Abstract: Cleaning compositions in the form of a self-adhesive aqueous gel are provided. The aqueous gel may be a rigid, “hard” aqueous gel that resists deformation of its shape. The gel composition may desirably have a hardness of at least about 150 g and/or a gel melt temperature of about 50-90° C. The cleaning compositions may include a polyalkoxy nonionic surfactant, such as an alkoxylated alcohol and/or polymeric alkylene oxide block copolymer, a co-hardening agent, and water. Methods for treating a hard surface, such as a toilet bowl, using the cleaning compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Self-adhesive detergent compositions are described including a pH-sensitive color-changing system. The color-changing system is useful with certain acidic compositions and certain alkaline compositions. The compositions have a given color upon application to a hard surface, e.g., a toilet bowl. In one embodiment, when the self-adhesive composition is exposed to a water-based rinse, such as on flushing a toilet, the color-changing system provides the released cleaning portion of the composition, and thereby the water, with a color different from the color of the composition to indicate cleaning is occurring. In another embodiment, following exposure to a plurality of rinses, the color-changing system changes the color of the composition when the composition is near depletion to provide an “end-of-use” cue.

Abstract: Cleaning compositions in the form of a self-adhesive aqueous gel are provided. The aqueous gel may be a rigid, “hard” aqueous gel that resists deformation of its shape. The gel composition may desirably have a hardness of at least about 150 g and/or a gel melt temperature of about 50-90° C. The cleaning compositions may include a polyalkoxy nonionic surfactant, such as an alkoxylated alcohol and/or polymeric alkylene oxide block copolymer, a co-hardening agent, and water. Methods for treating a hard surface, such as a toilet bowl, using the cleaning compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A dilutable cleaner gel concentrate, dilutable cleaner gel concentrate in combination with a dispensing package, and method of using the cleaner gel concentrate are described. The gel concentrate includes a surfactant system which provides the concentrate having a gel point that allows the gel concentrate to convert from a highly viscous “stiff” gel at room temperature to a thin low viscosity liquid, that when combined with warm or hot water, the thin liquid readily mixes to provide an aqueous solution in which the liquid concentrate and water are uniformly dispersed. The viscosity of the gel at room temperature is about 50 to about 5000 Pa-s. The gel concentrate can be packaged in a squeezable dispenser. The gel concentrate is sufficiently shear thinning to allow it to flow from the dispenser upon mild manual pressure. The primary surfactant(s) of the surfactant system is(are) highly ethoxylated alcohol ethers and highly polyethoxylated alcohols.

Abstract: Self-adhesive detergent compositions are described including a pH-sensitive color-changing system. The color-changing system is useful with certain acidic compositions and certain alkaline compositions. The compositions have a given color upon application to a hard surface, e.g., a toilet bowl. In one embodiment, when the self-adhesive composition is exposed to a water-based rinse, such as on flushing a toilet, the color-changing system provides the released cleaning portion of the composition, and thereby the water, with a color different from the color of the composition to indicate cleaning is occurring. In another embodiment, following exposure to a plurality of rinses, the color-changing system changes the color of the composition when the composition is near depletion to provide an “end-of-use” cue.

Abstract: Disclosed are replaceable cleaning pads capable of delivering a bleaching agent and a detersive composition to surfaces being cleaned. The pads are constructed to retain bleach separate from detersive ingredients and certain other chemicals prior to use, yet permit rapid delivery of the combined chemicals to the surface being cleaned once the pad is wetted. Most preferably a detersive mixture is melt-anchored to the pad. In one form, the pad is a two layer pad, and in another form, the pad is a three layer pad.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing or eliminating malodors from air and surfaces in contact with air within indoor environments are described. One method provided is for the reduction or elimination of malodors from air and surfaces in contact with air within an indoor environment using hydrogen peroxide in the vapor phase generated and passively emitted from pH neutral to mildly acidic aqueous-based liquid compositions. A second method is provided for the reduction or elimination of malodors from air and surfaces in contact with air within an indoor environment using hydrogen peroxide in the vapor phase as sublimed from solid compositions containing at least one pH neutral to mildly acidic solid hydrogen peroxide-containing compound.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and apparatuses for reducing or eliminating malodors from indoor air are described. The method utilizes vapor phase hydrogen peroxide (VPHP) generated from either evaporation from an aqueous-based liquid composition or sublimation from a solid hydrogen peroxide-containing compound. VPHP engages a media coated with at least one transitional metal element or compound, which acts as an oxidation catalyst, in the presence of air that contains malodorous compounds to provide increased efficacy of malodor molecule oxidation. The apparatus can employ a disposable porous non-woven filter pad coated with one or more transition metal compounds, and a solid source of VPHP. Malodor-containing air engages the pad in the presence of the VPHP to effectively oxidize the malodorants. The apparatus can also include a mechanism to provide color change(s) in the presence of VPHP to indicate whether the device contains VPHP or not.

Abstract: Disclosed are replaceable cleaning pads capable of delivering a bleaching agent and a detersive composition to surfaces being cleaned. The pads are constructed to retain bleach separate from detersive ingredients and certain other chemicals prior to use, yet permit rapid delivery of the combined chemicals to the surface being cleaned once the pad is wetted. Most preferably a detersive mixture is melt-anchored to the pad. In one form, the pad is a two layer pad, and in another form, the pad is a three layer pad.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing or eliminating malodors from air and surfaces in contact with air within indoor environments are described. One method provided is for the reduction or elimination of malodors from air and surfaces in contact with air within an indoor environment using hydrogen peroxide in the vapor phase generated and passively emitted from pH neutral to mildly acidic aqueous-based liquid compositions. A second method is provided for the reduction or elimination of malodors from air and surfaces in contact with air within an indoor environment using hydrogen peroxide in the vapor phase as sublimed from solid compositions containing at least one pH neutral to mildly acidic solid hydrogen peroxide-containing compound.

Abstract: Compositions, methods and apparatuses for reducing or eliminating malodors from indoor air are described. A method is provided for the reduction or elimination of malodors from indoor air using vapor phase hydrogen peroxide generated from either evaporation from a pH neutral to mildly acidic aqueous-based liquid composition or sublimation from a solid composition containing at least one pH neutral to mildly acidic solid hydrogen peroxide-containing compound. The vapor phase hydrogen peroxide (VPHP) engages a media coated with at least one transitional metal element or compound in the presence of air that contains malodorous compounds. The combination of the vapor phase hydrogen peroxide and the transitional metal compound, which acts as an oxidation catalyst, provides increased efficacy of malodor molecule oxidation.

Abstract: Disclosed are replaceable cleaning pads capable of delivering a bleaching agent and a detersive composition to surfaces being cleaned. The pads are constructed to retain bleach separate from detersive ingredients and certain other chemicals prior to use, yet permit rapid delivery of the combined chemicals to the surface being cleaned once the pad is wetted. Most preferably a detersive mixture is melt-anchored to the pad. In one form, the pad is a two layer pad, and in another form, the pad is a three layer pad.

Abstract: Surfactant-thickened active chlorine-containing bleach compositions including at least one water soluble anionic styrenic polymer are described. The styrenic polymer serves to improve the rheology properties of the thickened bleach composition. The thickened bleach composition additionally includes a surfactant-based thickening system including an amine oxide, and an alkaline agent to maintain the pH of the composition at about 10 or greater. The amine oxide includes at least 75% of one or more C14-C18 alkyl dimethyl amine oxides. The thickened bleach compositions have reduced viscosity, decreased elastic properties, with improved flow and pour properties resulting from the inclusion of the styrenic polymer.

Abstract: A cleaning composition with a corrosion inhibitor system and an active halogen-based bleaching system and aqueous solution is described for inhibiting corrosion of metal surfaces to which the composition is applied, especially when the cleaning composition is not rinsed from the treated metal surface prior to drying of the composition on the metal surface. The corrosion inhibitor is at least an alkyl phosphonate compound, wherein the alkyl group has 6 or more carbon atoms, and salts thereof. The bleaching system includes one or more sources of hypohalous acid or hypohalite ion, such as a stabilized hypochlorite solution, in particular a mixture of N-chlorosulfamate salts.

Abstract: A method of substantially reducing biofilm-associated microorganisms on a surface and a composition designed to substantially reduce biofilm-associated microorganisms on surfaces are disclosed. In one embodiment, the composition is an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, and aryl sulfonates with alkyl or aryl substituents, an acid, and an alcohol solvent, wherein the pH of the composition is between pH 1 and pH 5.

Abstract: A low residue antimicrobial solution containing about 0.2 percent by weight of an acid selected from the group consisting of organocarboxylic acids; and about 2 percent of a volatile solvent selected from the group consisting of n-butanol, benzyl alcohol, phenylethanol, and sparingly soluble glycol ether solvents is disclosed. Preferred compositions may also contain about 0.1 percent anionic sulfated or sulfonated surfactants and about 5 percent co-solvent selected from the group consisting of completely water soluble monoprotic aliphatic alcohols and glycol ethers. The solution may be also employed as a low-residue cleaner for soiled hard surfaces.

Abstract: A method of substantially reducing biofilm-associated microorganisms on a surface and a composition designed to substantially reduce biofilm-associated microorganisms on surfaces are disclosed. In one embodiment, the composition is an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, and aryl sulfonates with alkyl or aryl substituents, an acid, and an alcohol solvent, wherein the pH of the composition is between pH 1 and pH 5.

Abstract: The antimicrobial efficacy of N-chlorosulfamate solutions, namely buffered aqueous combinations of HClNSO3−(mono-N-chlorosulfamate) and Cl2NSO3 (di-N-chlorosulfamate), herein referred to as “stabilized hypochlorite”, can be markedly enhanced by the addition of certain organic dopants. The dopants themselves are select hypochlorite stabilizing agents, which are known to readily form stable organochloramides when reacted with “free” hypochlorite (HOCl or NaOCl). Highly effective antimicrobial enhancing dopants include 5,5-dialkyl hydantoins, arylsulfonamides, and succinimides. Examples of these include 5,5-dimethylhydantoin, benzenesulfonamide, and succinimide. Other, less effective dopants include glycolurils. Generally, the dopant is present in a minor mole fraction, relative to the molar amount of stabilized hypochlorite present in the enhanced antimicrobial solution.

Abstract: A low residue antimicrobial solution containing about 0.2 percent by weight of an acid selected from the group consisting of organocarboxylic acids; and about 2 percent of a volatile solvent selected from the group consisting of n-butanol, benzyl alcohol, phenylethanol, and sparingly soluble glycol ether solvents is disclosed. Preferred compositions may also contain about 0.1 percent anionic sulfated or sulfonated surfactants and about 5 percent co-solvent selected from the group consisting of completely water soluble monoprotic aliphatic alcohols and glycol ethers. The solution may be also employed as a low-residue cleaner for soiled hard surfaces.

Abstract: A deodorizing composition formed by an aqueous solution of divalent metal ions, preferably zinc ions, and i) an anionic alkylaryl alkoxy carboxylate/carboxylic acid surfactant and/or ii) an anionic alcohol alkoxy carboxylate/carboxylic acid surfactant.