Cloth diaper laundry method and detergent

Abstract

A washing method and detergent composition for cleaning soiled cloth diaper laundry is disclosed specifically tailored for simple home use without employing known skin irritants and without persistent residue accumulation. The present invention discloses a one- or two-wash-cycle method for cleaning cloth diapering washables as well as a clean-rinsing, highly-effective detergent composition comprising a surface active agent, a water softener, a surface tension reducer, a bleaching agent and a pH balancing agent.

Claims

1. A cloth diaper laundry method comprising: loading a washing machine with cloth diaper washables, programming a main wash cycle on said washing machine, and adding a main wash amount of a cloth diaper laundry detergent composition to said washing machine, wherein said cloth diaper laundry detergent composition comprises: (a) from 5.7% to 6.3% by weight of one or more surface active agents; (b) from 17.1% to 18.9% by weight of a water softener; (c) from 9.5% to 10.5% by weight of a surface tension reducer; (d) from 13.3% to 14.7% by weight of a bleaching agent; and, (e) from 49.4% to 54.6% by weight of a pH balancing agent; wherein the percentage by weight is relative to the total weight of the composition.

2. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein the one or more surface active agents are sulfate-free, the surface tension reducer is phosphate-free, and the bleaching agent is chlorine-free.

3. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein the one or more surface active agents is selected from the group consisting of: alcohols, C12-15, ethoxylated and alcohols, C12-13, ethoxylated.

4. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein the one or more surface active agents is selected from the group consisting of: Tomadol 25-9, Tomadol 25-7 and Tomadol 23-5.

5. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 4, wherein in the aggregate the one or more surface active agents further comprises between 5.7% to 6.3% by weight, wherein the percentage by weight is relative to the total weight of the composition.

6. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein the water softener is sodium sulfate.

7. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 6, wherein the water softener further comprises between 17.1% to 18.9% by weight, wherein the percentage by weight is relative to the total weight of the composition.

8. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein the surface tension reducer is hydrous sodium silicate.

9. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 8, wherein the surface tension reducer further comprises between 9.5% to 10.0% by weight, wherein the percentage by weight is relative to the total weight of the composition.

10. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein the bleaching agent is sodium percarbonate.

11. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 10, wherein the bleaching agent further comprises between 13.3% to 14.7% by weight, wherein the percentage by weight is relative to the total weight of the composition.

12. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein the pH balancing agent is soda ash light.

13. The cloth diaper laundry detergent of claim 12, wherein the pH balancing agent further comprises between 49.4% to 54.6% by weight, wherein the percentage by weight is relative to the total weight of the composition.

14. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein said main wash cycle is set to a hot water wash cycle.

15. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein said main wash cycle is set to a heavy duty wash cycle.

16. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein one or more agitators are loaded into the washing machine.

17. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, wherein a chlorine bleach is added into the washing machine for use in said main wash cycle.

18. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 1, further comprising programming a pre-wash cycle on said washing machine and adding a pre-wash amount of said cloth diaper laundry detergent composition to said washing machine prior to running said main wash.

19. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 18, wherein said pre-wash cycle is set to a warm water wash cycle.

20. The cloth diaper laundry method of claim 18, wherein said pre-wash cycle is set to a quick wash or normal wash cycle.

Description

(1) In one embodiment of the invention, the included builder is a hydrous sodium silicate.

(2) In a further embodiment of the invention, a water softener (or chelating agent) is added to the formula to assist with inactivating mineral hardness. This is especially helpful for users living in areas with hard well water. This water softener further softens the water and helps to increase the efficiency of the surfactants.

(3) In one embodiment of the invention, the water softener (or chelating agent) is a non-phosphate water softener.

(4) In a further embodiment of the invention, the water softener (or chelating agent) is Sodium Sulfate.

(5) In a further embodiment of the invention, one or more ionic and anionic surfactants are included in the formula.

(6) In a further embodiment of the invention, the one or more ionic and anionic surfactants are non-sulfate surfactants.

(7) In one embodiment of the invention, the one or more ionic and anionic surfactants are various ethoxylated alcohols.

(8) In a further embodiment of the invention, the one or more ionic and anionic surfactants are selected from the group consisting of: Alcohols, C12-15, ethoxylated and Alcohols, C12-13, ethoxylated. For example, suitable ethoxylated alcohols could include: Tomadol 25-9, Tomadol 25-7 and Tomadol 23-5.

(9) In a further embodiment of the invention, a bleaching agent (oxidizer) to lighten discolorations on soiled cloth diapers is included in the formula.

(10) In one embodiment of the invention, the bleaching agent (oxidizer) is chlorine-free.

(11) In one embodiment of the invention, the bleaching agent (oxidizer) is sodium percarbonate. For example, one suitable example of a bleaching agent (oxidizer) can be PROVOX C.

(12) In a further embodiment of the invention, a pH balancing agent (alkali) is included in the formula.

(13) In one embodiment of the invention the pH balancing agent (alkali) is soda ash light.

(14) Table 2 shows minimal and preferred ranges of possible ingredients (% by weight) of a complete cloth diaper laundry detergent solution.

(15) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Minimal Range Preferred Range Ingredient (example) [Function] (% by wt) (% by wt) Alcohols, C12-15 & C12-13, 0.5% to 10.0% 5.7% to 6.3% Ethoxylated (e.g. Tomadol 25-9, Tomadol 25-7, Tomadol 23-5) [Surface Active Agent] Alcohols, C12-15, Ethoxylated (e.g. 0.0% to 10.0% 0.95% to 1.05% Tomadol 25-7) [Surface Active Agent] Alcohols, C12-13, Ethoxylated (e.g. 0.0% to 10.0% 3.8% to 4.2% Tomadol 23-5) [Surface Active Agent] Sodium Sulfate [Water Softener] 10.0% to 25.0% 17.1% to 18.9% Hydrous Sodium Silicate 5.0% to 15.0% 9.5% to 10.5% [Surface Tension Reducer] Sodium Percarbonate (e.g. PROVOX 10.0% to 20.0% 13.3% to 14.7% C) [Bleaching Agent] Soda Ash Light [pH Balancing Agent] 40.0% to 60.0% 49.4% to 54.6%