Abstract: A composition for treating fabrics, comprising: a) a fabric shrinkage reducing composition selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, all isomers of propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol, hexanediol and mixtures thereof; b) a liquid cleaning/refreshment composition. The fabric shrinkage reducing composition and the liquid cleaning/refreshment composition are releasably absorbed in a substrate in a weight ratio of from about 1:2 to about 1:5. The fabric shrinkage reducing composition helps to reduce shrinkage of the fabrics treated in an in-home, non-immersion cleaning and refreshing process which is conducted in a clothes dryer, or the like apparatus. Also provided are non-immersion cleaning/refreshment processes using this composition, a kit containing the necessary items to conduct the processes of this invention and a sheet for releasably absorbing the compositions of this invention.

Abstract: A product and process for laundering delicate or dry-clean only garments in a washing machine, such as a conventional home washing machine. The process may utilize a garment container, such as a flexible wrap to protect the garments. The process also includes at least one cleaning composition specially formulated for delicate garments. The cleaning composition(s) can be in a number of suitable forms, and can be introduced into the process in a number of different manners. The products used in the process may be provided in the form of a kit. The kit may also include a pretreatment applicator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for treating shoes, especially leather-containing shoes, such as athletic shoes, and methods and articles of manufacture employing same to treat the shoes prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions applied to one or more shoes in need of treatment prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes for imparting a desired benefit to the shoes such as cleaning and/or conditioning and/or disinfecting and/or deodorizing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for treating shoes, especially leather-containing shoes, such as athletic shoes, and methods and articles of manufacture employing same to treat the shoes prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions applied to one or more shoes in need of treatment prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes for imparting a desired benefit to the shoes such as cleaning and/or conditioning and/or disinfecting and/or deodorizing.

Abstract: A process for sanitizing a fabric article which is contaminated with one or more microbials. The process steps include: (a) placing the fabric article in a vapor venting bag together with a cleaning/refreshing composition comprising water; and (b) subjecting the vapor venting bag to a heat source which supplies sufficient heat to vaporize the water, thereby exposing the microbials to the resulting water vapor. This process results in at least about 50% of the microbials being killed. The cleaning/refreshing composition preferably comprises at least one antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol, trichlorocarbanalide, hydrogen peroxide, other oxygen bleaches, 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol, iodine/iodophors, chlorhexidine, phenols, phospholipids, thymol, eugeniol, geraniol, oil of lemon grass, limonene and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for treating shoes, especially leather-containing shoes, such as athletic shoes, and methods and articles of manufacture employing same to treat the shoes prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions applied to one or more shoes in need of treatment prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes for imparting a desired benefit to the shoes such as cleaning and/or conditioning and/or disinfecting and/or deodorizing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for treating shoes, especially leather-containing shoes, such as athletic shoes, and methods and articles of manufacture employing same to treat the shoes prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions applied to one or more shoes in need of treatment prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes for imparting a desired benefit to the shoes such as cleaning and/or conditioning and/or disinfecting and/or deodorizing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for treating shoes, especially leather-containing shoes, such as athletic shoes, and methods and articles of manufacture employing same to treat the shoes prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions applied to one or more shoes in need of treatment prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes for imparting a desired benefit to the shoes such as cleaning and/or conditioning and/or disinfecting and/or deodorizing.

Abstract: A system and process for drying a shoe, for example a leather shoe comprising a fan operable to produce an air flow, a heating element and at least one duct having at least one outlet, which is adapted to direct a portion of the air flow into a shoe. Additionally, the shoe drying system provides a drying effectiveness of at least 70 g/hr within the first hour of drying.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for treating shoes, especially leather-containing shoes, such as athletic shoes, and methods and articles of manufacture employing same to treat the shoes prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions applied to one or more shoes in need of treatment prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes for imparting a desired benefit to the shoes such as cleaning and/or conditioning and/or disinfecting and/or deodorizing.

Abstract: A method for treating a fabric having a discrete stained area, wherein the fabric has a first side and a second side, the method comprises the steps of: (a) applying a spot cleaning composition to the discrete stained area of the fabric; (b) contacting the first side of the fabric adjacent the stained area with an absorbent stain receiving article; (c) subjecting the second side of the fabric adjacent the stained area to a heat source; (d) optionally, concurrently or consecutively with Step (a), contacting the fabric adjacent the stained area with a treatment member; and (e) optionally, applying an aqueous rinsing solution to the fabric adjacent the stained area. The spot cleaning composition comprises a bleach, a solvent, a surfactant and water. Also provided are spot removal kits that include instructions for performing the present spot removal methods, and a process for cleaning and refreshing fabrics that can optionally be performed before or after the present spot removal methods.

Abstract: A method for treating a fabric having a discrete stained area, wherein the fabric has a first side and a second side, the method comprises the steps of: (a) applying a spot cleaning composition to the discrete stained area of the fabric; (b) contacting the first side of the fabric adjacent the stained area with an absorbent stain receiving article; (c) subjecting the second side of the fabric adjacent the stained a to a heat source; (d) optionally, concurrently or consecutively with Step (a), contacting the fabric adjacent the stained area with a treatment member; and (e) optionally, applying an aqueous rinsing solution to the fabric adjacent the stained area. The spot cleaning composition comprises a bleach, a solvent, a surfactant and water. Also provided are spot removal kits that include instructions for performing the present spot removal methods, and a process for cleaning and refreshing fabrics that can optionally be performed before or after the present spot removal methods.

Abstract: A product and process for laundering delicate or dry-clean only garments in a washing machine, such as a conventional home washing machine. The process may utilize a garment container, such as a flexible wrap to protect the garments. The process also includes at least one cleaning composition specially formulated for delicate garments. The cleaning composition(s) can be in a number of suitable forms, and can be introduced into the process in a number of different manners. The products used in the process may be provided in the form of a kit. The kit may also include a pretreatment applicator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for treating shoes, especially leather-containing shoes, such as athletic shoes, and methods and articles of manufacture employing same to treat the shoes prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions applied to one or more shoes in need of treatment prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes for imparting a desired benefit to the shoes such as cleaning and/or conditioning and/or disinfecting and/or deodorizing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for treating shoes, especially leather-containing shoes, such as athletic shoes, and methods and articles of manufacture employing same to treat the shoes prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions applied to one or more shoes in need of treatment prior to and/or during and/or after washing the shoes for imparting a desired benefit to the shoes such as cleaning and/or conditioning and/or disinfecting and/or deodorizing.

Abstract: A system and process for drying a shoe, for example a leather shoe comprising a fan operable to produce an air flow, a heating element and at least one duct having at least one outlet, which is adapted to direct a portion of the air flow into a shoe. Additionally, the shoe drying system provides a drying effectiveness of at least 70 g/hr within the first hour of drying.

Abstract: A cleaning device for spot-cleaning fabrics without causing fiber damage is provided. A hand-held device with a convex face comprises treatment means, such as fibers. In use, the stained fabric is moistened with a cleaning composition and the device is rolled or rocked on the stained area. The fibers mechanically dislodge the stain. The device is especially useful as a pre-spotter in a dry cleaning operation.

Abstract: Stained areas (2) of fabric are separately treated with a non-aqueous cleaning composition, followed by an aqueous cleaning composition, and by using a hand-held device (1) which is rocked back and forth on said stained areas (2). The fabric (3) is then placed in a bag or other container, together with a sheet substrate releasably containing an aqueous cleaning composition. The bag is tumbled in a hot air clothes dryer to clean and refresh the entire fabric (3).

Abstract: Phase stable liquid compositions comprise water, butoxy propoxy propanol and alkyl sulfate or alkyl ethoxy sulfate surfactants. The compositions are used to clean fabrics.

Abstract: Enzymes are used in a dry cleaning composition and process. Cleaning compositions comprising lipase, protease and/or amylase enzymes are applied to soiled fabrics in the presence of an organic solvent such as butoxy propoxy propanol to clean the fabrics. In a preferred mode, an enzyme-containing dry cleaning composition is releasably contained in a sheet substrate. The sheet is tumbled with soiled fabrics in a conventional home clothes dryer to clean soiled garments.