Cleaning material

Abstract

The invention relates to a textile cleaning material having a planar-like structure to which host substances are applied. Said host substances can contain and release at least one active component, and are chemically and/or physically bonded to the planar-like structure. The inventive cleaning material is especially suitable for dry cleaning hard surfaces and textile products.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning material in the form of a planar-like structure, to whose surface one or more host substances are applied which can contain and release one or more active components, to a process for the preparation of this cleaning material, and to the use of the cleaning material as cleaning cloth for the dry cleaning of hard surfaces and as cleaning cloth for the dry cleaning of textiles.

[0002] The cleaning of substrates in the household generally takes place using water and corresponding cleaning compositions, irrespective of whether they are textiles, hard surfaces or other substrates. The use of such aqueous solutions is not always desired particularly in the case of substrates which are sensitive to water. Also, the use of aqueous application solutions involves firstly having to prepare the corresponding cleaning liquors and then having to remove them again from the substrate. Particularly for textiles and textile surfaces, a relatively long drying operation is associated with this.

[0003] For the cleaning of hard surfaces, as well as the customary all-purpose cleaners, compositions are also known which are applied to the substrate to be cleaned without the further addition of water and are removed again using a cloth. To remove soiling which is not firmly adherent, use is usually made of cloths which have an antistatic finish or have long fibers. Examples of such cloths are the standard commercial dusters or linen cloths, as are used for the polishing of glass, etc. They usually do not contain active substances.

[0004] The cleaning of textiles, in particular of clothing, without the use of aqueous washing liquors means that they have to be dry cleaned in the conventional sense. This requires special devices which are used only by commercial cleaning outlets. Dry cleaning in the conventional sense requires the clothing to be cleaned to be taken to these outlets and also collected again from there. Cleaning without water in customary household devices is not possible.

[0005] International patent application WO 93/23603 (Creative Products Resource Associates) discloses a cleaning kit for dry cleaning in a tumble dryer which comprises a porous carrier material which is impregnated with a gel-like cleaning composition which consists essentially of 40 to 95% by weight of water, 0.5 to 5% by weight of thickener, 2 to 32% by weight of a water-miscible organic solvent and about 1 to 10% by weight of surfactant. A further constituent of the cleaning kit is a container in which the textile to be cleaned and the carrier material impregnated with the cleaning composition can be placed. The filled container is then placed into a standard domestic tumble dryer. Although the carrier materials used do release cleaning-active substances, they are unable to bind the detached soiling.

[0006] German patent application DE 40 35 378 A1 (Öffentliche Prüfstelle und Textilinstitut für Vertragsforschung) describes a textile material with a finishing applied thereto. This finishing is fixed to the material chemically or physically and consists of at least one cyclodextrin and/or cyclodextrin derivative. It is disclosed that the textiles finished in this way have a good water absorption capacity and thus lead to a relatively high wear comfort for the textiles, and that soilings etc. are also taken up by the cyclodextrins. The soilings should thus not come into direct contact with the textile and be readily transferable to the wash liquor during the washing or cleaning. The use of the described finished textile materials for the cleaning of substrates is not disclosed.

[0007] It was an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning material which can be used for the dry cleaning of substrates, such as textiles and also hard surfaces without the use of aqueous solutions, namely washing liquors, being necessary.

[0008] The present invention accordingly provides a textile cleaning material in the form of a planar-like structure, to whose surface one or more host substances are applied which can contain and release one or more active components, where the host substances are bonded chemically and/or physically to the surface of the planar-like structure.

[0009] Using the cleaning material according to the invention it is possible to remove soilings from any substrates, such as textiles or hard surfaces, without the use of aqueous liquors. For the purposes of the present invention, soilings are the customary soilings which are visible as stains and also odor substances, such as tobacco smoke, perfume residues, perspiration or perspiration degradation products, mustiness, etc. Particularly on hard surfaces there is also often finely distributed dust or invisible soilings, which may also include microorganisms. The expression “cleaning” used in this application covers both the removal of visible and invisible soilings and also the removal of odor substances.

[0010] The cleaning material according to the invention is a planar-like structure on whose surface one or more host substances are bonded which can contain and release one or more active components. The structure has a two-dimensional form and can, in customary language usage, also be referred to as a cloth.

[0011] The host substances are preferably bonded to the surface of the planar-like structure via a bond such that they are not detached during the preparation process of the cleaning material, during storage or during use. Bonds with bond energies greater than 5 kJ/mol, preferably greater than 10 kJ/mol, particularly preferably greater than 30 kJ/mol and in particular greater than 50 kJ/mol are particularly suitable. The bond between the host substances and the surface of the textile fabric may be covalent or ionic or be based on van der Waals' interactions. The bond between the surface of the planar-like structure and the host substance has the advantage that the active component is in complexed form prior to use of the cleaning material and is thus protected from premature release, and that the complexing substance, i.e. the host substance, is not detached or is detached only to a small degree during application. After the active component has been released, the host substance can complex released soilings.

[0012] Host substances which can be used for the active components are any substances which are able to take up or bind in a complex the active components, and also release these components again. In order to be able to enter into physical or chemical bonds with the planar-like structure, the host substances preferably have polar groups or functional groups. Examples of functional groups are OH, COOH, NH2 or other acidic or basic groups. Preferably, the sorbent is bonded to the planar-like structure via a covalent bond.

[0013] Examples of preferred host substances which can be bonded to the planar-like fabric are cyclodextrins and/or cyclodextrin derivatives. Cyclodextrins are cyclic compounds which are constructed from 1,4-linked glucose units. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cyclodextrins or cyclodextrin derivatives are constructed from 5 to 12 glucose units. In particular, it is also possible to use a mixture of cyclodextrins or cyclodextrin derivatives which consists of &agr;-, &bgr;- and/or &ggr;-cyclodextrins or the corresponding cyclodextrin derivatives. As a result, a broad spectrum of different cavity diameters of the individual cyclodextrins is offered, meaning that differently sized substances can also be inserted into these cavities.

[0014] Suitable planar-like structures which can be used for the preparation of the cleaning material according to the invention are fibrous or cellular flexible materials which exhibit adequate thermal and mechanical stability during use and whose surface is constructed such that the host substances can be physically or chemically bonded thereto. Examples of suitable materials are textile fabrics, or cloths of woven and nonwoven synthetic and/or natural fibers, such as wool, cotton, silk, jute, hemp, linen, sisal, ramie, rayon, cellulose esters, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides and/or polyesters, felt, paper or foam, such as hydrophilic polyurethane foam, so-called nonwovens based on viscose or cellulose acetate.

[0015] Preferably, the surface of the carrier material has functional groups via which the host substances can be bonded via chemical bonds, optionally via so-called spacers, preferably bifunctional compounds or polymeric compounds. Examples of suitable functional groups are OH, NH, NH2, COOH, CHO, SO3H, epoxide or other acidic and/or basic groups, and also triazine. These free functional groups generally react with the free functional groups of the host substances by means of addition or condensation reactions.

[0016] Examples of suitable spacers are linear and/or branched alkyl groups, aryl groups, linear and/or branched alkylaryl groups and/or oligomeric ethylene glycol terephthalate groups, and polymeric groups.

[0017] In one possible embodiment, the host substances are bonded to the ingredient via a polymeric group as spacer. Suitable monomeric compounds for forming the polymeric groups are, in particular, triazine, and/or halogenated triazine derivatives, such as monochlorotriazine, and also dimethylolurea (DMU), dimethoxymethylurea (DMUMe2), methoxymethylmelamines, in particular trimethoxymethylmelamine to hexamethoxymethylmelamine, dimethylolalkanediol-diurethanes, dimethylolethyleneurea (DMDHEU), dimethylolpropyleneurea (DMPU), dimethylol-4-methoxy-5,5-dimethylpropyleneurea, dimethylol-5-hydroxypropyleneurea, dimethylolhexahydrotriaziones, dimethoxymethylurone, tetramethylolacetylenediurea, dimethylol carbamates and/or methylolacrylamides. These compounds have corresponding reactive groups which can react with the functional groups on the surface of the planar-like structure and with the accessible functional groups of the host substances and at the same time can crosslink with one another in a two- or three-dimensional manner to form the polymeric compound.

[0018] The amount of host substances which the planar-like structure contains is governed by the respective field of use of the cleaning material according to the invention. Usually, the cleaning material according to the invention has between 0.1 and 15% by weight, preferably between 1 and 5% by weight, based on the cleaning material, of host substances, where the host substances are preferably distributed randomly over the textile fabric. In a further embodiment, the host substances can also be concentrated locally on the textile fabric, for example in the center or in the external regions.

[0019] The planar-like structure can be any desired size and this depends on the respective intended use. However, the structure should have a sufficient size to be able to take up the required amount of active components. Preferably, the structures have a size of 5 cm×5 cm to about 50 cm×50 cm.

[0020] The active components present according to the invention can be chosen depending on the respective intended use. Examples of active components are surfactants, solvents, fragrances, antimicrobial active ingredients, fungicides, care components for surfaces, insect repellents, and any mixtures thereof.

[0021] It is assumed that, during use of the cleaning material according to the invention, the active components are released to the substrate and soilings present are taken up by the host substances. The cleaning operation can here be referred to as an exchange reaction. An example of an exchange reaction is the exchange of water or moisture from the surface to be cleaned for active substance from the cleaning material.

[0022] Suitable surfactants are, in particular, nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants, preference being given to nonionic and amphoteric surfactants. It is also possible for cationic surfactants and also anionic surfactants to be present.

[0023] The nonionic surfactants used are preferably alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated, in particular primary alcohols having preferably 8 to 18 carbon atoms and, on average, 1 to 12 mol of ethylene oxide (EO) per mole of alcohol, in which the alcohol radical may be linear or, preferably, methyl-branched in the 2 position, or can contain linear and methyl-branched radicals in a mixture as are customarily present in oxo alcohol radicals. In particular, however, preference is given to alcohol ethoxylates with linear radicals of alcohols of native origin having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, e.g. from coconut, palm, tallow fatty or oleyl alcohol, and, on average, 2 to 8 EO per mole of alcohol. Preferred ethoxylated alcohols include, for example, C12-14-alcohols having 3 EO to 7 EO, C9-11-alcohol having 7 EO, C13-15-alcohols having 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C12-18-alcohols having 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and mixtures thereof, such as mixtures of C12-14-alcohol with 3 EO and C12-18-alcohol with 7 EO. The given degrees of ethoxylation represent statistical average values which may be an integer or a fraction for a specific product. Preferred alcohol ethoxylates have a narrowed homolog distribution (narrow range ethoxylates, NRE). In addition to these nonionic surfactants, it is also possible to use fatty alcohols having more than 12 EO. Examples thereof are tallow fatty alcohol having 14 EO, 25 EO, 30 EO or 40 EO. Nonionic surfactants which contain EO and PO groups together in the molecule can also be used according to the invention. In this connection it is possible to use block copolymers with EO-PO block units or PO-EO block units, but also EO-PO-EO copolymers or PO-EO-PO copolymers. It is of course also possible to use mixed alkoxylated nonionic surfactants in which EO and PO units are not distributed blockwise, but randomly. Such products are obtainable by the simultaneous action of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide on fatty alcohols.

[0024] Particularly preferred examples of nonionic surfactants which effect good run-off behavior of water on hard surfaces are the fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol ethers, fatty alcohol polyethylene/polypropylene glycol ethers and mixed ethers, which may optionally be end-capped.

[0025] Examples of fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol ethers are those with the formula (I),

RaO—(CH2CH2O)n1H  (I)

[0026] in which Ra is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having 6 to 22, preferably 12 to 18, carbon atoms and n1 is numbers from 1 to 50.

[0027] The substances specified represent known commercial products. Typical examples are addition products of, on average, 2 or 4 mol of ethylene oxide onto technical-grade C12/14-coconut fatty alcohol (Dehydol® LS-2 or LS-4, Cognis) or addition products of, on average, 4 mol of ethylene oxide onto C14/15-oxo alcohols (Dobanol® 45-4, Shell). The products can have a conventional or else narrowed homolog distribution.

[0028] Fatty alcohol polyethylene/polypropylene glycol ethers are understood as meaning nonionic surfactants of the formula (II), 1

[0029] in which Rb is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having 6 to 22, preferably 12 to 18, carbon atoms, n2 is numbers from 1 to 10 and m2 is numbers from 1 to 4.

[0030] These substances too represent known commercial products. Typical examples are addition products of, on average, 5 mol of ethylene oxide and 4 mol of propylene oxide onto technical-grade C12/14-coconut fatty alcohol (Dehydol® LS-54, Cognis), or 6.4 mol of ethylene oxide and 1.2 mol of propylene oxide onto technical-grade C10/14-coconut fatty alcohol (Dehydol® LS-980, Cognis).

[0031] Mixed ethers are understood as meaning end-capped fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers with the formula (III), 2

[0032] in which Rc is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl radical having 6 to 22, preferably 12 to 18, carbon atoms, n3 is numbers from 1 to 10, m3 is numbers from 0 to 4 and Rd is an alkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl radical.

[0033] Typical examples are mixed ethers of the formula (III) in which Rc is a technical-grade C12/14-cocoalkyl radical, n3 is 5 or 10, m3 is 0 and Rd is a butyl group (Dehypon® LS-54 or LS-104, Cognis). The use of butyl- or benzyl-capped mixed ethers is particularly preferred for application reasons.

[0034] Hydroxyalkyl polyethylene glycol ethers are understood as meaning compounds with the general formula (IV), 3

[0035] in which Re is hydrogen or a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, Rf is a straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, Rg is hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 16 carbon atoms and n4 is a number from 7 to 30, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms present in Re and Rg is 6 to 16.

[0036] In addition, further nonionic surfactants which can be used are also alkyl glycosides of the general formula RO(G)x in which R is a primary straight-chain or methyl-branched, in particular methyl-branched in the 2 position, aliphatic radical having 8 to 22, preferably 12 to 18, carbon atoms and G is the symbol which stands for a glucose unit having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. The degree of oligomerization x, which specifies the distribution of monoglycosides and oligoglycosides, is any number between 1 and 10; x is preferably 1.2 to 1.4.

[0037] A further class of nonionic surfactants which are used in particular in solid compositions are alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or ethoxylated/propoxylated, fatty acid alkyl esters, preferably having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain.

[0038] Nonionic surfactants of the amine oxide type, for example N-cocoalkyl-N,N-dimethylamine oxide and N-tallow-alkyl-N,N-dihydroxyethylamine oxide, and of the fatty acid alkanolamide type may also be suitable. The amount of these nonionic surfactants is preferably not more than that of the ethoxylated fatty alcohols, in particular not more than half thereof.

[0039] Further suitable surfactants are polyhydroxy fatty acid amides of the formula (V), 4

[0040] in which RhCO is an aliphatic acyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, Ri is hydrogen, an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and [Z1] is a linear or branched polyhydroxyalkyl radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 3 to 10 hydroxyl groups. The polyhydroxy fatty acid amides are known substances which can usually be obtained by reductive amination of a reducing sugar with ammonia, an alkylamine or an alkanolamine and subsequent acylation with a fatty acid, a fatty acid alkyl ester or a fatty acid chloride.

[0041] The group of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides also includes compounds of the formula (VI), 5

[0042] in which Rk is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl radical having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, Rl is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl radical or an aryl radical having 2 to 8 carbon atoms and Rp is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl radical or an aryl radical or an oxyalkyl radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, where C1-4-alkyl or phenyl radicals are preferred and [Z2] is a linear polyhydroxyalkyl radical whose alkyl chain is substituted by at least two hydroxyl groups, or alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated, derivatives of this radical.

[0043] [Z2] is preferably obtained by reductive amination of a sugar, for example glucose, fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose or xylose. The N-alkoxy- or N-aryloxy-substituted compounds can then be converted into the desired polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, for example in accordance with the teaching of international application WO 95/07331 by reaction with fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of an alkoxide as catalyst.

[0044] Ampholytic surfactants are understood as meaning those surface-active compounds which, apart from a C8-18-alkyl or -acyl group in the molecule, contain at least one free amino group and at least one COOH or SO3H group and are capable of forming internal salts. Examples of suitable ampholytic surfactants are N-alkylglycines, N-alkylpropionic acids, N-alkylaminobutyric acids, N-alkyliminodipropionic acids, N-hydroxyethyl-N-alkylamidopropylglycines, N-alkyltaurines, N-alkylsarcosines, 2-alkylaminopropionic acids and alkylaminoacetic acids having in each case about 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. Particularly preferred ampholytic surfactants are N-cocoalkylaminopropionate, cocoacylaminoethylaminopropionate and C12-18-acylsarcosine.

[0045] Zwitterionic surfactants is the term used to describe those surface-active compounds which carry at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one COO(−) or SO3(−) group in the molecule. Particularly suitable zwitterionic surfactants are the so-called betaines, such as the N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylammonium glycinates, for example cocoalkyldimethylammonium glycinate, N-acylaminopropyl-N,N-dimethylammonium glycinates, for example cocoacylaminopropyldimethylammonium glycinate, and 2-alkyl-3-carboxymethyl-3-hydroxyethylimidazolines having in each case 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl or acyl group, and cocoacylaminoethylhydroxyethyl carboxymethyl glycinate. A preferred zwitterionic surfactant is the fatty acid amide derivative known under the CTFA name Cocoamidopropyl Betaine.

[0046] Suitable cationic surfactants are quaternary ammonium compounds of the formulae (VII) and (VIII), 6

[0047] where, in (VII), R and R1 is an acylic alkyl radical having 12 to 24 carbon atoms, R2 is a saturated C1-C4-alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical, R3 is either equal to R, R1 or R2 or is an aromatic radical. X− is either a halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion, and mixtures of these. Examples of cationic compounds of the formula (VII) are didecyldimethylammonium chloride, di-tallow-dimethylammonium chloride or dihexadecylammonium chloride.

[0048] Compounds of the formula (VIII) are so-called ester quats. Ester quats are characterized by excellent biodegradability. Here, R4 is an aliphatic acyl radical having 12 to 22 carbon atoms with 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds; R5 is H, OH or O(CO)R7, R6, independently of R5, is H, OH or O(CO)R8, where R7 and R8, independently of one another, are in each case an aliphatic acyl radical having 12 to 22 carbon atoms having 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds. m, n and p can in each case independently of one another have the value 1, 2 or 3. X− can either be a halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion and mixtures of these. Preference is given to compounds which contain the group O(CO)R7 for R5 and alkyl radicals having 16 to 18 carbon atoms for R4 and R7. Particular preference is given to compounds in which R6 is additionally OH. Examples of compounds of the formula (VIII) are methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N,N-di(tallow-acyloxyethyl)ammonium methosulfate, bis(palmitoyl)ethylhydroxyethylmethylammonium methosulfate or methyl-N,N-bis(acyloxyethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium methosulfate. If quaternized compounds of the formula (VIII) which have unsaturated alkyl chains are used, preference is given to acyl groups whose corresponding fatty acids have an iodine number between 5 and 80, preferably between 10 and 60 and in particular between 15 and 45 and which have a cis/trans isomer ratio (in % by weight) of greater than 30:70, preferably greater than 50:50 and in particular greater than 70:30. Commercially available examples are the methylhydroxyalkyldialkoyloxyalkylammonium methosulfates sold by Stepan under the trade name Stepantex® or the products from Cognis known under Dehyquart® or the products from Goldschmidt-Witco known under Rewoquat®. Further preferred compounds are the diester quats of the formula (IX) which are obtainable under the name Rewoquat® W 222 LM or CR 3099 and, in addition to softness, also provide for stability and color protection. 7

[0049] R9 and R10, independently of one another, are in each case an aliphatic acyl radical having 12 to 22 carbon atoms having 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds.

[0050] In addition to the above-described quaternary compounds, other known compounds can also be used, such as, for example, quaternary imidazolinium compounds of the formula (X), 8

[0051] where R11 may be H or a saturated alkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R12 and R13, independently of one another, may in each case be an aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, R12 can alternatively also be O(CO)R14, where R14 is an aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical having 12 to 18 carbon atoms, and Z is an NH group or oxygen and X− is an anion. q can assume integer values between 1 and 4.

[0052] Further suitable quaternary compounds are described by formula (XI), 9

[0053] where R15, R16 and R17, independently of one another, are a C1-4-alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl group, R18 and R19, in each case chosen independently, is a C8-28-alkyl group and r is a number between 0 and 5.

[0054] In addition to the compounds shown above, it is also possible to use short-chain, water-soluble, quaternary ammonium compounds, such as trihydroxyethylmethylammonium methosulfate or the alkyltrimethylammonium chlorides, dialkyldimethylammonium chlorides and trialkylmethylammonium chlorides, e.g. cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, stearyltrimethylammonium chloride, distearyldimethylammonium chloride, lauryldimethylammonium chloride, lauryldimethylbenzylammonium chloride and tricetylmethylammonium chloride.

[0055] Protonated alkylamine compounds which have a softening effect, and the nonquaternized, protonated precursors of the cationic emulsifiers are also suitable.

[0056] Further cationic compounds which can be used according to the invention are the quaternized protein hydrolyzates.

[0057] Likewise suitable according to the invention are cationic silicone oils, such as, for example, the commercially available products Q2-7224 (manufacturer: Dow Corning; a stabilized trimethylsilylamodomethicone), Dow Corning 929 Emulsion (comprising a hydroxylamino-modified silicone, which is also referred to as amodimethicone), SM-2059 (manufacturer: General Electric), SLM-55067 (manufacturer: Wacker), Abil®-Quat 3270 and 3272 (manufacturer: Goldschmidt-Rewo; diquaternary polydimethylsiloxanes, Quaternium-80), and silicone quat Rewoquat® SQ 1 (Tegopren® 6922, manufacturer: Goldschmidt-Rewo).

[0058] It is likewise also possible to use compounds of the formula (XII), 10

[0059] which may be alkylamidoamines in their nonquaternized or, as shown, their quaternized form. R20 can be an aliphatic acyl radical having 12 to 22 carbon atoms having 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds. s can assume values between 0 and 5. R21 and R22 are, independently of one another, in each case H, C1-4-alkyl or hydroxyalkyl. Preferred compounds are fatty acid amidoamines, such as the stearylamidopropyldimethylamine obtainable under the name Tego Amid® S 18 or the 3-tallow-amidopropyltrimethylammonium methosulfate obtainable under the name Stepantex® X 9124, which are characterized, as well as by a good conditioning action, also by color transfer-inhibiting action and, specifically, by their good biodegradability.

[0060] For controlling microorganisms, detergents or cleaners may comprise antimicrobial active ingredients. A distinction is made here, depending on the antimicrobial spectrum and activity mechanism, between bacteriostats and bactericides, fungistats and fungicides etc. Important substances from these groups are, for example, benzalkonium chlorides, alkylarylsulfonates, halophenols and phenol mercuriacetate. For the purposes of the teaching according to the invention, the terms antimicrobial effect and antimicrobial active ingredient have the customary specialist meaning which is given, for example, by K. H. Wallhäu&bgr;er in “Praxis der Sterilisation, Desinfektion—Konservierung: Keimidentifizierung—Betriebshygiene” [Practice of Sterilization, Disinfection—Preservation: Germ Identification—Plant Hygiene] (5th edition—Stuttgart; New York: Thieme, 1995), it being possible to use all of the substances described therein which have an antimicrobial effect. Suitable antimicrobial active ingredients are preferably chosen from the groups of alcohols, amines, aldehydes, antimicrobial acids or salts thereof, carboxylic esters, acid amides, phenols, phenol derivatives, diphenyls, diphenylalkanes, urea derivatives, oxygen-, nitrogen-acetals and -formals, benzamidines, isothiazolines, phthalimide derivatives, pyridine derivatives, antimicrobial surface-active compounds, guanidines, antimicrobial amphoteric compounds, quinolines, 1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane, iodo-2-propylbutyl carbamate, iodine, iodophors, peroxo compounds, halogen compounds and any desired mixtures of the above.

[0061] Here, the antimicrobial active ingredient can be chosen from ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, 1,3-butanediol, phenoxyethanol, 1,2-propylene glycol, glycerol, undec-ylenic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, dihydracetic acid, o-phenylphenol, N-methylmorpholine acetonitrile (MMA), 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol, 2,2′-methylenebis(6-bromo-4-chlorophenol), 4,4′-dichloro-2′-hydroxydiphenyl ether (dichlosan), 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxydiphenyl ether (trichlosan), chlorhexidine, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea, N,N′-(1,10-decane-diyldi-1-pyridinyl-4-ylidene)bis(1-octanamine) dihydrochloride, N,N′-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-3,12-diimino-2,4,11,13-tetraazatetradecanediimide amide, glucoprotamines, antimicrobial surface-active quaternary compounds, guanidines including the bi- and polyguanidines, such as, for example, 1,6-bis(2-ethylhexylbiguanidohexane) dihydrochloride, 1,6-di(N1,N1′-phenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane tetrahydrochloride, 1,6-di(N1,N1′-phenyl-N1,N1-methyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane dihydrochloride, 1,6-di-(N1,N1′-o-chlorophenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane dihydrochloride, 1,6-di(N1,N1′-2,6-dichlorophenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane dihydrochloride, 1,6-di[N1,N1′-beta-(p-methoxyphenyl)diguanido-N5,N5′]hexane dihydrochloride, 1,6-di(N1,N1′-&agr;-methyl-&bgr;-phenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane dihydrochloride, 1,6-di(N1,N1′-p-nitrophenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane dihydrochloride, &ohgr;:&ohgr;′-di(N1,N1′-phenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)di-n-propyl ether dihydrochloride, &ohgr;:&ohgr;′-di(N1,N1′-p-chlorophenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)di-n-propyl ether tetrahydrochloride, 1,6-di(N1,N1′-2,4-dichlorophenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane tetrahydrochloride, 1,6-di(N1,N1′-p-methylphenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane dihydrochloride, 1,6-di(N1,N1′-2,4,5-trichlorophenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane tetrahydrochloride, 1,6-di[N1,N1′-&agr;-(p-chlorophenyl)ethyldiguanido-N5,N5′]hexane dihydrochloride, &ohgr;:&ohgr;′-di(N1,N1′-p-chlorophenyldiguanido-N5,N5′) -m-xylene dihydrochloride, 1,12-di(N1,N1′-p-chlorophenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)dodecane dihydrochloride, 1,10-di(N1,N1′-phenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)decane tetrahydrochloride, 1,12-di(N1,N1′-phenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)dodecane tetrahydrochloride, 1,6-di(N1,N1′-o-chlorophenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane dihydrochloride, 1,6-di(N1,N1′-o-chlorophenyldiguanido-N5,N5′)hexane tetrahydrochloride, ethylenebis(1-tolylbiguanide), ethylenebis(p-tolylbiguanide), ethylenebis(3,5-dimethylphenylbiguanide), ethylenebis(p-tert-amylphenylbiguanide), ethylenebis(nonylphenylbiguanide), ethylenebis(phenylbiguanide), ethylenebis(N-butylphenylbiguanide), ethylenebis(2,5-diethoxyphenylbiguanide), ethylenebis(2,4-dimethylphenylbiguanide), ethylenebis(o-diphenylbiguanide), ethylenebis(mixed-amylnaphthylbiguanide), N-butylethylenebis(phenylbiguanide), trimethylenebis(o-tolylbiguanide), N-butyltrimethylebis(phenylbiguanides) and the corresponding salts, such as acetates, gluconates, hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, citrates, bisulfites, fluorides, polymaleates, N-cocoalkyl sarcosinates, phosphites, hypophosphites, perfluorooctanoates, silicates, sorbates, salicylates, maleates, tartrates, fumarates, ethylenediaminetetraacetates, iminodiacetates, cinnamates, thiocyanates, arginates, pyromellitates, tetracarboxybutyrates, benzoates, glutarates, monofluorophosphates, perfluoropropionates and any desired mixtures thereof. Also suitable are halogenated xylene and cresol derivatives, such as p-chlorometacresol or p-chlorometaxylene, and natural antimicrobial active ingredients of vegetable origin (e.g. from spices or herbs), or of animal origin, and also microbial origin. Preference may be given to using antimicrobially effective surface-active quaternary compounds, a natural antimicrobial active ingredient of vegetable origin and/or a natural antimicrobial active ingredient of animal origin, most preferably at least one natural antimicrobial active ingredient of vegetable origin from the group comprising caffeine, theobromine and theophylline and ethereal oils, such as eugenol, thymol and geraniol, and/or at least one natural antimicrobial active ingredient of animal origin from the group comprising enzymes, such as milk protein, lysozyme and lactoperoxidase, and/or at least one antimicrobially effective surface-active quaternary compound with an ammonium, sulfonium, phosphonium, iodonium or arsonium group, peroxo compounds and chlorine compounds. Substances of microbial origin, so-called bacteriocines, can also be used.

[0062] The quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) suitable as antimicrobial active ingredients have the general formula (R1) (R2) (R3) (R4)N+X−, in which R1 to R4 are identical or different C1-C22-alkyl radicals, C7-C28-aralkyl radicals or heterocyclic radicals, where two or, in the case of an aromatic incorporation as in pyridine, even three radicals, together with the nitrogen atom, form the heterocycle, e.g. a pyridinium or imidazolinium compound, and X− are halide ions, sulfate ions, hydroxide ions or similar anions. For optimum antimicrobial action, preferably at least one of the radicals has a chain length of from 8 to 18, in particular 12 to 16, carbon atoms.

[0063] QACs can be prepared by reacting tertiary amines with alkylating agents, such as, for example, methyl chloride, benzyl chloride, dimethyl sulfate, dodecyl bromide, and also ethylene oxide. The alkylation of tertiary amines with a long alkyl radical and two methyl groups proceeds particularly readily, and the quaternization of tertiary amines having two long radicals and a methyl group can also be carried out using methyl chloride under mild conditions. Amines which have three long alkyl radicals or hydroxy-substituted alkyl radicals are not very reactive and are preferably quaternized using dimethyl sulfate.

[0064] Suitable QACs are, for example, benzalkonium chloride (N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylbenzylammonium chloride, CAS No. 8001-54-5), benzalkone B (m,p-dichlorobenzyldimethyl-C12-alkylammonium chloride, CAS No. 58390-78-6), benzoxonium chloride (benzyldodecylbis(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium chloride), cetrimonium bromide (N-hexadecyl-N,N-trimethylammonium bromide, CAS No. 57-09-0), benzetonium chloride (N,N-dimethyl-N-[2-[2-[p-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenoxy]ethoxy]ethyl]benzylammonium chloride, CAS No. 121-54-0), dialkyldimethylammonium chlorides, such as di-n-decyldimethylammonium chloride (CAS No. 7173-51-5-5), didecyldimethylammonium bromide (CAS No. 2390-68-3), dioctyldimethylammonium chloride, 1-cetylpyridinium chloride (CAS No. 123-03-5) and thiazoline iodide (CAS No. 15764-48-1) and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred QACs are the benzalkonium chlorides having C8-C18-alkyl radicals, in particular C12-C14-alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride.

[0065] Benzalkonium halides and/or substituted benzalkonium halides are, for example, commercially available as Barquat® from Lonza, Marquat® from Mason, Variquat® from Witco/Sherex and Hyamine® from Lonza, and also Bardac® from Lonza. Further commercially available antimicrobial active ingredients are N-(3-chloroallyl)hexaminium chloride, such as Dowicide® and Dowicil® from Dow, benzethonium chloride, such as Hyamine® 1622 from Rohm & Haas, methylbenzethonium chloride such as Hyamine® 10× from Rohm & Haas, cetylpyridinium chloride such as cepacol chloride from Merrell Labs.

[0066] The antimicrobial active ingredients are used in amounts of from 0.0001% by weight to 1% by weight, preferably from 0.001% by weight to 0.8% by weight, particularly preferably from 0.005% by weight to 0.3% by weight and in particular from 0.01 to 0.2% by weight.

[0067] The care components are, in particular, present in those materials which are used domestically for the treatment of surfaces. These surfaces are hard surfaces and the surfaces of home textiles and upholstery, including leather. Examples of suitable care components are, in particular, waxes and silicone oils and waxes.

[0068] “Waxes” is understood as meaning a series of natural or artificially produced substances which generally melt above 40° C. without decomposition, and are of relatively low viscosity and are non-stringing at just a little above the melting point. They have a highly temperature-dependent consistency and solubility.

[0069] Depending on their origin, the waxes are divided into three groups, the natural waxes, chemically modified waxes and synthetic waxes.

[0070] The natural waxes include, for example, vegetable waxes, such as candelilla wax, carnauba wax, Japan wax, espartograss wax, cork wax, guaruma wax, rice germ oil wax, sugar cane wax, ouricury wax, or montan wax, animal waxes such as beeswax, shellac wax, spermaceti, lanolin (wool wax), or uropygial grease, mineral waxes, such as ceresin or ozokerite (earth wax), or petro-chemical waxes, such as petrolatum, paraffin waxes or microcrystalline waxes.

[0071] The chemically modified waxes include, for example, hard waxes, such as montan ester waxes, sassol waxes or hydrogenated jojoba waxes.

[0072] Synthetic waxes are generally understood as meaning polyalkylene waxes or polyalkylene glycol waxes. Synthetic compounds which have proven suitable are, for example, higher esters of phthalic acid, in particular dicyclohexyl phthalate, which is commercially available under the name Unimoll® 66 (Bayer AG). Also suitable are synthetically prepared waxes from lower carboxylic acids and fatty alcohols, for example dimyristyl tartrate, which is available under the name Cosmacol® ETLP (Condea). Conversely, synthetic or partially synthetic esters of lower alcohols with fatty acids from natural sources may also be used. This class of substance includes, for example, Tegin® 90 (Goldschmidt), a glycerol monostearate palmitate. Shellac can also be used as care component in the present invention.

[0073] Also covered by waxes for the purposes of the present invention are, for example, so-called wax alcohols. Wax alcohols are relatively high molecular weight, water-insoluble fatty alcohols having generally about 22 to 40 carbon atoms. The wax alcohols occur, for example, in the form of wax esters of relatively high molecular weight fatty acids (wax acids) as the major constituent of many natural waxes. Examples of wax alcohols are lignoceryl alcohol (1-tetracosanol), cetyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol or melissyl alcohol. The coating of the solid particles coated in accordance with the invention can optionally also comprise wool wax alcohols, which is understood as meaning triterpenoid and steroid alcohols, for example lanolin, which is available, for example, under the trade name Argowax® (Pamentier & Co). For the purposes of the present invention, it is likewise possible to use fatty acid glycerol esters or fatty acid alkanolamides, but also, if desired, water-insoluble or only sparingly water-soluble polyalkylene glycol compounds.

[0074] As perfume oils or fragrances it is possible to use individual odorant compounds, e.g. the synthetic products of the ester, ether, aldehyde, ketone, alcohol and hydrocarbon type. Odorant compounds of the ester type are, for example, benzyl acetate, phenoxyethyl isobutyrate, p-tert-butylcyclohexyl acetate, linalyl acetate, dimethylbenzylcarbinyl acetate, phenylethyl acetate, linalyl benzoate, benzyl formate, ethyl methylphenylglycinate, allyl cyclohexylpropionate, styrallyl propionate and benzyl salicylate. The ethers include, for example, benzyl ethyl ether; the aldehydes include, for example, the linear alkanals having 8-18 carbon atoms, citral, citronellal, citronellyloxy-acetaldehyde, cyclamen aldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, lilial and bourgeonal; the ketones include, for example, the ionones, &agr;-isomethylionone and methyl cedryl ketone; the alcohols include anethol, citronellol, eugenol, geraniol, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol and terpineol; the hydrocarbons include primarily the terpenes, such as limonene and pinene. Preference, however, is given to the use of mixtures of different odorants which together produce an appealing fragrance note. Such perfume oils can also contain natural odorant mixtures, as are obtainable from plant sources, for example pine oil, citrus oil, jasmine oil, patchoulli oil, rose oil or ylang-ylang oil, and also cedar oil and lavender. Likewise suitable are clary sage oil, chamomile oil, clove oil, balm oil, mint oil, cinnamon leaf oil, lime blossom oil, juniper berry oil, vetiver oil, olibanum oil, galbanum oil and labdanum oil, and also orange blossom oil, neroliol, orange peel oil and sandalwood oil. Said fragrances, such as cedar oil or lavender, can also be used as agents for repelling insects (insect repellents).

[0075] The present invention further provides a process for the preparation of the above-described textile cleaning material in which one or more host substances, which may contain and release one or more active components, are bonded chemically and/or physically to a textile fabric, where the host substances are applied, optionally together with other substances, to the textile fabric and are then subjected to thermal treatment.

[0076] As a result of the thermal treatment, the host substances and the textile fabric react together, either in an addition reaction or a condensation reaction. The host substances can in some cases be applied together with condensable monomers so that, during the thermal treatment, a polymeric compound with 2- or 3-dimensional crosslinking is formed. In this embodiment, a chemical bonding into the crosslinked monomer and a chemical bonding to the textile material takes place. The thermal treatment for bonding the host substances to the textile fabric preferably takes place in a temperature range between 130° C. and 190° C. over a period sufficient for the reaction, usually over a period between one minute and 8 minutes. If the host substances are fixed to the textile fabric via spacers, then they are preferably dissolved or dispersed in a suitable solvent, and the textile material is then treated with the prepared solution or dispersion at a temperature preferably between 60° C. and 140° C., in particular between 80° C. and 130° C.

[0077] The monomeric compounds used in one possible embodiment are preferably condensable monomeric compounds. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the host substances used are cyclodextrins or cyclodextrin derivatives, and the textile fabric used is cellulose or cellulose derivatives. Condensable monomers which have proven particularly suitable are the compounds already specified above. Such monomers are preferably used in an amount between 1 and 10% by weight, in particular between 2 and 6% by weight, based on the weight of the textile material.

[0078] The present invention further provides for the use of the textile cleaning material according to the invention as cleaning cloth for the dry cleaning of hard surfaces. In this embodiment of the present invention, hard surfaces, e.g. the surfaces customary in the household made of plastic, wood and metal and also ceramic, can be cleaned, for example dust can be removed. The cloth supplied with one or more active components binds the soilings to the surface and at the same time releases corresponding active components. Depending on the particle or molecule size of the soilings removed, they can be bonded by the textile cleaning material and also by the host substances. Examples of active components which may be present in the host substances are surfactants, antibacterial active ingredients, fragrances, water and any desired mixtures of the above.

[0079] The present invention further provides for the use of the textile cleaning material as cleaning cloth for the dry cleaning of textiles.

[0080] Textiles or textile objects are understood as meaning not only articles of clothing but also other articles which usually have to be dry cleaned, such as sheets, curtains, carpets and runners, upholstery covers, hand towels and the like. The term “dryer” used below refers to a customary domestic warm-air dryer in which the articles of clothing are circulated in a drum with warm or hot air, usually at temperatures from 40 to 95° C., preferably 50 to 90° C., usually over a period of from 15 to 45 minutes.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the host substances bonded to the textile fabric are supplied with a liquid component chosen from water, a water-miscible organic solvent and mixtures thereof and at least one surfactant.

[0082] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the textile cleaning material according to the invention is used as a component in a so-called cleaning kit for dry cleaning, which comprises the above-described textile cleaning material and a closable container for holding the cleaning material which is not destroyed by the action of agitation of the dryer drum and of the increased temperature which causes release of the active components from the host substances. In this embodiment too, the depending on the particle or molecule size of the soilings removed, these can be bonded by the textile cleaning material and also by the host substances. In particular, undesired odor substances can be complexed by the host substances.

[0083] In a still further embodiment of the present invention, a process for cleaning soiled textile articles is provided which comprises the following steps: placing the soiled textile in the container of the above-described cleaning kit, which also comprises the textile cleaning material, closing the container and agitating the sealed container and its contents, preferably in a dryer, at a sufficiently high temperature in order to release the active components from the active substance in liquid and/or gaseous form and over a period which is sufficient to bring an effective amount of the active components into contact with the soiled textile, and in so doing to clean it. Preferably, areas of the textile which are especially stained or soiled are pretreated manually with the textile cleaning material before they and the textile cleaning material are placed into the container in order to bring the soiled areas into contact with the dry cleaning composition and to detach the soilings. During the cleaning operation, the detached/removed soil particles can be taken up by the textile cleaning material, i.e. be adsorbed by the host substances.

[0084] As a further component, the kit can also comprise a second cleaning material, which does not necessarily have to be finished in accordance with the invention and comprises water or moisture as active component. If a second water-containing cleaning material is present, then the textile surface is wetted by the water and the cleaning is facilitated.

[0085] As active components, a cleaning material according to the invention which is used for the dry cleaning of textiles preferably comprises a solvent system which additionally comprises organic cosolvents or solvent systems. Preferably, the solvent or solvent mixture is nontoxic and water-miscible.

[0086] In particular, a cleaning material for the cleaning of textiles comprises an effective amount of one or more surfactants which serve as cleaning enhancers in order to facilitate removal of soilings. The surfactants are present in the dry cleaning composition used preferably in an amount of from 1 to 10% by weight, particularly preferably from 3 to 7% by weight, based on the total active components.

[0087] As further active components, fragrances, deodorizing agents, preservatives, insect-destroying and -deterring agents (antimoth agents, insect repellents) and/or dyes, and further suitable additives which also improve the handling of the cleaning material according to the invention may be present. The amount of such additives is preferably between about 0.25 and 5% by weight, based on the total amount of active components.

[0088] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container is a closed container which should be prepared from a material which is not permeable to the liquid and gaseous active components. For example, the container can be prepared from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide or a multilayer composite material. It is also important that the container is not damaged under the use conditions in the dryer.

[0089] Following use, the container can be discarded or, where necessary, be used for a repeat application.

Claims

1. A textile cleaning material in the form of a planar-like structure with one or more host substances applied thereto, which may contain and release one or more active components, characterized in that the host substances are bonded chemically and/or physically to the planar-like structure.

2. The cleaning material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the bonding energy between the host substance and the planar-like structure is more than 5 kJ/mol, preferably more than 10 kJ/mol, particularly preferably more than 30 kJ/mol and in particular more than 50 kJ/mol.

3. The cleaning material as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the host substances are cyclodextrins and/or cyclodextrin derivatives.

4. The cleaning material as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the cyclodextrins and/or cyclodextrin derivatives are constructed from 5 to 12 glucose units.

5. The cleaning material as claimed in either of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that it comprises a mixture of cyclodextrins and/or cyclodextrin derivatives which consists of &agr;-, &bgr;- and/or &ggr;-cyclodextrins and/or cyclodextrin derivatives.

6. The cleaning material as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the planar-like structure is a natural and/or synthetic textile fabric chosen from wool, cotton, silk, jute, hemp, linen, sisal, ramie, rayon, cellulose esters, polyvinyl derivatives, polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, felt, paper, hydrophilic polyurethane foam, nonwovens based on viscose or cellulose acetate, and any desired mixtures thereof.

7. The cleaning material as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the surface of the textile fabric has functional groups chosen from OH, NH, NH2, COOH, CHO, SO3H, epoxide or other acidic and/or basic groups, and also triazine.

8. The cleaning material as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the host substances are bonded directly to the free functional groups of the textile fabric.

9. The cleaning material as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the host substances are bonded via spacers to the free functional groups of the textile fabric.

10. The cleaning material as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the spacers are chosen from linear and/or branched alkyl groups, aryl groups, linear and/or branched alkylaryl groups and/or oligomeric ethylene glycol terephthalate groups and polymeric groups.

11. The cleaning material as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the polymeric groups are constructed from monomers chosen from triazine and/or halogenated triazine derivatives, such as monochlorotriazine, and dimethylolurea (DMU), dimethoxymethylurea (DMUMe2), methoxymethylmelamines, in particular trimethoxymethylmelamine to hexamethoxymethylmelamine, dimethylol-alkane-diol-diurethanes, dimethylolethyleneurea (DMDHEU), dimethylolpropyleneurea (DMPU), dimethylol-4-methoxy-5,5-dimethylpropyleneurea, dimethylol-5-hydroxypropyleneurea, dimethylolhexahydrotriaziones, dimethoxymethylurone, tetramethylolacetylenediurea, dimethylol carbamates and/or methylolacrylamides.

12. The cleaning material as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the host substances are present in a concentration between 0.1 and 15% by weight, preferably between 1 and 5% by weight, based on the textile fabric.

13. The cleaning material as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the active components are chosen from surfactants, solvents, fragrances, antimicrobial active ingredients, fungicides, care components for surfaces and insect repellents.

14. A process for the preparation of a cleaning material as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the host substances are applied, optionally together with other substances, to the textile fabric and are then subjected to thermal treatment.

15. The process as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the thermal treatment is carried out in a temperature range between 130° C. and 190° C.

16. The use of the cleaning material as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 as cleaning cloth for the dry cleaning of hard surfaces.

17. The use as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that it comprises, as active components, surfactants, antibacterial active ingredients, fragrances, water and any mixtures of the above.

18. The use of the cleaning material as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 as cleaning cloth for the dry cleaning of textiles.

19. The use as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the host substances bonded to the textile fabric are impacted with a liquid component chosen from water, a water-miscible organic solvent and mixtures thereof and at least one surfactant.

20. A cleaning kit for the dry cleaning of textiles, characterized in that it comprises a cleaning material as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 and a closable container for holding the cleaning material.

21. The use of the cleaning kit as claimed in claim 20 for the dry cleaning of textiles.

22. A process for the dry cleaning of textiles, characterized in that it comprises the steps of placing the soiled textile in the container of the cleaning kit as claimed in claim 20, closing the container and agitating the sealed container and its contents at a sufficiently high temperature in order to release the active components from the host substances in liquid and/or gaseous form, and over a period which is sufficient to bring an effective amount of the active components into contact with the soiled textile, and in so doing to clean it.