Abstract: Sanitizing and disinfecting compositions with relatively low levels of free available chlorine, with good effectiveness against microbes, included in a burstable pouch of a system also including a plurality of initially undosed (e.g., dry) wipes in a resealable package thereof. The composition may include less than 0.5% by weight hypochlorite or other free available chlorine level, with a pH less than 12. The composition is long term stable in the pouch, but upon bursting of the pouch and dosing of the wipes, exhibits only short-term stability. Because of the low level of hypochlorite, the dosed wipes exhibit improved surface compatibility and negligible “bleach” odor, while providing at least a 3-log reduction in C. diff population within 10 minutes.

Abstract: The present invention is for an acidic cleaning composition which has excellent cleaning performance, low toxicity and good antimicrobial efficacy. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions are capable of sanitizing or disinfecting a variety of hard surfaces. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions can take a variety of forms, such as: disinfecting wipes, all-purpose disinfecting sprays, kitchen cleaners, bathroom cleaners, toilet cleaners, etc. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions have good cleaning properties and low residue.

Abstract: Pre-moistened wipes that include one or more characteristics correlated to desired properties, such as high durability, mileage, cleaning composition retention, efficacy, or the like are described. Pulp substrates typically include an anionic charge, which can result in binding or retention of a cationic biocide such as a quaternary ammonium compound while the remainder of the composition is released from the wipe (e.g., through squeezing, wiping or other compression). The present wipes are specifically tailored to release at least 20% of the quaternary ammonium compound to a target surface, and exhibit at least a 3-log reduction in Staphylococcus aureus population within about 10 seconds to 5 minutes. Such release and efficacy is achieved without the presence of any cationic biocide release agent (e.g., latex or a cationic salt) included in the cleaning composition or elsewhere within the pre-loaded disinfecting wipe.

Abstract: A clumpable animal litter comprises composite particles of filler materials, such as limestone and sand, and sodium bentonite. The filler materials have a lower bulk density as compared to a granular mixture of the same percentage of filler and sodium bentonite clay and contain up to eighty-five percent less clay.

Abstract: Sanitizing and disinfecting compositions with relatively low levels of free available chlorine, with good effectiveness against microbes. The composition may include less than 0.5% by weight hypochlorite or other free available chlorine level, at least one nonionic or zwitterionic surfactant, with a pH from 8 to 12.5. The composition is characterized by an R value of greater than 0 (e.g., greater than 0.5, or equal to 1), where R is defined as the sum of the concentration of any nonionic, zwitterionic, and cationic surfactants divided by the total surfactant concentration (and total surfactant concentration may include any surfactant aids). The compositions may exhibit at least a 3-log reduction in M. bovis or C. diff population within 10 minutes (e.g., 4-6 minutes).

Abstract: In-line processes for producing scrubby substrates, and related scrubby substrate cleaning articles. The process may include melting a polymer resin material, and extruding or otherwise dispensing the molten polymer resin material through one or more orifices of a heated nozzle, into a stream of hot inert gas, which attenuates the molten resin, so that the resin forms into elongated globules (rather than fibers or filaments). Such globules may have irregular cross-section and/or irregular thickness along a length of the globules. Alternatively, the molten resin may be formed into substantially continuous or discontinuous string or chain pattern of abrasive fibers, exhibiting a high frequency, low amplitude substantially linear pattern on the base substrate. In either case the globules or abrasive fibers are collected onto at least a portion of a base substrate layer to form a scrubby substrate that is more abrasive than typical meltblown materials.

Abstract: A pre-loaded cleaning substrate, and related systems and methods for picking up particles with an aspect ratio (L/D) greater than 300 (e.g., hair), or greater than 1200 (e.g., particularly long hairs). The substrate (e.g., a nonwoven) may include only a single layer of material. The pre-loaded substrate is loaded (e.g., during manufacture) with a cleaning composition. The fibers of the substrate may have an average diameter less than 15 ?m, the substrate may have an air permeability of 35 ft3/min to 75 ft3/min, and the liquid cleaning composition may have a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm. Together, the combination of the particular substrate and cleaning composition may facilitate markedly improved ability to pick up high L/D aspect ratio particle debris (e.g., such as hair), while retaining such particles (e.g., providing hair retention index values of at least 20).

Abstract: A flavor or aroma charcoal material, such as charcoal briquets, which is formulated to include a flavor or aroma component. The charcoal material may include a smoldering agent (e.g., limestone), wood particles (e.g., sawdust), a binder, and the flavor or aroma component (herbs and/or spices). The flavor or aroma charcoal material may not be configured as a fuel charcoal material, for example, it may be substantially void of char and/or coal. In an embodiment, the flavor or aroma charcoal material may be provided as part of a blend of different charcoal materials that includes both flavor or aroma briquets in combination with fuel briquets (e.g., which fuel briquets include char and/or coal, while the flavor briquets do not). The flavor briquets provide enhanced aroma and/or flavor to the grilling experience.

Abstract: The present invention is for an acidic cleaning composition which has excellent cleaning performance, low toxicity and good antimicrobial efficacy. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions are capable of sanitizing or disinfecting a variety of hard surfaces. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions can take a variety of forms, such as: disinfecting wipes, all-purpose disinfecting sprays, kitchen cleaners, bathroom cleaners, toilet cleaners, etc. The compositions may meet EPA DfE requirements, EPA category III or IV requirements, and/or be safe for use on food contact surfaces without rinsing. The compositions may include citric acid, an anionic surfactant, a non-volatile glycol solvent, a fatty acid, and water. The compositions may be free of other sanitizing acids, quaternary ammonium compounds, biguanides, peroxides, hypohalites, etc., and have a pH of less than 2.5. The composition may provide sanitization or disinfection against a target microbe within 5 minutes or less, or 4 minutes or less.

Abstract: Peroxide treatment compositions for use in laundry capable of providing sanitization through the wash e.g., for use with a detergent, where a peroxide activator is stabilized without the presence of phosphorus-containing compounds (e.g., phosphorus-containing stabilizers), through use of a nonionic surfactant (e.g., alkoxylated alcohol) with a cloud point above 45° C. Use of a single nonionic surfactant, or a surfactant package that may include a small fraction (e.g., less than 0.5%) of sodium lauryl sulfate or another anionic surfactant has been found to be surprisingly effective at stabilizing the peroxide/activator combination, even where water content may be 85% or greater. The composition can have a pH of 5 or less (e.g., 3 to 4). The composition may be free of other anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, magnesium salts, borates and boric acid, hydroxides, chelating agents, various amine oxides, ethoxylated amines, and the like.

Abstract: Animal litter comprising composite particles including powdered sodium bentonite and powdered activated carbon, agglomerated together into the composite particles, wherein the animal litter has a particle size distribution of 16/50 mesh (i.e., 300 ?m to 1180 ?m in size). The litter may include non-composite, granular clay particles (e.g., granular sodium bentonite) having the same particle size distribution (16/50 mesh). Such particle size characteristics significantly reduce dusting, without the need for a de-dusting agent, reduce clump depth and/or reduce clump width at the bottom of the clump (both acting to reduce risk of clumps sticking to the bottom of the litter box) and result in more efficient use of the litter in clumping (reduced clump weight) by increasing absorbency.

Abstract: This invention relates to systems, methods, and disinfecting compositions for spraying onto surfaces to be sanitized or disinfected. Methods may include providing an aqueous hypohalite disinfecting composition, and providing a spraying system that may include a hand-held spray nozzle through which the composition is sprayed during use, and a pump and associated tubing for conveying the composition to the hand-held spray nozzle. The tubing may be specifically selected to exhibit at least a 65% recovery (no more than 35% loss) of hypohalite after 24 hours of contact between the composition and the tubing. The method may further include conveying the composition from the reservoir to the spray nozzle, and spraying the composition through the nozzle, e.g., onto the target surface. A related system may include similar components. A dilute hypohalite disinfecting composition may be provided for use with the system and/or method.

Abstract: Methods for forming multi-layer substrates including top and bottom surface layers and a melt softened thermoplastic material layer between the exterior surface layers, where the thermoplastic material includes polyethylene or has a tan delta value of 0.2 to 0.4 within the temperature range of 100° F.-350° F. The 3 (or more) layers are assembled, and heated, melt softening the thermoplastic material, causing bonding of the thermoplastic layer to the exterior surface layers. A cleaning composition may be loaded onto the multi-layer substrate, where a fluid pathway through the melted thermoplastic material allows the cleaning composition to travel between the surface layers. Adhesion between the surface layers and the thermoplastic layer is provided by the thermoplastic material itself, which bonds to groups of fibers in the surface layers. The process does not require chemical adhesives, any processing water, drying, or the like, so as to be possible with low capital investment.

Abstract: Sanitizing and disinfecting compositions with relatively low levels of free available chlorine, with good effectiveness against microbes, included in a burstable pouch of a system also including a plurality of initially undosed (e.g., dry) wipes in a resealable package thereof. The composition may include less than 0.5% by weight hypochlorite or other free available chlorine level, with a pH less than 12. The composition is long term stable in the pouch, but upon bursting of the pouch and dosing of the wipes, exhibits only short-term stability. Because of the low level of hypochlorite, the dosed wipes exhibit improved surface compatibility and negligible “bleach” odor, while providing at least a 3-log reduction in C. diff population within 10 minutes.

Abstract: The present invention is for an acidic cleaning composition which has excellent cleaning performance, low toxicity and good antimicrobial efficacy. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions are capable of sanitizing or disinfecting a variety of hard surfaces. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions can take a variety of forms, such as: disinfecting wipes, all-purpose disinfecting sprays, kitchen cleaners, bathroom cleaners, toilet cleaners, etc. The inventive acidic cleaning compositions have good cleaning properties and low residue.

Abstract: Sanitizing and disinfecting compositions with relatively low levels of free available chlorine, with good effectiveness against microbes. The composition may include less than 0.5% by weight hypochlorite or other free available chlorine level, at least one nonionic or zwitterionic surfactant, with a pH from 8 to 12.5. The composition is characterized by an R value of greater than 0 (e.g., greater than 0.5, or equal to 1), where R is defined as the sum of the concentration of any nonionic, zwitterionic, and cationic surfactants divided by the total surfactant concentration (and total surfactant concentration may include any surfactant aids). The compositions may exhibit at least a 3-log reduction in M. bovis or C. diff population within 10 minutes (e.g., 4-6 minutes).

Abstract: The present invention teaches multilayer cleaning articles that include a substantially dry surface contact layer and a gripping layer. The contact layer may represent one exposed major face of the cleaning article (e.g., a cleaning pad), while the gripping layer may represent the opposite exposed major face of the cleaning article. The contact layer may include abrasive synthetic fibers, so as to be effective in scrubbing soils and spills from a surface. The contact layer includes a cleaning composition pre-loaded therein. The cleaning composition is such that the contact layer feels dry to the touch prior to use, before wetting with water. The cleaning composition may include about 1% to about 40% by weight water. The gripping layer includes at least 40% by weight of pulp fibers (e.g., natural cellulose pulp fiber), and exhibits a mean hand grip value that is at least 0.015 1/in2 (reciprocal inches squared).

Abstract: A clumpable animal litter comprises composite particles of filler materials, such as limestone and sand, and sodium bentonite. The filler materials have a lower bulk density as compared to a granular mixture of the same percentage of filler and sodium bentonite clay and contain up to eighty-five percent less clay.