Colormetric cleaner for hummingbird feeders

Abstract

A colorimetric birdfeeder cleaner may comprise a cleansing/disinfecting agent, a pH buffering agent, and a colorant. A hummingbird feeder may be immersed in a colorimetric cleaning solution produced with the colorimetric birdfeeder cleaner, and a change in color of the colorimetric cleaning solution indicates a cleaning process is complete.

Claims

1. A method to clean hummingbird feeders, comprising the steps of: mixing a concentrated colorimetric cleaning powder composition with water in order to produce a colorimetric cleaning solution, the concentrated colorimetric cleaning powder composition comprising: a cleansing/disinfecting agent comprising sodium percarbonate; a pH balancing agent comprising sodium bicarbonate; and an edible colorant gel formation; cleaning the hummingbird feeder by immersing at least a portion of the hummingbird feeder in the colorimetric cleaning solution; detecting completion of said cleaning by monitoring a change in color of the colorimetric cleaning solution; and removing the at least a portion of the hummingbird feeder from the colorimetric cleaning solution.

2. The method to clean hummingbird feeders of claim 1, wherein the concentrated colorimetric cleaning powder composition is from 65.87% to 98.24% by weight of the sodium percarbonate, from 1.6% to 33.3% by weight of the sodium bicarbonate, and from 0.16% to 0.83% by weight of the colorant gel formulation.

3. The method to clean hummingbird feeders of claim 1, further comprising disassembling the hummingbird feeder prior to immersing the at least a portion of the hummingbird feeder.

4. The method to clean hummingbird feeders of claim 1, wherein mixing the concentrated colorimetric cleaning powder composition with water comprises mixing about 15 grams of the concentrated colorimetric cleaning powder composition per 7.5 liters of water.

5. The method to clean hummingbird feeders of claim 1, wherein the water temperature is over 37 degrees Celsius.

6. The method to clean hummingbird feeders of claim 1, wherein mixing the concentrated colorimetric cleaning powder composition with water comprises mixing the colorimetric cleaning powder composition until the powder is dissolved.

7. The method to clean hummingbird feeders of claim 1, further comprising rinsing the at least a portion of the hummingbird feeder with water.

8. The method to clean hummingbird feeders of claim 3, further comprising reassembling the hummingbird feeder after monitoring for the change in color of the colorimetric cleaning solution.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various features and attendant advantages of the disclosed technologies will become fully appreciated when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an example concentrated colorimetric birdfeeder cleaner composition.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an example molecular structure for sodium percarbonate, such as may be included in colorimetric birdfeeder cleaner compositions described herein.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates an example molecular structure for sodium bicarbonate, such as may be included in colorimetric birdfeeder cleaner compositions described herein.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates an example method to clean hummingbird feeders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Prior to explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the details of construction or arrangements of the components and method steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Embodiments of this disclosure are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

(7) This disclosure generally provides colorimetric birdfeeder cleaners, such as may be used to clean hummingbird feeders in particular, and corresponding methods of use. The term colorimetric as used herein refers to changing color, which may be used to indicate a length of time, a cleaning state, or both. Colorimetric birdfeeder cleaners may generally comprise a cleansing/disinfecting agent, a pH buffering agent, and a colorant, as described in further detail below.

(8) FIG. 1 illustrates a concentrated colorimetric cleaning powder composition, which may provide a colorimetric birdfeeder cleaner in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The concentrated colorimetric cleaning powder composition (also referred to herein as the concentrated composition) comprises a cleansing/disinfecting agent 111, a pH buffering agent 112, and a colorant 113. The concentrated composition is illustrated inside a container 101 along with a scoop 102, which may be used to measure an amount of the concentrated composition for use thereof. The concentrated composition may be mixed with liquid, such as water, in order to produce a colorimetric cleaning solution, as described herein.

(9) In some embodiments, the cleansing/disinfecting agent 111 may comprise sodium percarbonate powder. The pH buffering agent 112 may comprise sodium bicarbonate powder. And the colorant 113 may comprise an edible colorant gel formulation. Other cleansing/disinfecting agents, pH buffering agents, and/or colorants may be used in some embodiments, and embodiments of this disclosure need not necessarily be limited to sodium percarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or edible colorant gel formulations. For example, in some embodiments, the cleansing/disinfecting agent 111 and/or pH buffering agent 112 may comprise chemicals/substances from the peroxides, chlorates, and perchlorates family of chemicals. The colorant 113 may comprise any food coloring agent and/or a natural source of colorant such as, for example, cinnamon, which would add a brownish, burnt-orange red color.

(10) The concentrated composition illustrated in FIG. 1 is generally in powder form, however, the size of the powder particles may vary from fine/small to coarse/large, depending on the desired properties of the composition. Also, when colorant 113 is an edible colorant gel formulation, gel particles of any desired sizes may be mixed with powder cleansing/disinfecting agent 111 and powder pH buffering agent 112. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the concentrated composition may take other forms, e.g., the cleansing/disinfecting agent 111, pH buffering agents 112, and colorant 113 may be mixed in a concentrated liquid solution. At the time of use, the concentrated liquid solution may be further mixed with liquid, such as water, in order to produce the colorimetric cleaning solution described herein.

(11) The term concentrated as used herein refers to compositions or solutions having higher strength than necessary for birdfeeder cleaning applications, and which therefore are preferably diluted with water or other diluting agents prior to use. While the concentrated composition illustrated in FIG. 1 is referred to as concentrated, this disclosure is not limited to concentrated compositions. Furthermore, concentrated compositions according to this disclosure may have a variety of different concentration levels, as will be appreciated.

(12) An example sodium percarbonate cleansing/disinfecting agent 111 may comprise C2H6Na4O12, e.g., in a form such as illustrated in FIG. 2, or its chemical equivalents. Sodium percarbonate oxidizes, cleans, and disinfects. Sodium percarbonate also quickly dissolves in water and separates into sodium carbonate (soda ash) and hydrogen peroxide. Neither hydrogen peroxide nor sodium carbonate will find its way to aquatic ecosystems, as waste water treatment plants will degrade the first and neutralize the second into non-toxic bicarbonate. Sodium has low toxicity, and the breakdown of sodium percarbonate to sodium is too low to negatively affect aquatic life. Based on available research data, the use of sodium percarbonate in household cleaning products has no adverse effect on the aquatic organisms of the receiving water. Regarding the effect of sodium percarbonate on human health, while local skin and eye irritation on contact is possible, sodium percarbonate in solutions such as described herein are generally too low to cause skin irritation.

(13) An example sodium bicarbonate pH buffering agent 112 may comprise CHNaO3, e.g., in a form such as illustrated in FIG. 3, or its chemical equivalents. The inclusion of a pH buffering agent 112 such as sodium bicarbonate reduces the acidity of the sodium percarbonate cleansing/disinfecting agent 111. Furthermore, a sodium bicarbonate pH buffering agent 112 may create an alkalizing effect for colorimetric cleaning solutions produced with the concentrated composition, thereby yielding colorimetric cleaning solutions that are gentler for the plastic and metallic components of the typical hummingbird feeders. Sodium bicarbonate also has fungicidal properties that are effective in eliminating the mold that can grow so quickly and prolifically on the hummingbird feeders as a result of the sugar-solution used for hummingbirds.

(14) Example edible colorant gel formulation colorants 113 may activate colorimetric components of colorimetric cleaning solutions made with concentrated compositions such as illustrated in FIG. 1, in order to indicate completion of cleaning processes. As a gel-based product, the edible colorant gel formulation colorant 113 remains stable and does not activate the transition of sodium percarbonate into hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate, as a liquid-based colorant might. Further, the gel colorant is food-grade, edible, and non-toxic. Its components may include a colorant such as erythrosine (E127), cochineal or carminic acid (E120), indigo carmine (E132), brilliant blue FCF (E133), copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins (E141), annatto, bixin, or norbixin (E160b), paprika oleoresin, capsanthin, or capsorubin (E160c), lycopene (E160d), canthaxanthin (E161g), beetroot red or betanin (E162), curcumin (E100), riboflavin (E101), or tartrazine (E102). Additional components of edible colorant gel formulation colorant 113 include, but are not limited to: water; high fructose corn syrup; glycerin; sugar; modified food starch; carrageenan gum; sodium benzoate; potassium sorbate; xanthan gum; or citric acid.

(15) The inclusion of colorant 113 in the concentrated composition illustrated in FIG. 1 yields a concentrated composition which, when mixed with water, will gradually alter the shade of the resulting colorimetric cleaning solution from colored, when a cleaning process is initiated, to substantially clear or lightly colored, after the cleaning process is complete. This color change provides a simple, effective, and time-saving method for cleaning hummingbird feeders. It is simple in that the consumer need not time the cleaning process, nor actively participate in it. The consumer need not mix ingredients or weigh and measure processes other than mixing one or more scoops of the composition into a volume of water.

(16) The concentrated composition illustrated in FIG. 1 may be mixed according to a variety of different ratios. In some embodiments, the concentrated composition may comprise a ratio of about 60 grams (g) sodium percarbonate, to about 1 g sodium bicarbonate, to about 0.1 milliliter (mL) colorant. In some embodiments, the concentrated composition may comprise a ratio of about 60 g sodium percarbonate, to about 1 g-25 g sodium bicarbonate, to about 0.1 mL-0.5 mL colorant.

(17) In some embodiments, the concentrated composition may comprise from 65.87% to 98.24% by weight of the sodium percarbonate, from 1.6% to 33.3% by weight of the sodium bicarbonate, and from 0.16% to 0.83% by weight of the colorant gel formulation. For example, one optional ratio may include 98.24% sodium percarbonate, 1.6% sodium bicarbonate, and 0.16% colorant gel formulation. Further optional ratios may include, e.g., from 66.54% to 98.23% by weight of the sodium percarbonate, or from 65.87% to 66.53% by weight of the sodium percarbonate. Further optional ratios may include, e.g., 1.7% to 33.3% by weight of the sodium bicarbonate. Further optional ratios may include, e.g., from 0.17% and 0.33% by weight of the colorant gel formulation, or from 0.34% to 0.83% by weight of the colorant gel formulation.

(18) The concentrated composition illustrated in FIG. 1 may be mixed in water, according to a variety of different ratios, to produce a colorimetric cleaning solution. For example, in some embodiments, about 1 tablespoon of the concentrated composition may be mixed per 2 gallons of water. Alternatively, in metric terms, about 15 g of the concentrated composition may be mixed per 7.5 liters of water. A hummingbird feeder or other object to be cleaned may be immersed in the resulting colorimetric cleaning solution, and may remain immersed until a color of the colorimetric cleaning solution has changed, e.g., about 30 minutes.

(19) FIG. 4 illustrates an example method to clean hummingbird feeders, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 includes the example operations of disassemble feeder 401, mix colorimetric cleaning solution 402, immerse feeder in colorimetric cleaning solution 403, wait for colorimetric cleaning solution to change color 404, remove feeder from colorimetric cleaning solution 405, rinse feeder 406, and reassemble feeder 407. It will be appreciated that various of the illustrated operations may be omitted, modified, or re-ordered in some embodiments.

(20) At the disassemble feeder operation 401, a hummingbird feeder may be disassembled into one or more parts. At the mix colorimetric cleaning solution operation 402, in some embodiments, a concentrated composition such as described in connection with FIG. 1 may be mixed with water in order to produce a colorimetric cleaning solution. The ratios described herein may be observed, e.g., about 15 g of concentrated colorimetric cleaning powder composition per 7.5 liters of water. In order to properly dissolve the concentrated composition, warm or hot water may be used, e.g., water having temperature over about 37 degrees Celsius. Mixing may be continued until the powder is substantially dissolved.

(21) At the immerse feeder in colorimetric cleaning solution operation 403, at least a portion of the hummingbird feeder to be cleaned may be carefully and completely immersed in the colorimetric cleaning solution produced at operation 402. At the wait for colorimetric cleaning solution to change color operation 404, the humming bird feeder or portion thereof may remain immersed while the user waits for an observable change in color of the colorimetric cleaning solution, e.g., about 20-40 minutes. The color change may be, e.g., a change from colored to clear, or a change from relatively dark colored to relatively light colored.

(22) At the remove feeder from colorimetric cleaning solution operation 405, after the color change observed at operation 404, the at least a portion of the hummingbird feeder may be removed from the colorimetric cleaning solution. At the rinse feeder operation 406, the at least a portion of the hummingbird feeder may be rinsed with water in order to rinse colorimetric cleaning solution off of the feeder. At the reassemble feeder operation 407, the at least a portion of the hummingbird feeder may be reassembled with any other portions of the feeder. The feeder is then clean and ready for re-use.

(23) Using colorimetric cleaning solutions described herein, there is no harm to the feeder if they are left suspended in the solution for longer than the time it takes for the colorimetric cleaning solution to change color. There is also no need for brushing or scrubbing. Once the colorimetric cleaning solution color has changed, the feeder may simply be rinsed and reassembled, and it is ready for use again.

(24) Furthermore, the colorimetric cleaning solutions described herein are environmentally responsible, as they need not include harsh chemicals such as bleach to remove the mold that is potentially so dangerous to hummingbirds. There is minimal resulting risk to humans, birds, or other wildlife.

(25) While various embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in art. Therefore, it is intended that claimed subject matter not be limited to the particular examples disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter also may include all implementations falling within the scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.