METHOD OF WASHING TEXTILE ARTICLES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of washing textile articles that can be carried out, for example, in a continuous batch tunnel washer. Embodiments of the present method can include treating the textile with an aqueous composition including cleaning agent and halogen-containing bleaching agent for a time sufficient to remove soil from the textile and contacting the halogen-treated textile with an aqueous composition including a peroxycarboxylic acid. The concentration of halogen after the sufficient time can be at a level that does not result in adverse interaction between the halogen-containing bleaching agent and the peroxycarboxylic acid.

Embodiments of the present method can clean textiles with the results of more effective stain removal and less waste through destruction of the textile article. Further, the present invention can clean a textile contacted soiled by a composition including chlorhexidine gluconate without resulting staining of the textile, which staining could have been permanent.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning textile articles, comprising: placing a plurality of textile articles into a washer having a plurality of sectors including at least a first sector and a second sector; treating the plurality of textile articles in the first sector with an aqueous composition comprising a bleaching agent and free from peroxycarboxylic acids; and treating the plurality of textile articles in the second sector with an aqueous composition comprising a peroxycarboxylic acid agent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bleaching agent is a halogen-containing bleaching agent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bleaching agent is hydrogen peroxide.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method removes chlorhexidine gluconate without leaving a permanent stain in at least selected textiles where chlorhexidine gluconate is present.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of textiles are treated in the first sector with a cleaning agent for a treatment time sufficient to remove soil from the textile.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the bleaching agent is present in the first sector at an initial concentration from about 50 ppm to about 100 ppm.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of textiles are treated in the first sector for a treatment time sufficient to reduce the concentration of bleaching agent to less than 50 ppm.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of textile articles are transferred from the first sector to the second sector without rinsing the bleaching agent from the plurality of textile articles.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is conducted at a temperature of about 130 to about 160 F.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the bleaching agent has a first concentration and a second concentration such that the first concentration is greater than the second concentration.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first concentration is from about 50 ppm to about 100 ppm and the second concentration is from about 50 ppm to about 10 ppm.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second concentration is less than 30 ppm.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the peroxycarboxylic acid agent is present in a concentration from about 60 ppm to about 100 ppm.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the washing method is carried out in a tunnel washer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the washing method is carried out without counterflow.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is carried out in a conventional washer/exactor machine.

17. A method of cleaning textile articles, comprising: placing a plurality of textile articles into a washer; treating the plurality of textile articles with a first composition comprising a bleaching agent that is free from peroxycarboxylic acids; and treating the plurality of textile articles with a second composition comprising a peroxycarboxylic acid agent.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the bleaching agent is a halogen-containing bleaching agent.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the bleaching agent is hydrogen peroxide.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the method removes chlorhexidine gluconate without leaving a permanent stain in at least selected textiles where chlorhexidine gluconate is present.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the bleaching agent is present at an initial concentration from about 50 ppm to about 100 ppm.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of textiles are treated for a treatment time sufficient to reduce the concentration of bleaching agent to less than 50 ppm.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of textile articles are not rinsed in between treating with the first composition and treating with the second composition.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the method is conducted at a temperature of about 130 to about 160 F.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the bleaching agent has a first concentration and a second concentration such that the first concentration is greater than the second concentration.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first concentration is from about 50 ppm to about 100 ppm and the second concentration is from about 50 ppm to about 10 ppm.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second concentration is less than 30 ppm.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the peroxycarboxylic acid agent is present in a concentration from about 60 ppm to about 100 ppm.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the washing method is carried out in a tunnel washer.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the washing method is carried out without counterflow.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the method is carried out in a conventional washer/exactor machine.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0045] Embodiments of the present method were subjected to extensive testing16 weeks in four commercial tunnel washers. Textiles were washed in a wash liquor including 50 to 100 ppm chlorine followed by sanitizing with a composition including 70 to 90 ppm peroxyacetic acid in water. In certain tests, up to 120 ppm chlorine was used on articles with certain stains or soil exposure. The following results were obtained:

TABLE-US-00001 Textile Disposed of as Rag CBW Wash Process With Method of the Present Conventional Chemistry Invention Site (16 week rolling average) (Range) 1 0.010 0.004 to 0.010 2 0.014 0.005 to 0.016 3 0.015 0.005 to 0.035 4 0.07 0.07 to 0.14

TABLE-US-00002 Percentage of Items that Required Rewashing CBW Wash Process With Method of the Present Conventional Chemistry Invention Site (16 week rolling average) (Range) 1 2.8 0.7 to 1.5 2 2.4 1.0 to 2.3 3 2.4 0.9 to 2.0 4 8.1 3.0 to 7.0

[0046] The conventional chemistry employed in the CBW wash process was used conventional bleaching and washing chemistries, not the inventive halogen followed by peroxycarboxylic acid.

[0047] The standard for determining whether a textile should be disposed of as rag was a presence of a visual discoloration on the textile article that is from a source other than manufacturing.

[0048] The standard for determining whether a textile should be rewashed was whether the stain could be removed by treating with more concentrated chemistry.

[0049] It should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a composition containing a compound includes a mixture of two or more compounds. It should also be noted that the term or is generally employed in its sense including and/or unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0050] It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the term configured describes a system, apparatus, or other structure that is constructed or configured to perform a particular task or adopt a particular configuration. The term configured can be used interchangeably with other similar phrases such as arranged and configured, constructed and arranged, adapted and configured, adapted, constructed, manufactured and arranged, and the like.

[0051] All publications and patent applications in this specification are indicative of the level of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains.

[0052] The invention has been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.