GB1072793A - Method of cleaning carpets and upholstery - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of cleaning carpets or upholstery comprising applying thereto an aqueous composition comprising a lithium salt of an acid, synthetic, surface-active compound and at least one additional component other than water. The acid, synthetic surface-active compound contains 8-20 carbon atoms and may be a fatty alcohol sulphate or ether sulphate, a fatty-acid condensation product with an acid salt-forming group, an alkylphenol-polyglycol ether sulphate, an alkyl-benzene sulphonate, a succinic acid alkyl ester sulphonate, an alkane sulphonate, or a carboxylic acid which may contain hetero atoms in the carbon chain. The additional component(s) may be an adsorbent, e.g.bentonite, kieselguhr, silica gel or bolus, an inorganic salt, e.g. sodium sulphate, or an alkali metal silicate or phosphate, or an organic liquid, e.g. D.D.T or turpentine substitute; 0.2% perfume oil may be included. The composition is formed as a paste or suspension containing 74.8-82% water, 10-18% lithium compound and between 0.2 and 9% of other constituents, and is applied to the carpet as 30-200 g. per litre of water formed into a foam with a brush or sponge. Comparative compositions containing the sodium salts are disclosed.ALSO:Carpets or upholstery are cleaned by applying thereto an aqueous suspension or paste comprising a lithium salt of an acid, synthetic, surface-active compound and at least one additional component other than water, and forming the cleanser into a foam with a brush or sponge. The surfactant contains 8-20 carbon atoms and may be a fatty alcohol sulphate or ether sulphate, a fatty acid condensation product with acid salt forming groups, an alkylphenol-polyglycol ether sulphate, alkylbenzene sulphonate, alkane sulphonate, a succinic acid alkyl ester sulphonate or a higher carboxylic acid which may contain hetero atoms in the chain, in the form of the lithium salt. The additional component(s) may be an adsorbent e.g. bentonite, kieselguhr, silica gel or bolus, an inorganic salt such as an alkali metal silicate or phosphate, or sodium sulphate, or an organic liquid such as D.D.T. or turps substitute; perfume oil may be present. Comparative compositions containing the corresponding sodium salts are disclosed.