MXPA99003471A - Cleaning formulation for fabricated yarn products - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning formulation for a fabricated yarn product such as a carpet comprises:a styrene maleic anhydride polymer stain resist agent;an anionic surfactant;a mixed alkyl ethoxylated (C10-C16) nonionic surfactant having a hydrophile lipophile balance in the range of about 10.5 to about fifteen;and a fluorosurfactant. A fluorochemical soil resist agent may be optionally included. The cleaning formulation may be made in dilute or concentrate form.

Description

CLEANING FORMULATION FOR MANUFACTURED, THREAD PRODUCTS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a cleaning formulation, particularly used in the cleaning of a product made of yarn (such as that used in upholstery, drapery, textiles, carpets or rugs) using any cleaning method as soon as it comes out at least part or all of the cleaning formulation in the product made of clean yarn.

Description of the Prior Art The cleaning formulation of the present invention is described herein in regard to the cleaning of "carpets", although, as mentioned in the foregoing, it has applicability to the cleaning of any product made of yarn. The removal of dirt from carpets, especially carpets located in areas of major traffic, is a problem of periodic maintenance. Unless a deep cleaning procedure is used, such as hot water extraction, this usually does not work REF .: 29774 completely remove dirt from the carpet. However, deep cleaning procedures are expensive and time consuming. Instead it is common practice to use other cleaning procedures, such as cap cleaning, as an intermediate maintenance procedure to clean carpets between performing the deep cleaning processes. Cap cleaning is a process in which a cleaning formulation is first applied to a carpet and then the carpet is brushed or polished with a rotating absorbent pad on the carpet using a rotating floor machine. In the cleaning with a cap both dirt and cleaning formulation are partially absorbed by the pad. The carpet stays dry as soon as it is cleaned using a deep cleaning procedure, such as extraction with hot water. However, the cap cleaning process usually does not clean as thoroughly as the extraction with hot water. Although the surface of a carpet-top cleaning seems clean, the dirt still remains on the carpet. In addition, since cap cleaning does not include a rinsing step, a significant level of residues of the cleaning formulation remains in the carpet.

The residue of the cleaning formulation actually attracts dirt so that a clean carpet can be re-dried faster than a new carpet. Very often the carpet will look clean after the intermediate procedure, but re-fouling will occur quickly, often significantly faster than with carpets cleaned by hot water extraction. In view of the foregoing, it is believed advantageous to provide a cleaning formulation that allows an intermediate cleaning method, such as cap cleaning, to approach the degree of possible cleaning with a deep cleaning process, such as cleaning with hot water extraction. In addition, it is believed that there is an additional advantage to providing a cleaning formulation that not only cleans better than the present formulations and processes, but also the development of the dirt-resistant carpet fibers so that re-fouling of the carpet cleans do not promote.

Re ^ s-waen of the Invention The present invention is directed to an aqueous cleansing formulation comprising: a) about three (3) to about seventy (70) grams, and more preferably from about ten (10) to about sixty (60) grams, of an agent resists styrene-maleic anhydride polymer stains, per gallon of cleansing formulation; b) about three (3) to about fifty (50) grams, and more preferably, about five (5) to about thirty (30) grams, of an anionic surfactant, per gallon of cleaning formulation. c) approximately three (3) to approximately fifty (50) grams, and more preferably, about five (5) to about twenty-five (25) grams, of a non-ionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms) having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance in the range of about 10.5 to about fifteen (15), per gallon of the cleaning formulation, and d) about one half (0.5) to about fifty (50) grams, and more preferably about one (1) to about five (5) grams, of fluorosurfactant, per gallon of formulation cleaner.

An appropriate anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate. A suitable fluorosurfactant could be a compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of Formula I, compounds of Formula II, or mixtures thereof, wherein Formula I and Formula II are: F (CF n -CH;: CH; -S-CHCH. -COOLi I T T where n is an integer that has a value of six (6) to twelve (12), and m is an integer that has a value of two (2) to five (5). The cleaning formulation of the present invention may optionally further comprise about one (1) to about two hundred (200) grams, and more preferably about five (5) to about seventy (70) grams, of an agent resists dirt, per gallon of cleaning formulation. An agent that resists proper dirt is a fluorochemical.

In another aspect, the invention is carried out in a concentrated form to make an aqueous cleansing formulation having the concentration ranges as set forth above.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a representation of the cleaning performance in sections of the carpet using different cleaning formulations as described in the test field test of Example 5.

Detailed description of the invention This invention is directed to a cleaning formulation which, although described therein in terms of the cleaning of "carpets" has applicability to the cleaning of any product made of yarn as used in upholstery, drapery, textiles, carpets or rugs. The cleaning formulation when used in an improved cleaning process, the cleaning efficiency of the process and does not promote re-fouling or staining of the cleaned carpet. By "re-fouling" it refers to the tendency of a clean carpet to attract dirt because of the residue of the shampoo that comes out on the carpet after cleaning. Similarly, "remanchado" is the tendency of a carpet cleaned to attract stains that can be caused in part due to the residue of the shampoo on the carpet. The cleaning formulation of the present invention is made therein in the form of a diluent or concentrate. The cleaning formulation of the present invention does not contain any glycol, alcohol or other organic solvents normally found in cleaning solutions. The use of these solvents leads to an accelerated soiling caused by the residue that remains after cleaning with solutions. The aqueous cleansing formulation of this invention comprises: a) an agent resists styrene-maleic anhydride polymer stains; b) an aqueous solution of an anionic surfactant; c) a nonionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms) having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance ("HLB") in the range of about 10.5 to about fifteen (15), and d) a fluorosurfactant.

Agent resists stains - By "stain resistant agent" refers to chemicals that impart partial or total resistance to staining. Staining is defined here as the color change of a product made of yarn that exhibits strength to be removed by normal cleaning methods. Stain resistant agents can include compounds such as maleic anhydride copolymers or terpolymers hydrolyzed with alpha aliphatic de? Ns, aromatic olefms or vinyl ethers, and homocompolymers or methacrylic acid copolymers. Suitable for use as the agent resists styrene-maleic anhydride polymer stains is the agent sold by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, ("DuPont"), ® Wilmington, Dela are, under the trademark ZELAN 338. Anionic Surfactant - The preferred anionic surfactant for use as an aqueous solution of sodium lauryl sulfate, such as DUPONOL "AQE, (Witco Chemical Co., Baltimore, MD) Many other anionic surfactants are also used. preferred nonionic surfactant to be used as the nonionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms) MERPOL SH (DuPont Co., Wilmington, DE).

The choice of nonionic surfactant is critical to the effectiveness of the cleaning formulation. Nonionic surfactants that have hydrophilic lipophilic balance ("HLB") values outside the range of about 10.5 to about fifteen (15) or do not clean as satisfactorily as those that have HLB values within this range or their residues came out on the carpet attracting dirt 'worsens re-fouling) more than non-ionic surfactants that have HLB values within this range. Fluorosurfactants Suitable fluorosurfactants include, but are not limited to, for example, those compounds commercially available from DuPont and 3M. Mixtures of fluorosurfactants can also be used. A fluorosurfactant compound of Formula I or Formula II, or mixtures thereof, may be used. Formula I is: F (CF2) n-CH2CHc-S-CH2CH; -COOLi I where n is an integer that has a value of 6 to 12 and can be identified as a lithium salt of a-. { 2- [(2-carboxyethyl) thio] ethyl} -O-fluoro-poly- (difluoromethylene), and formula II is an ammonium salt of a perfluoroalkyl phosphate as represented by the general formula: CF 3 CF 2, (CF 2 CF 2 m-CH 0 II wherein m is an integer having a value of 2 to 5. The weight ratio of Formula I to perfluoroalkyl phosphate of Formula II in the mixture is in the range of about 1: 1 to about 1: 2, and the amount of the mixture employed in the composition is from about 0.025% to about 0.17% by weight, more preferably from about 0.1% to about 0.15% by weight, more preferably about 0.1% by weight, wherein the percentages expressed are the percentage of the active ingredient. The compound of Formula I is available as ZONYL FSA, ® the compound of Formula II is available as ZONYL FSP, and a mixture compound is available as ZONYL® 7950, all from DuPont. Other suitable fluorosurfactants include the compounds of Formula III and IV, wherein the Formula III is: II F (CF; CF2) p-CH2CH -0- (CH..CH.) And -OH III wherein p is an integer having a value of 3 to 6, and wherein Formula IV is: F (CF; CF :) q-CH: CH -0- (CHCH :)? -OH IV where q is an integer that has a value of 3 to 6, and is an integer that has a value less than 20, and x is an integer has a value less than y. The compound of Formula III available from DuPont as ZONYL FSN and the compound of Formula IV ® is available from DuPont as ZONYL FSO. The fluorosurfactants available from 3M may also be used, including but not limited to FLORAD products designated FC-93, PC-100, FC-120, FC-129 and FC-117. Stain-resistant Fluorochemical - Por "Stain-resistant fluorochemical" refers to a composition that resists or rejects stains, oil or other substances that normally would not be present in a substrate such as a product made of yarn. Stain resistant fluorochemical agents can include polymers or compounds having pendant or end groups of perfluoroalkyl, fluorosurfactant, or fluoro-intermediary portions. Appropriate stain-resistant fluorochemical agents are available from many ® suppliers including 3M and DuPont, eg, ZONYL ' 5180 (available from DuPont). Depending on the actual ingredients used in the cleaning formulation, the useful concentrations of each ingredient will vary. One skilled in the art could quickly determine both the useful concentration range and the optimum concentration for each ingredient used in the cleaning formulations of this invention. A preferred formulation comprising: (a) about three (3) to about seventy ("O) grams of styrene-maleic anhydride polymer per gallon of cleansing formulation; (b) about three (3) to about fifty (50) grams aqueous solution of sodium lauryl sulfate per gallon of cleaning formulation; (c) about three (3) to about fifty (50) grams of a nonionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms) having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance ("HLB") in the range of about 10.5 to about fifteen (15) per gallon of cleaning formulation; and (d) about one half (0.5) to about fifty (50) grams of a fluorosurfactant mixture per gallon of cleaning formulation. In a more preferred example, the styrene-maleic anhydride polymer stain resistant concentration is about ten (10) to about sixty (60) grams per gallon of cleansing formulation; the concentration of anionic surfactant is about five (5) to about thirty (30) grams per gallon of cleaning formulation; the concentration of nonionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms) is about five (5) to about twenty-five (25) grams per gallon of cleaning formulation; and the concentration of fluorosurfactant is about one (1) to about five (5) grams per gallon of cleaning formulation. The cleaning formulation may optionally further include about one (1) to about two hundred (200) grams, and more preferably about five (5) to about seventy (70) grams, of a stain-resistant fluorochemical agent per gallon of cleaning formulation. It is noted that the amounts of ingredients expressed in this application (including the claims) in terms of "grams" "per gallon of cleaning formulation" is understood as referring to the weight in grams of a given active ingredient per gallon of cleaning formulation. Concentrate It is often convenient to dilute a concentrate to achieve these formulations of the cleaning solution. The invention must be translated to comprise an appropriate concentrate for making an aqueous cleansing formulation, the concentrate comprising: (a) styrene-maleic anhydride polymer; (b) an anionic surfactant; (c) nonionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms); (d) a fluorosurfactant; and, optionally, (e) stain-resistant fluorochemical agent, whereby the concentrate is capable of being diluted with an appropriate amount of water to produce an aqueous cleaning formulation having concentrations expressed as grams of active ingredient per gallon of water solution. (a) about three (3) to about seventy (70) grams of an agent resists styrene-maleic anhydride polymer stains per gallon of cleansing formulation; (b) about three (3) to about fifty (50) grams of an aqueous solution of an anionic surfactant per gallon of cleaning formulation; (c) about three (3) to about fifty (50) grams of a nonionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms) having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance in the range of about 10.5 to about fifteen (15) per gallon of cleaning formulation; (d) about one-half (0.5) to about fifty (50) grams of fluorosurfactant per gallon of cleaning formulation; and (e) (if used) about one (1) to about two hundred (200) grams of the agent resistant to stains per gallon of cleaning formulation. In a more preferred example of the cleaner concentrate is also capable of being diluted with an appropriate amount of water to produce an aqueous cleaning formulation having a concentration of about ten (10) to sixty (60) grams of an agent that resists staining. styrene-maleic anhydride polymer per gallon of cleaning formulation, approximately five (5) to about thirty (30) grams of anionic surfactant per gallon of cleaning formulation, five (5) to twenty-five (25) grams of a mixed non-ionic surfactant alkyl ethoxylated (10 to 16 carbon atoms) per gallon of cleaning formulation, approximately five (5) to about seventy (70) grams of fluorosurfactant per gallon of cleaning formulation; and (e) (if used) about five (5) to about seventy (70) grams of stain resistant agent per gallon of cleaning formulation. Other ingredients - As an optional ingredient, citric acid can be used to stabilize these formulations. Other chemical agents, such as fragrances, softeners, polishers, foaming agents and brighteners can be added to the composition to obtain special effects in the cleaning of carpet fibers. Application Methods - It is understood that the cleaning formulation of the present invention is not limited for use in the cap cleaning method, but is applicable to any method that involves the application of a cleaning formulation for a product made of yarn, before or during the application of some forms of mechanical action that allows the agitation of the cleaning formulation towards and in the fibers of the carpet, followed optionally by a partial elimination of the cleaning formulation. Such common cleaning methods include, but are not limited to, hot water extraction, rotating brush cleaning, cap, and dry rotating cleaning with foam. The cleaning formulation can be applied in any convenient manner, such as foaming, rolling or spraying, using a pad, brush or any other convenient apparatus.

TEST METHODS COLOR DIFFERENCE MEASURE (? E) Was a Minolta CR-10 color purity or intensity meter used? to measure the? E of the carpets both before and after cleaning. The? E is a measure of cleanliness since the dirty carpets look dark and these are rinsed with cleanliness. The standards or standards used to calculate the? E were measured on samples of new, unused or dirty carpets, using carpet samples, depending on which Example used as the main point, ie, if the Example shows cleaning or carries out the re-susion See each Example for which the standard values were used for this example. It should always be interpreted to the relative standard E or main point. Color readings were taken at three different areas on the carpet sample and the average E was reported. In the measurement of the? E, the normal values estimated by the? E of samples of the new, unused or dirty carpets are used, samples of the carpet that was measured first are used, and this value is stored in the memory of the Color purity or intensity meter. The value of the carpet after being soiled or cleaned is then measured by the Color purity or intensity meter, and the? E is calculated therefrom. The color deviation of? E represents the total color difference. When a new carpet is used as the standard, a lower value e is desirable, meaning the carpet resisted re-fouling better than a carpet with a higher E value. When a dirty carpet is used as the standard, the higher E is desirable, indicating that the carpet became lighter and thus cleaner than a carpet sample with a lower E having the same value of the initial color of previous cleaning.

EXAMPLES Examples 1-4 These Examples demonstrate the cleanliness and re-skimming characteristics of the cleaning formulations of this invention. A light gray nylon 6 of turn hair of 1/10 measure, was used 737.10 grams (26 ounces) of a sample of the carpet. The carpet was heavily soiled on the carpet that had been removed from commercial use. The results are listed in Table I. Cleaning efficiency - The machine used to simulate the capped machine was a commercially available device tested with 15 c (6 in) round polyester cap pads. The apparatus was controlled by a switch with variable d for the pad to rotate at approximately 300 rpm. Pressure was applied to the pad in such a way that the drill motor did not significantly slow down. The cleaning procedure is to: a) Pre-vacuum the dirty carpet by completely removing the loose dirt; b) measure the standard, or value of the main point, with the Color purity or intensity meter; c) spray approximately 5 grams of the cleaning formulation into the carpet test section. The section was approximately 15 cm (6 inches) wide by 30.5 c (12 inches) long; d) spray the pad with cap with 1 gram of cleaning solution: e) run the machine with a manual cap over the piece of carpet for 10 seconds moving the pad from one side to the other through the treated area; f) allow the carpet to dry and measure the relative value of the? E to the standard measurement in the stage (b) The? E for dirt against the clean carpet is a measure of the cleanliness of the formulation. Again, when the cleaning run is determined, the higher E is desirable. Resistance to Re-fouling - The ability of the resistance of a clean carpet to re-fouling was determined by an accelerated fouling test in which a clean carpet was exposed to a controlled amount of dirt for a ific time, loose dirt was removed by vacuuming and the? E was measured The standard reference used by calculating? E is the cleaned carpet previously soiled. When the dirt resistance is determined, the lower E is desirable. The equipment used in the re-fouling test includes a ball mill that has a drum 10.5 inches deep, 40 inches in circumference and dirty polymer pellets (used to introduce a controlled amount of dirt). The soiled polymer pellets were prepared to add 3 g of synthetic dirt to 1000 g of nylon polymer pellets and mixed in a ball mill for 10 minutes at 30 rpm. The synthetic dirt is prepared according to AATCC Test Method 123- 1989 and it contained (the percentages are by weight): 38% dark swamp moss, 17% portland cement, 17% kaolin clay, 17% silica (200 mesh), 1.75% carbon black (oven black or lamp), 0.5% red iron oxide and 8.75% mineral oil (medicinal quality). The carpets mounted on the clean drum, covered with double sided tape next to the seams, were dirty. Then 500 g of polymer pellets soiled along with cylindrically ground stones (stones of 12 x 67.5 g and stones of 220 x 4.5 g) were added. The grind was run at 30 rpm for 30 minutes. The carpets were removed, they were sucked to remove the loose dirt and the? E measured relatively to the standard reference as measured, previously.

The following concentrations were used; PERCENTAGE IN WEIGHT ACTIVE INGREDIENT s maleic anhydride styrene ZELAN 338 40 anionic surfactant DUPONOL WAQE 40 non-ionic surfactant MERPOL SH D ® fluorosurfactant ZONYL 7950 40 dirt resistant agent ZONYL 5180 Note: The weights (*) are given in Table I in grams of solution per gram of cleaning formulation. To obtain grams of the active ingredient per gram of cleaning formulation, multiply the percent of the appropriate weight of each active ingredient by the weight listed in Table I.

TABLE I EXAMPLE CLEANING FORMULATION Cleaned Retrofitting of? E of? E 1 26.4 G / GAL ZELAN * 338 2.51 6.91 28.4 G / GAL DÜPONOL * WAQE 11.8 G / GAL MERPOL® SH 7.1 G / GAL ZONYL * 7950 2 84.1 G / GAL ZELAN * 338 0.67 16.8 42.0 G / GAL DUPONOL WAQE 63.1 G / GAL MERPOL® SH 21.0 G / GAL ZOMYL® 7950 TABLE I CONTINUED EXAMPLE CLEANING FORMULATION CLEANED REENUITING OF? E? 3 28.4 G / GAL ZELAN * 338 3.01 4.92 28.4 G / GAL DUPONOL WAQE 11. 8 G / GAL MERPOL® SH 7.1 G / GAL ZONYL 7950 108.8 C / G? L ZONYL * 5180 4 25.2 G / GAL ZELAN * 338 3.11 9.98 12.6 G / GAL DUPONOL WAQE 31.5 G / GAL MERPOL15 SH 6.3 G / GAL ZONYL® 7950 109.3 G / GAL ZONYL® 5180 All the tests of the cleaning formulations were satisfactory. By re-fouling, the lowest E, is the best. Formulation No. 3 had the best performance of all, based on cleanliness and resistance to re-fouling. Examples 3 and 4 ® demonstrate the effect of ZONYL 5180 which appears to improve both cleaning efficiencies and resistance to re-fouling.

Example 5 This Example demonstrates under the conditions of the actual field the ability of the cleaning formulations of the present invention to clean the carpet and prevent re-fouling.

The equipment used is a cleaner with a standard cap with polyester pads. The cleaning formulations were tested by spraying on the carpet using a hand sprayer and ten (10) grams of the solution is applied to each foot of the carpet square. To determine the commercially best carpet cleaning formulation, seven commercial products were evaluated by cleaning a sample of the dirty carpet with each product and measuring the? E after allowing the carpet to dry. It was determined to be the first the highest E the best cleaning product. This will be designated from now on as "BC" (ie, "commercially best") formulation. The carpet used was measured at 1/10, 822.15 grams (29 ounces) of carpet from the back heap that was made using a front nylon fiber 6.6 beige smoked Lumena. The standard used to calculate the? E in the Color purity or intensity meter was new carpet, not used. The carpet stayed in a high traffic corridor for 28 days, and exposed to approximately 4000 traffics / day. Each traffic represents a person who walks on the carpet. The carpet was divided into three sections which experienced traffic equivalently. All three sections are well aspirated every night. The "CONTROL" section was never cleaned. The "COMPARISON" section was cleaned as required with the BC cleaning formulation, determined as described above, with the cleanest provisional carpet being the best commercially available. The "EXAMPLE" section was cleaned as required with the cleaning formulation according to the present invention. The carpet of the COMPARISON section and the EXAMPLE section will be first cleaned when the? E exceeded 1.5 units, based on the clean carpet as the standard. In re-fouling, if the change in? E exceeded approximately 1 to 1.5 units over the value of? E previously cleaned, it was thought that such cleaning would be needed and the carpet was cleaned again. The formulation that was used according to the invention was expressed in grams of active ingredient per gallon of cleaning solution, comprising: (a) 11 grams of ZELAN 338 (available from DuPont); (b) 14 grams DUPONOL WAQE (available from Witco Chemical Co.); (c) 12 grams ® MERPOL SH (available from DuPont); (d) 3 grams of fluorosurfactant; and (e) 42 grams of agent resists ® ZONYL 5180 dirt (available from DuPont). : THE II DAY CONTROL EXAMPLE COMPARISON 0. 3 0.56 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.1 2.0 1.5 2.5 1.1 3.0 1.4 3.2 0.5 0.8 3.5 1.4 0.3 2.0 4.0 1.6 0.3 4.4 1.65 0.4 1.7 . 0 1.7 0.4 1.9 . 2 0.4 1.06 . 6 1.7 0.6 2.6 6. 4 1.4 0.5 3.5 8. 5 1.8 0.75 2.6 9. 0 1.6 9. 4 2.0 0.6 2.5 9. 6 2.0 0.55 2.26 0.0 2.25 0.7 2.8 1.0 2.44 0.7 2.9 14 2.5 0.7 3.6 14 2.7 2.6 0.8 3.8 1.1 3.0 1.1 3.5 The results of this test field are listed in Table II above and are represented graphically in Figure 1. Figure 1 represents the results of the test field. The diamond symbols in the Figure represent the measures of? E for the "CONTROL" section, the square symbols represent the "COMPARATION" section (cleaned as needed with the BC cleaning formulation), while the diamond symbols represent the section " EXAMPLE "cleaned with the cleaning formulation according to the invention. Incredibly, the carpet sample of the EXAMPLE section did not require cleaning for twenty one consecutive days of the "First Cleaning" date with the formulation of the invention. The COMPARATION section was cleaned three times in this interval. The re-denuded sections of the carpet were also hit remarkably. The next cleaning with Formulation BC of the COMPARING section of the carpet seemed to foul more quickly than the CONTROL carpet section (which was not cleaned but only routinely vacuumed). The re-skimming speed is proportional to the slope of the curves in Figure 1. The CONRTOL and 2S sections COMPARISON were dirty or re-fouled, respectively, rapidly (as indicated by the relative slopes of the slopes of the curves in the "A" and "B" regions of Figure 1) as compared to the re-suspension velocity of the section of the EXAMPLE with respect to the slope of the curve (marked by the character of the reference "C" in Figure 1). On the other hand, the following cleaning with the formulation of the invention of the carpet section EXAMPLE did not appear for re-fouling at all, as was evidenced relatively by the prostrate slope of the curve over the total duration of the test periods, as indicated by the character "C" in Figure 1. Further, as indicated by the character "C" in Figure 1, initially the EXAMPLE section looks the same to be cleaner after subsequent aspiration. In a specific example, after a water spill, it was observed to develop a dirty spot in the EXAMPLE section after having been cleaned with the formulation of the invention. After about a day, when the carpet had dried, the stain disappeared with routine vacuuming without any additional cleaning. It is thought that the formulation of the invention that remained on the carpet after dry cleaning and encapsulated the dirt that was then removed more easily by vacuuming. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects or products to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (15)

1. An aqueous cleansing formulation characterized in that it comprises: a) about three (3) to about seventy (70) grams of an agent resistant to maleic styrene-anhydride polymer stains, per gallon of cleansing formulation; b) about three (3) to about fifty (50) grams, of an ammonium surfactant, per gallon of cleaning formulation. c) about three (3) to about fifty (50) grams, a nonionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms) having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance in the range of about 10.5 to about fifteen (15), per gallon of the cleaning formulation; and d) about one half (0.5) to about fifty (50) grams of fluorosurfactant per gallon of cleaning formulation.

2. The aqueous cleaning formulation according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises about one (1) to about two hundred (200) grams of a society resistant agent per gallon of cleaning formulation.

3. The aqueous cleaning formulation according to claim 2, characterized in that the soil-resistant agent is a fluorochemical.

4. The aqueous cleaning formulation according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluorochemical is a compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of formula I, compounds of formula II or mixtures thereof, wherein formula I and formula II are: F (CF :) n-CH2CH2-S-CH: CH2-COOLÍ CF3CF2 (CF2CF2) where n is an integer that has a value of 6 to 12, and m is an integer that has a value of 2 to 5.

5. The aqueous cleaning formulation according to claim 1, characterized in that the concentration of the styrene-resistant maleic anhydride polymer is about ten (10) to about sixty (60) grams per gallon of cleaning formulation; the concentration of anionic surfactant is about five (5) to about th (30) grams per gallon of cleaning formulation; the concentration of ethoxylated mixed alkyl nonionic surfactant is about five (5) to about twenty-five (25) grams per gallon of cleaning formulation; and the concentration of fluorosurfactant is about one (1) to about five (5) grams per gallon of cleaning formulation.

6. The aqueous cleaning formulation according to claim 2, characterized in that the concentration of the soil-resistant agent is from about five (5) to about (70) grams per gallon of cleaning formulation.

7. The aqueous cleaning formulation according to claim 1, characterized in that the anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate. 3.

8. A cleaning concentrate for manufacturing an aqueous cleaning formulation, characterized in that it comprises: a) an agent resists styrene-maleic anhydride polymer stains; b) an aqueous solution of an anionic surfactant; c) a nonionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms) having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance in the range of about 10.5 to about fifteen (15), and d) a fluorosurfactant, whereby the concentrate is capable of be diluted with an appropriate amount of water to produce an aqueous cleansing formulation having a concentration of about three (3) to about seventy (70) grams of an agent resists styrene-maleic anhydride polymer stains per gallon of cleansing formulation, about three (3) to about fifty (50) grams aqueous solution of an anionic surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate per gallon of cleaning formulation, approximately three (3) to about fifty (50) grams of a nonionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms) having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance in the range of about 10.5 to about fifteen (15) per gallon of cleaning formulation, and about one half ( 0.5) to approximately fifty (50) grams of fluorosurfactant per gallon of cleaning formulation.

9. The cleaning concentrate according to claim 8, characterized in that the concentrate is capable of being diluted with an appropriate amount of water to produce an aqueous cleaning formulation having a concentration of about ten (10"to sixty (60) grams of one agent resists styrene-maleic anhydride polymer stains per gallon of cleansing formulation, approximately five (5) to about thirty (30) grams of anionic surfactant per gallon of cleansing formulation, five (5) to twenty-five (25) grams of a non-ionic surfactant mixed with ethoxylated alkyl (10 to 16 carbon atoms) per gallon of cleaning formulation, about five (5) to about seventy (70) grams of fluorosurfactant per gallon of cleaning formulation.

10. The cleaning concentrate of claim 9, characterized in that the concentrate further comprises a stain resistant agent, whereby the concentrate is capable of being diluted with an appropriate amount of water to produce an aqueous cleansing formulation having a concentration of about five (5) to about seventy (70) grams of the stain resistant agent per gallon of cleaning formulation.

11. The cleaning concentrate of claim 10, characterized in that the concentrate further comprises a stain resistant agent, whereby the concentrate is capable of being diluted with an appropriate amount of water to produce an aqueous cleansing formulation having a concentration of about one (1) to about two hundred (200) grams of the stain resistant agent per gallon of cleaning formulation.

12. The cleaning concentrate of claim 9, characterized in that the anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate.

13. The cleaning concentrate of claim 8, characterized in that the anionic surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate.

14. A method of using the aqueous cleaning formulation according to claim 1 for cleaning a product made of yarn characterized in that it comprises the steps of: applying the cleaning formulation of claim 1 to the surface of the product made of yarn; and stirring the cleaning formulation in the product made of yarn.

15. A method of using the aqueous cleaning formulation according to claim 2 for cleaning a product made of yarn characterized in that it comprises the steps of: applying the cleaning formulation of claim 1 to the surface of the product made of yarn; and stirring the cleaning formulation in the product made of yarn.