Method for cleaning surfaces

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for cleaning surfaces, such as walls and ceilings, comprising of applying a foaming cleaning agent preferably containing hydrogen peroxide by means of an application instrument, such as a roller, paint brush, cloth, sponge or brush, coming into contact with the surface for cleaning. The invention further relates to a cleaning agent comprising hydrogen peroxide and at least one detergent substance in an acidic watery environment. The detergent substance is anionogenic or non-ionogenic.

Description: The present invention relates to a method for cleaning surfaces, which are walls and ceilings, which are provided to a greater or lesser degree with a relief-like finishing. Walls and ceilings which are provided to a greater or lesser degree with a relief-like finishing layer, such as spray plaster walls and ceilings, rendered work ceilings, ornamental plaster walls, stucco plaster ceilings, decorative plaster walls and mineral fibre ceilings are often difficult to clean in conventional manner. Not only the relief but often also the porosity of the used materials make difficult the cleaning of surfaces fouled for instance by nicotine and smoke. The only possibility for the consumer to remove the fouling is often to whitewash the ceiling or wall. This is no real solution however because the fouling is still present and in particular situations can come through the layer of whitewash. In addition, the relief is often largely lost by whitewashing, particularly in the case of relief ceilings and walls. The result is therefore not really an improvement. Whitewashing of walls and ceilings is moreover tedious and time-consuming work. A second possibility is to have the fouling removed professionally. According to the known cleaning methods used therein use is generally made of a liquid cleaning agent sprayed against the walls and/or ceiling. After the cleaning agent has been applied the surfaces are washed once again. The known products used in this spray method are usually two-component products which consist of an alkaline base to which a determined quantity of hydrogen peroxide must be added, such as for instance described in JP-A-2181000. Most cleaning agents do not adhere to non-horizontal surfaces, such as walls and ceilings, for a sufficient length of time. To increase the adherence of the cleaning agent it is known to use thickened agents such as for instance described in EP-A-265979. In FR-A-1588761 a foaming cleaning agent is described to be used for cleaning surfaces, which agent is made to foam by mixing the the agent with a sufficient amount of air in a foam generating apparatus and then applied to the surfaces to be cleaned. The known methods and products have a number of drawbacks. First of all, the spraying of surfaces requires a great deal of product because large quantities of product are lost through atomizing. In addition, the treated surface becomes very wet. Because the spray mist comes into contact with not only the surface for treating but also the surrounding area, the person applying the product must be well protected to avoid inhalation and contact with the skin and eyes, by means of gloves, overgarments, protective goggles, mouth mask and the like. Very good ventilation is also required. This is of course very laborious and not very suitable for use by the consumer himself. The additional drawback of a two-component system is that the user himself must measure out and mix the already per se aggressive substances. When the components are not mixed in the correct quantities the resulting product can be dangerous or inactive. Such a two-component product is therefore undesirable. The present invention has for its object to provide a method for cleaning surfaces with which the above stated drawbacks can be obviated. This is achieved by the invention with a method for cleaning surfaces, which are walls and ceilings, which are provided to a greater or lesser degree with a relief-like finishing, which method comprises the steps of: a) making the surface to be cleaned dust-free; b) applying by means of a roller, in particular a foam roller, a foaming cleaning agent which agent comprises hydrogen peroxide and at least one anionic or nonionic detergent foaming substance and has a pH between 1 and 5. The concentration of the hydrogen peroxide may be up to 60% by weight, preferably 8-20% by weight. Surprisingly, it has been found that through the use of a foaming cleaning agent much less product has to be used because the agent is applied directly to the surface, whereby no loss occurs through atomizing. The foam is moreover capable of entering the orifices and pores of a porous relief surface. The application instrument is a roller. A so-called lacquer roller, also referred to as foam roller, is however recommended. It has been found that by rolling the roller through the foaming cleaning agent, the foaming cleaning agent will begin to foam quite readily. The formed foam can be applied easily to the surface for treating using the roller. The advantage of a roller is however that no direct contact is necessary between the user and the product. In the method according to the invention it is not necessary to wash the surface again with water or the like. Through the use of foam the surface becomes much less wet, while even poorly accessible locations such as recesses in the surface are still cleaned. In the method according to the invention the surface for treating is first made dust-free typically by means of vacuum cleaning or brushing down. By way of precaution, surfaces which do not require treatment or which are not resistant to the cleaning agent, such as lacquered or fabric surfaces of furniture and the like can be covered in order to prevent possibly leaking cleaning agent making contact with the surfaces. If desired, gloves and protective goggles can also be used. It has been found however that rolling in particular is a very well controllable method, wherein precautions are not absolutely essential. The foaming cleaning agent is preferably made to foam with the roller in a per se known roller tray. The surface for treating is subsequently rolled evenly with the formed foam. Very obstinate stains, such as for instance shoe polish and the like, can be removed with a small amount of cleaning agent. Further treatment is no longer necessary. The method according to the invention, with a roller is performed with any foaming cleaning agent, because it has the advantage of producing a good result, particularly on relief surfaces. The foaming cleaning agent contains hydrogen peroxide in addition to foaming detergent substances. Hydrogen peroxide is especially suitable for cleaning all organic contaminants. The action of peroxide is based on its strong oxidizing capacity. The advantage of hydrogen peroxide is that, in contrast to cleaning agents containing chlorine, it disappears completely after use. As a consequence it is much less of an environmental impact and is safer. The foaming agent in the foaming cleaning agent according to the invention is preferably an anionogenic or non-ionic detergent substance. One prerequisite for the detergent is that it is stable in oxidizable products. Examples of suitable substances are coconut fatty acid amine oxide which is non-iononic or alkane sulphonate which is anionic. Combinations of suitable detergent substances can of course also be applied. Amphoteric or cationic detergent substances can optionally also be used. In a preferred method coconut fatty acid amine oxide or alkane sulphonate in a concentration of up to 20%, more preferably up to 5% by weight is used. It has been found that the foaming cleaning agent has to contain a maximum of 20% by weight of the detergent substance. Recommended however is less than or equal to 5% by weight. The detergent substances used are often provided by the supplier as solutions which have been diluted to some extent. Depending on the dilution a quantity is added in the preparation of the cleaning agent according to the invention such that the concentration in the end product falls within the above stated ranges. The different components of the foaming cleaning agent are preferably placed in demineralized water. Important here is that the water substantially no longer contains any metal ions, since the hydrogen peroxide would thereby break down. In order to prevent premature decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide, the cleaning agent preferably contains a stabilizer system. To this end any known stabilizer suitable for this purpose can be used. Recommended however are acidic sodium pyrophosphate and phosphoric acid in a concentration of respectively 50-500 and 25-300 ppm, preferably respectively about 250 and 150 ppm. Hydrogen peroxide is in itself an acidic solution. In the known cleaning agents the pH of the solution is however increased to alkaline values in order to stabilize the peroxide. In contrast, the pH in the used foaming cleaning agent is held between 1 and 5, preferably between 2 and 4. In a preferred method the cleaning agent comprises 8-20% by weight hydrogen peroxide; up to 5% coconut fatty acid amine oxide; 0-250 ppm acidic sodium pyrophosphate and 0-150 ppm phosphoric acid in demineralized water. With the method according to the invention it becomes possible to remove particularly organic fouling, such as nicotine, smoke and the like, very thoroughly in simple, safe and environmentally-friendly manner.

Claims: Method for cleaning surfaces which are walls and ceilings, which are provided to a greater or lesser degree with a relief-like finishing, which method comprises the steps of: a) making the surface to be cleaned dust-free; b) applying by means of a roller, in particular a foam roller, a foaming cleaning agent which agent comprises hydrogen peroxide and at least one anionic or nonionic detergent foaming substance and has a pH between 1 and 5. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent has a pH of 2 to 4. Method as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the detergent foaming substance is coconut fatty acid amine oxide or alkane sulphonate in a concentration of up to 20% weight, preferably up to 5% by weight. Method as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide is up to 60% by weight, preferably 8 to 20% by weight. Method as claimed in claims 1-4, wherein the cleaning agent further comprises a stabilizer system to prevent premature decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide. Method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stabilizer system consists of acidic sodium pyrophosphate and phosphoric acid in a concentration of respectively 50-500 and 25-300 ppm, preferably about 250 and 150 ppm. Method as claimed in claims 1-6 wherein the cleaning agent comprises: 8-20% by weight hydrogen peroxide; up to 5% coconut fatty acid amine oxide; 0 to 250 ppm sodium acidic sodium pyrophosphate; and 0 to 150 ppm phosphoric acid in demineralized water.

Inventors: JAGER EDWARD PHILIP, JAGER LEO ANTON, JAGER LUKAS JAN, JAGER, EDWARD PHILIP, JAGER, LEO ANTON, JAGER, LUKAS JAN
Applicants: DIJA ZEIST B V, DIJA ZEIST B.V.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C11D3
IPC codes: C11D3