Cleaning fluid for electrical personal care apparatus

Abstract

A fluid aqueous composition for cleaning an electric personal care apparatus including at least one alkyl benzene sulfonate and at least two non-ionic surfactants. The alkyl benzene sulfonate may be sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate. The non-ionic surfactants may be a fatty alcohol polyalkylene glycol ether and a fatty alcohol polyglycol ether.

Claims

1. A system for cleaning debris from a portion of an electric personal care apparatus, the system comprising: a container for submerging the portion of the electric personal care apparatus; and a fluid aqueous composition provided in the container for providing sedimentation of the debris from the submerged portion to the bottom of the container, the fluid aqueous composition comprising: from at least 0.08 wt. % up to 3 wt. % of at least one alkyl benzene sulfonate for enabling sinking of the debris and comprising sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate; from at least 0.002 wt. % up to 3 wt. % of non-ionic surfactants including at least two non-ionic surfactants including at an alkylpyrrolidone and an alcohol-N-polyglycol ether, wherein N represents a number of glycol ether moieties and the alcohol is a monohydric alcohol; and polyethyleneglycol.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid aqueous composition further comprises organic solvents selected from ethanol and C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alcohols.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the alkyl benzene sulfonate contains 10 to 14 carbon atoms.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the number of glycol ether moieties N is from 3-10 and alkylpyrrolidone is 1-(C.sub.6-C.sub.18)-2-pyrrolidone.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the alcohol moiety of the polyglycol ether is an (iso)decanol moiety.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein one of the non-ionic surfactants is 1-(C.sub.6-C.sub.18)-2-pyrrolidone and another one of the non-ionic surfactants is isoalcohol-N-polyglycol ether where N is 5.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a concentration of alkyl benzene sulfonate(s) is at least 0.75 wt. %.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein a concentration of the non-ionic surfactant(s) is in the range of 0.01 wt. % to 0.2 wt. %.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises demineralized water, and the water content of the fluid composition is in the range of 90-99 wt. %.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein a total concentration of the non-ionic surfactants is in a range of 0.01 wt. % and 1 wt. %.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid composition is a ready to use composition and a total concentration of the non-ionic surfactants is in the range of 0.01 to 0.15 wt. %.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein one of the non-ionic surfactants comprises 1-octyl-2-pyrrolidone.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the alkyl benzene sulfonate is in the range of 0.4 to 1.0 wt. %, the 1-octyl-2-pyrrolidone is in the range of 0.01 to 0.09 wt. %, and wherein one of the non-ionic surfactants comprises fatty alcohol polyalkylene glycol ether in the range of 0.000085 to 0.05 wt. %.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein one of the non-ionic surfactants is selected from 1-octyl-2-pyrrolidone, glycerol and citron.

15. A method for cleaning an electric apparatus for removing hair debris, the method comprising acts of: providing a container for submerging a hair removing part of the electric personal care apparatus; providing a fluid composition in the container for providing sedimentation of the debris from the submerged portion to the bottom of the container, the fluid composition comprising: up to 98 wt. % of water, from at least 0.08 wt. % up to 3 wt. % of at least one alkyl benzene sulfonate for enabling sinking of the hair debris, from at least 0.002 wt. % up to 3 wt. % of non-ionic surfactants including at least two non-ionic surfactants including at least an alkylpyrrolidone and an alcohol-N-polyglycol ether, wherein N represents a number of glycol ether moieties and the alcohol is a monohydric alcohol, and polyethyleneglycol; allowing hair debris from the hair removing part of the apparatus to release from the removing part; and contacting the hair removing part of the electric apparatus in the container having the fluid composition.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the contacting involves immersing the hair removing part in the fluid composition.

17. A method for cleaning an electric personal care apparatus for removing hair debris, the method comprising acts of: providing a container for submerging a hair removing part of the electric personal care apparatus; adding a fluid composition in the container for providing sedimentation of the debris from the submerged portion to the bottom of the container, the fluid composition comprising: up to 98 wt. % of demineralized water, from at least 0.08 wt. % up to 3 wt. % of at least one alkyl benzene sulfonate for enabling sinking of debris and comprising sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate, from at least 0.002 wt. % up to 3 wt. % of non-ionic surfactants including at least two non-ionic surfactant(s) including at least an alkylpyrrolidone and an alcohol-N-polyglycol ether, wherein N represents a number of glycol ether moieties and the alcohol is a monohydric alcohol, and polyethyleneglycol; allowing hair debris from the hair removing part of the apparatus to release from the removing part; and contacting the hair removing part of the electric apparatus in the container having the fluid composition.

18. A system for cleaning debris from a portion of an electric personal care apparatus, the system comprising: a container for submerging the portion of the electric personal care apparatus; and a fluid aqueous composition provided in the container for providing sedimentation of the debris from the submerged portion to the bottom of the container, the composition is essentially free of organic solvents flammable at about 20 C. and comprising: up to 98 wt. % of water; from at least 0.08 wt. % up to 3 wt. % of at least one alkyl benzene sulfonate for enabling sinking of the debris and comprising sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate; from at least 0.002 wt. % up to 3 wt. % of non-ionic surfactants including an alkylpyrrolidone and a monohydric alcohol ether and 1-(octyl)-2 pyrrolidone; and polyethyleneglycol.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

(1) Several compositions where made, comprising one or more of the following ingredients:

(2) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 concentration of the active Component # name ingredient (wt. %) D Dowanol DPM 0.25 (fat removing agent) H Heloxyl AL80 0.4 80 wt. % active ingredient: sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate) P Propetal 99 0.5 fatty alcohol polyalkylene glycol ether (non-ionic surfactant) Z Zusolat 1005/85 0.02 85 wt. % active ingredient fatty alcohol polyglycol ether (non-ionic surfactant) S Surfadone LP100 0.05 (1-octyl-2-pyrrolidone) (non-ionic surfactant) G glycerol 5 (lubricant) C citron 0.1 (fragrance) Kathon CG 0.07 (preservative) Brilliant blue (colorant) <0.01 water (demineralised) balance
The following tests were performed:

(3) 1) The fluids were visually evaluated for clarity (transparency) A + means that the fluid is transparent to the naked eye (after adding hairs).

(4) 2) To 100 ml of the fluid 0.1 g of hairs were added. The fluids were visually tested for hair sink (debris sedimentation) performance for at least 6 min. A + indicates that the hair sink properties are good.

(5) 3) After completing the hair sink test, the beaker was gently shaken and the (eventual) deposition of hairs on the walls was scored. A + indicates that essentially no hair is deposited on the walls.

(6) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 components present hairs sink wall deposition clarity DHPZS GC + + + DHPZS + + + DHPZ GC + + + DHPZ + + + HPZS GC + + HPZS + + HPS GC + + HPS + + HZS GC + + + HZS + + + HS GC + + + HS + + + DPZS GC DPZS + DPS GC DPS

(7) From the above results it was concluded that the alkyl benzene sulfonate (H) is in particular of importance for obtaining favorable hairs sink.

(8) Of the non-ionic surfactants fatty alcohol polyglycol ether (Z) and the alkyl pyrolidone (S) are considered particularly advantageous.

EXAMPLE 2

(9) Fluid compositions where made, comprising the linear alkyl benzene (H), and two non-ionic surfactants (Z and S) in varying concentrations as indicated below.

(10) The fluids were tested as follows:

(11) 1) Visual (V): it was checked whether the fluid is turbid (+) or clear () before (V1) and after (V2) adding 0.5 g hairs to 100 ml of fluid in a beaker. Note that the 0.5 g of hairs corresponds to about a monthly load of the fluid with hairs, in case an electric razor is cleaned with the fluid

(12) 2) Hairs sink (B): for all fluids it was checked whether any hairs were present () or not (+) on the surface of the fluid, about 2 hours after adding the hairs.

(13) 3) Deposit on walls of beaker (W): the beakers from point 1 were gently shaken and the eventual deposition of hairs on the walls was scored. Here + means that essentially no hairs were deposited on the walls, whereas indicated that many hairs were left on the walls of the beaker.

(14) In all tests nd is used to indicate that it was not readily determinable whether the result of the test should be marked + or .

(15) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 H Z S V1 (wt. %) (wt. %) (wt. %) (wt. %) V2 B W 0.008 0.0425 0.1 + + + nd 0.08 0.0085 0.002 + nd + 0.08 0.0085 0.002 + + 0.08 0.0425 0.1 nd + nd 0.4 0.00085 0.01 + nd + 0.4 0.0425 0.1 + + + 0.4 0.0085 0.002 + nd + 0.4 0.0085 0.01 + nd + 0.4 0.0085 0.1 + + + 0.8 0.0085 0.002 + + + 0.8 0.0085 0.01 + + + 0.8 0.0085 0.1 + + + 0.8 0.0 0.1 + nd + weight percentages are for the active ingredient, i.e. the surfactants

(16) The above results show that, besides the compositions being effective cleaning compositions, compositions in accordance with the invention show to be favorable in view of at least one of the properties hair sink and deposition to the wall, within a wide range of concentrations.

(17) With respect to the visual appearance, it is observed that the invention allows formulation of transparent compositions, if desired. The composition may turn turbid after adding the hair. The different appearance prior to use and thereafter may be well appreciated by end users.