Hard Surface Cleaning Composition to Reduce Streaks and Slipperiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hard surface cleaning compositions struggle to effectively remove streaks and water marks, leading to low shine and increased slipperiness, especially on dirty floors, which can result in accidents and a perception of incomplete cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A hard surface cleaning composition containing 0.01 wt. % to 7 wt. % of propylene glycol phenyl ether or dipropylene glycol phenyl ethers as solvents, with a pH between 3.5 and 9.5, and without anionic surfactants or alkanolamines, is used, along with disposable dry cleaning wipes and cleaning implements, to reduce film and streak residues and improve shine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional hard surface cleaning compositions are used to clean dirty floors, then cleaning power is improved, but film and streak residues are left behind resulting in low shine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning composition by using specific solvent systems (glycol ethers, glycols, or alcohols) with controlled concentrations (0.01-7 wt%), adjusting pH ranges (3.5-9.5), and eliminating anionic surfactants. These parameter changes allow the composition to clean effectively while preventing film and streak residue formation, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning power and surface shine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite solvent systems combining glycol ethers, glycols, or alcohols with water (at least 92% water) to create a synergistic formulation. This composite material approach enables the composition to achieve both strong cleaning power and superior shine by leveraging the complementary properties of different solvent components without relying on anionic surfactants that cause streaking.
2Ease of operation
If diluted hard surface cleaning compositions are used to clean floors, then ease of operation is improved, but slipperiness increases resulting in safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the compositional parameters by formulating concentrated cleaning solutions (at least 92% water with specific solvent concentrations) that maintain high cleaning efficacy at lower dilution levels. This reduces the amount of liquid applied to surfaces, thereby minimizing slipperiness and safety hazards while preserving ease of operation through simple dilution and application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent promotes the use of disposable dry cleaning wipes for application and removal of the cleaning composition. This disposable approach ensures complete removal of the cleaning solution from surfaces, eliminating residual slipperiness and safety risks while maintaining ease of operation through a simple wipe-and-go process.
3Reliability
If traditional surfactants are used in cleaning compositions, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but negative impacts such as film residues and skin irritation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates anionic surfactants from the cleaning composition formulation. By removing these surfactant components that cause film residues and skin irritation, the patent achieves cleaning efficacy through alternative mechanisms using glycol ethers, glycols, or alcohols as primary cleaning agents, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning power and harmful residue formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces glycol ethers, glycols, or alcohols as intermediary substances that perform the cleaning function traditionally provided by surfactants. These intermediary compounds achieve soil removal and surface cleaning without forming harmful films or residues, and without causing skin irritation associated with traditional anionic surfactants.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition achieves reduced streaks and water marks, enhanced shine, and improved safety by minimizing slipperiness, while maintaining high antibacterial efficacy without the negative impacts of traditional surfactants.
Implementation Method 1
the dewetting behaviour of low hydrophile-lipophile balance solvents; also known as hysteresis
Implementation Method 2
low hydrophile-lipophile balance solvents
Data Source
AI summary
A hard surface cleaning composition, methods of cleaning a hard surface with a low hysteresis composition and disposable premoistened pads for cleaning hard surfaces are provided. The hard surface cleaning composition includes from 0.01 wt. % to 7 wt. % of a solvent selected from the group consisting of a propylene glycol phenyl ether, a dipropylene glycol phenyl ethers and mixtures thereof and at least 92% water. The cleaning composition has a pH from about 3.5 to 9.5 and is free of anionic surfactant and alkanolamine.