = A / L*2+ Aa*2+ Ab*2, where L = reflectance, a = redness / greenness, and b = yellowness / blueness.SRI and methods of determining stain removal effectiveness are described in Neiditch, O.W , et al., “The stain removal index (SRI): A new reflectometer method for measuring and reporting stain removal effectiveness,” Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 57, 426-429 (1980), incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0025] Additional advantages of the various embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure herein and the working examples below. It will be appreciated that the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive unless otherwise indicated herein. For example, a feature described or depicted in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments but is not necessarily included. Thus, the present invention encompasses a variety of combinations and / or integrations of the specific embodiments described herein.

[0026] As used herein, the phrase "and / or," when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing or excluding components A, B, and / or C, the composition can contain or exclude A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

[0027] The present description also uses numerical ranges to quantify certain parameters relating to various embodiments of the invention. It should be understood that when numerical ranges are provided, such ranges are to be construed as providing literal support for claim limitations that only recite the lower value of the range as well as claim limitations that only recite the upper value of the range. For example, a disclosed numerical range of about 10 to about 100 provides literal support for a claim reciting "greater than about 10" (with no upper bounds) and a claim reciting "less than about 100" (with no lower bounds).EXAMPLES

[0028] The following examples set forth methods in accordance with the invention. It is to be understood, however, that these examples are provided by way of illustration, and nothing therein should be taken as a limitation upon the overall scope of the invention.EXAMPLE 1Stain Removal Efficacy Testing Protocol & Procedure

[0029] The stain removal efficacy of a detergent formulation prepared according to the present invention containing nanocrystalline particles (i.e., NP detergent) and two conventional detergents (i.e., Country Save and Tide Free & Gentle) were tested against mustard, ketchup, and dirt (i.e., soil) stains applied to various controls and test articles (i.e., 1 bath towel, 3 dish cloths, 2 undershirts, and 1 pillowcase). The following stain and washing procedures were followed. The NP detergent formulation comprises 54% sodium carbonate, 18% SLS, 9% NaCl, 9% sodium metasilicate, and 10% nanocrystalline metal oxide powders (2 parts MgO, 1 part AI2O3, 1 part ZnO).

[0030] Stain Procedure. First, the color values (L, a, b) of each test article (i.e., where the stain (UT) will be applied) were measured using a colorimeter capable of recording The International Commission on Illumination L*a*b (CIELAB) Color System (L, a, b values) to calculate the color differences. To provide a normalized background, a folded sheet of paper was placed under each test article. Second, 2 grams of stain sample (i.e., mustard, ketchup, dirt) were added to each test article and worked in with a toothbrush to create a stain spot size of ~ 2 inches (Some water was added to the dirt for a proper stain adherence.). Third, each article was labeled with the letter of designated stain (M - mustard, K - ketchup, D - dirt). Finally, each stain was allowed to dry / set for 1 hour, and the color values of the stains (US) were measured using the Colorimeter.

[0031] Detergent Amounts. Detergent amounts were determined per laundry load (total weight « 0.83 kg (1.83 lbs.)), which is ~ 25% of the standard 8 lbs. / load (medium load). Here, 10.4 grams of NP detergent, 9.3 grams of Country Save, and 11.5 grams of Tide Free & Gentle were used per laundry load.

[0032] Washing Procedure. A laundry load comprising 1 bath towel, 1-3 test articles, 3 dish cloths, 2 undershirts, and 1 pillowcase were washed using a Magic Chef Portable Washing Machine (1.6 cu. ft.), and each article (i.e., bath towel, test articles, dish cloths, undershirts, and pillowcase) was loaded into the washing machine in the foregoing order. After the articles were loaded, the articles were washed (heavy, small washer settings) at a cold temperature setting (unheated tap water). Once washed, the articles were machine dried using a standard household dryeron air dry mode for about 57 minutes and subsequently air dried for about 1 hour. Then, thecolor values of the stains (WS) were measured using the Colorimeter.EXAMPLE 2Calculations and Results

[0033] The data generated by the testing completed in Example 1 was analyzed as follows:

[0034] Stain Measurements: Stain removal measurements were based on ASTM D4265-21 Standard Guide for Evaluating Stain Removal Performance in Home Laundering. This test was used to determine the detergent composition’s cleaning efficiency by removing standard stains. Generally,

[0035] Colorimeter: As discussed in Example 1, a Colorimeter, is used to measure the reflectance (L), redness / greenness (a), and yellowness / blueness (b) of a sample:Three color measurements were taken: before stain application, after stain application (before washing), and after washing. Color differenceswere calculated and used to determine a Stain Removal Index, which may be calculated using the formula below. Index values range from 0 (no stain removal) to 100 (complete stain removal).

[0036] Stain Removal Index (SRI): The performance of the detergent composition was evaluated instrumentally by an SRI. The SRI is a scale from 0-100, with 0 meaning no stain removal, and 100 meaning complete stain removal. The SRI is calculated as:SRI = 100 UF)where AE*(US-UF) = Delta-E color difference between the unwashed stain (US) and the unwashed fabric (UF) and AE*(WS-UF) = Delta-E color difference between the washed stain (WS) and the unwashed fabric (UF). The value AE* (absolute color difference) is calculated as:AE* = A / AL*2+ Aa*2+ Ab*2.

[0037] The following table contains the SRI results of the testing completed in Example 1 :

Claims

We claim :

1. A method of removing stains from a stained textile material comprising contacting the stained textile material with a detergent composition comprising one or more nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting step comprises dispersing the detergent composition in water to form a wash solution, the wash solution being contacted with the stained textile material.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles is selected from the group consisting of MgO, CeO2, CaO, TiCh, ZrCh, FeO, V2O3, V2O5, M112O3, Fe2O3, NiO, CuO, AI2O3, ZnO, SiO2, Ag2O, SrO, BaO, Mg(OH)2, Ca(OH)2, A1(OH)3, Ti(OH)4, Sr(OH)2, Ba(OH)2, Fe(OH)3, Cu(OH)2, Ni(OH)2, CO(OH)2, Zn(0H)2, AgOH, coated metal oxides and hydroxides, doped metal oxides and hydroxides, and mixtures thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detergent composition comprises at least two nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles selected from the group consisting of MgO, TiO2, ZnO, AI2O3, Mg(OH)2, Ti(OH)4, Zn(OH)2, and A1(OH)3.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles have crystallite sizes of less than about 25 nm and / or surface areas of at least 15 m2 / g.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detergent composition is a liquid detergent composition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the detergent composition is a powder detergent composition.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step comprises adding the stained textile material and the detergent composition to a washing machine and commencing an automated washing cycle in which the detergent composition is diluted or dispersed in water to form a wash solution.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step comprises diluting or dispersing within water from about 7.5 grams to about 15 grams of the detergent composition per kilogram of the stained textile material to form a wash solution.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step results in a stain removal index (SRI) for the portion of the stained textile material bearing the stain of at least 80.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the textile material comprises natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a blend of natural and synthetic fibers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the stained textile material comprises a stain formed from blood, coffee, grass, grease, ink, ketchup, mustard, sweat, or wine.

13. A method of removing stains from a stained textile material comprising contacting the stained textile material with a wash solution comprising detergent composition dispersed in water, the detergent composition comprising at least three nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles selected from the group consisting of MgO, TiCh, ZnO, AI2O3, Mg(OH)2, Ti(OH)4, Zn(OH)2, and A1(OH)3.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the detergent composition comprises from 0.1-20% by weight of the nanocrystalline MgO, from 0.1-10% by weight of the nanocrystalline ZnO, and from 0.1-10% by weight of the nanocrystalline AI2O3.

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein said contacting step comprises dispersing the detergent composition in water to form the wash solution.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more nanocrystalline metal oxide and / or metal hydroxide particles have crystallite sizes of less than about 25 nm and / or surface areas of at least 15 m2 / g.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the detergent composition is a liquid detergent composition.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the detergent composition is a powder detergent composition.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the contacting step comprises adding the stained textile material and the detergent composition to a washing machine and commencing an automated washing cycle in which the detergent composition is diluted or dispersed in water to form the wash solution.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the contacting step comprises diluting or dispersing within water from about 7.5 grams to about 15 grams of the detergent composition per kilogram of the stained textile material to form the wash solution.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the contacting step results in a stain removal index (SRI) for the portion of the stained textile material bearing the stain of at least 80.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the textile material comprises natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a blend of natural and synthetic fibers.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the stained textile material comprises a stain formed from blood, coffee, grass, grease, ink, ketchup, mustard, sweat, or wine.

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