GB2363704A - Cleaning wipes for fabrics and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning wipe (10) for fabrics, carpet and the like materials comprises an absorbent layer (12) impregnated with an aqueous cleaning solution containing detergent, devoid of bleach and particularly suited for use on fabrics, carpet and the like materials. Therefore, if, say, drink is spilt on a lounge settee, there is no need for somebody to run to the kitchen, to find a bowl, upholstery cleaner and a cloth, to mix the cleaner with water in the bowl, to bring it to the lounge and to sponge the settee. Instead, they merely need to take one of the wipes and can use it straightaway. Particularly in the case of spilt liquids, the speed with which the wipe can be used is a great advantage, because there is less time for the liquid to be soaked up by the upholstery, carpet or the like. Preferably a number of the wipes may be packaged as a stack, the absorbent part being mounted on a backing layer.

Description

2363704 TITLE Cleaning Wipes

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to cleaning wipes.

Various types or cleaning wipes are known which are impregnated with a cleaning solution One type is particularly suitable for use on hard surfaces in the kitchen A further type is particularly suitable for use on babies' skin Another type is particularly suitable for use of lavatory seats However, none of them is particularly suitable for use on fabrics, carpets and the like materials around the house or in the office or car.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning wipe for fabrics, carpet and the like materials, the wipe comprising an absorbent layer impregnated with an aqueous cleaning solution containing detergent, devoid of bleach and particularly suited for use on fabrics, carpet and the like materials Therefore, if, say, drink is spilt on a lounge settee, there is no need for somebody to run to the kitchen, to find a bowl, upholstery cleaner and a cloth, to mix the cleaner with water in the bowl, to bring it to the lounge and to sponge the settee Instead, they merely need to take one of the wipes and can use it straightaway Particularly in the case of spilt liquids, the speed with which the wipe can be used is a great advantage, because there is less time for the liquid to be soaked up by the upholstery, carpet or the like.

Convenient, efficient and effective, these handy wipes are suitable for dry or wet stains, food or drink spillage, children's pen and paint marks and general cleaning for carpet and upholstery stains.

The solution preferably includes a surface active agent such as sodium alkylaryl sulphonate and/or alkyl phenyl polyethoxy alcohol The solution preferably also includes a solubiser, such as sodium xylene sulphonate, and/or a conditioner, such as aloe vera.

The absorbent layer may be woven, but is preferably non-woven.

In a development of the basic wipe, one side of the absorbent layer is bonded to a backing layer impervious to the cleaning solution The wipe is then intended to be used with the backing layer held in the hand, so that in, the case of use by a person with sensitive skin, the backing layer protects the skin from excessive contact with the cleaning liquid The backing layer serves to strengthen the wipe.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cleaning a fabric, carpet or like material, comprising wiping the material with a cleaning wipe of the first aspect of the invention.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning pack comprising a stack of cleaning wipes of the first aspect of the invention in a package In the case where the wipes have backing layers, the wipes may be stacked alternately to that they face absorbent layer-to-absorbent layer and backing layer-to-backing layer Alternatively, each wipe in the stack may be folded so that its backing layer is outermost In either case, the outer surface of the backing layer will therefore tend to remain dry.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of cleaning wipe; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the wipe of Figure 1; Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2, but showing a second embodiment of cleaning wipe; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, on a reduced scale, of a pack of the wipes of Figure 3 arranged one way; and Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4, but showing the wipes arranged another way.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the first embodiment of disposable cleaning wipe 10 comprises a square of non-woven, hydrophilic, absorbent fibre material 12 The size of the wipe is between about 200 mm x 200 mm and 250 mm x 250 mm, and its dry weight is between about 20 g/m 2 and 50 g/m 2 The water absorption capacity of the material 12 is preferably at least 200 % of its dry weight The material may be of the kind that is used for wipes for other applications It may be a single layer or have a multi-layered structure The material is preferably biodegradable.

The material 12 is impregnated or premoistened with an aqueous detergent cleaning liquid which is effective in cleaning fabrics (such as upholstery and clothing) and carpet, and which does not damage such materials The cleaning liquid therefore does not contain any bleach or the like The cleaning fluid may, for example, contain, as surface active agents, sodium alkylaryl sulphonate and alkyl phenyl polyethoxy alcohol It may also contain, as a solubiser, sodium xylene sulphonate, and, as a conditioner, aloe vera gel A fragrance may also be included The level of impregnation is preferably between about 20 % and 50 % of the maximum capacity of the material 12 On the one hand, the level of impregnation should not be so high that the wipe 10 has no further capacity to absorb liquid, but on the other hand the level of impregnation should not be so low that the wipe 10 contains insufficient cleaning liquid.

Referring now to Figure 3, the second embodiment of disposable cleaning wipe 10 is similar to that of the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, except that, before the material 12 is impregnated with the cleaning liquid, it is bonded to a backing layer 14 of biodegradable plastics material The wipe 10 of Figure 3 is intended to be used with the backing layer 14 held in the hand, so that in, the case of use by a person with sensitive skin, the backing layer 14 protects the skin from excessive contact with the cleaning liquid The wipe 10 of Figure 3 also has the advantage that the backing layer 14 serves to strengthen the wipe 10.

The cleaning wipes 10 of either embodiment are preferably supplied stacked is a plastics container 16, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, having a tray 18 with a removable lid 20 With the lid 20 closed, the container 16 is substantially airtight so that the cleaning liquid cannot evaporate away and so that any fragrance in the cleaning liquid will not escape The cleaning wipes 10 may also be supplied in refill packs for the containers 16.

In the case of the second embodiment of Figure 3, the wipes 10 are preferably stacked in the container 16 with opposite quarters 22,24 of the wipe 10 folded inwardly so that the impregnated material 12 is innermost and the backing layer 14 is outermost, as shown in Figure 4 The outer surface of the backing layer 14 will therefore tend to remain dry Alternatively, the wipes 10 may be stacked alternately in the container 16 with one wipe 10 in the stack having its backing layer 14 facing downwardly and the next wipe 10 in the stack having its backing layer 14 facing upwardly, as shown in Figure 5 Again, the outer surfaces of the backing layers 14 will therefore tend to remain dry.

The containers 16 of wipes 10 may be conveniently kept around the house in places where conventional fabric or carpet cleaning materials are not usually ready to hand, for example in the lounge, dining room or hallway, so that the wipes 10 are immediately available in the case of, for example, drink spilt on upholstery in the lounge, some food dropped on a table cloth or dining chair, or a dirty footprint on the hall carpet The containers 16 of wipes 10 may also be conveniently kept in the office, car or commercial vehicle or aircraft.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and developments may be made to the embodiments of the invention described above For example, other compositions of non-bleach detergent may be used The wipe may be made to other shapes and sizes The embodiment of Figure 3 may be developed further so that the backing layer 14 provides a mitten in which the user may place their hand.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the invention has been described above purely by way of example and that many other modifications and developments may be made thereto within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (15)

1 A cleaning wipe for fabrics, carpet and the like materials, the wipe comprising an absorbent layer impregnated with an aqueous cleaning solution containing a detergent, devoid of bleach and particularly suited for use on fabrics, carpet and the like materials.

2 A wipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solution includes a surface active agent

3 A wipe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the surface active agent includes at least one of:

sodium alkylaryl sulphonate; and alkyl phenyl polyethoxy alcohol.

4 A wipe as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the solution includes a solubiser.

A wipe as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the solution includes a conditioner.

6 A wipe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the conditioner includes aloe vera.

7 A wipe as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the absorbent layer is non-woven.

8 A wipe as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the absorbent layer is woven.

9 A wipe as claimed in any of preceding claim, wherein one side of the absorbent layer is bonded to a backing layer impervious to the cleaning solution.

A cleaning wipe for fabrics, carpet and the like materials, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

11 A method of cleaning a fabric, carpet or like material, comprising wiping the material with a cleaning wipe as claimed in any preceding claim.

12 A cleaning pack comprising a stack of cleaning wipes as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 in a package.

13 A pack as claimed in claim 12 when dependent on claim 9, wherein the wipes are stacked alternately to that they face absorbent layer-to-absorbent layer and backing layer-to-backing layer.

14 A pack as claimed in claim 12 when dependent on claim 9, wherein each wipe in the stack is folded so that the backing layer is outermost.

15 A cleaning pack, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.