Patent ID: 6949271

Claim:
A method for preventing the accumulation of dust, soil or grime on a hard surface, comprising: applying a layer of a liquid, water-based composition to said surface; and drying said layer so that an anti-static polymeric film coating is formed thereon repellant to said dust, soil and grime; wherein said liquid, water-based composition comprises: (1) an anti-static component in an amount effective to provide said polymeric film with anti-static properties sufficient to resist dust, soil and grime accumulation, wherein said anti-static component consists of one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of: (A) anti-static polymers that also contribute to lowering the surface tension of said liquid composition; (B) wetting agents for lowering the surface tension of said liquid composition that also contribute anti-static properties to said polymeric film coating; and (C) polymers that only contribute anti-static properties to said film coating; (2) a surface tension-lowering component in an amount effective to lower the surface tension of said liquid composition below about 25 milli-newtons per meter, wherein said surface tension-lowering component comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of: (A) anti-static polymers that also contribute to lowering the surface tension of said liquid composition; (B) wetting agents for lowering the surface tension of said liquid composition that also contribute anti-static properties to said polymeric film coating; and (C) wetting agents that only contribute to lowering the surface tension of said liquid composition that also contribute anti-static properties to said polymeric film coating.