Method of marketing fabric treating materials for use in conjunction with a home dry cleaning system

Abstract

The present invention relates to method of marketing fabric care material for use in a home dry cleaning system. The fabric care material may be in the form of a kit for a desired consumer benefit, a desired theme or for convenience. The present invention also relates to a method of marketing dry cleaning compositions for use in a home dry cleaning system. The dry cleaning compositions include a general detergent composition, an additive composition, a pretreating composition, or mixtures thereof. The compositions may be provided to the consumers with a set of instructions so that the consumers can obtain information relating various compositions and their combinations to the desired fabric treating benefit.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/483,369, filed on Jun. 27, 2003; and is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/738,551, filed on Dec. 17, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/849,893, filed on May 4, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,536; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/209,468 filed on Jun. 5, 2000.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to method of marketing fabric care material for use in a home dry cleaning system. The fabric care material may be in the form of a kit for a desired consumer benefit, a desired theme or for convenience. The present invention also relates to a method of marketing dry cleaning compositions for use in a home dry cleaning system. The dry cleaning compositions include a general detergent composition, an additive composition, a pretreating composition, or mixtures thereof. The compositions may be provided to the consumers with a set of instructions so that the consumers can obtain information relating desired consumer benefit to various compositions and their combinations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A non-aqueous solvent based washing system utilizing lipophilic fluid, such as cyclic siloxanes (especially cyclopentasiloxanes, sometimes termed “D5”), particularly for use with washing machines for in-home use, has recently been developed. Such a system is particularly desired for cleaning textile articles without causing damage associated with wet-washing, like shrinkage and dye transfer. The non-aqueous washing processes and chemistries in this novel solvent system are quite different from those of the conventional aqueous washing system. To maximize fabric treating benefits, it is desirable to use additives targeted for cleaning, softening, finishing, etc. in the non-aqueous system to enhance the performance of the basic non-aqueous detergent. To cater to individual preferences of the consumers, which is difficult to achieve in mass market consumer products, multiple cleaning or fabric care benefits desired by the consumers can be addressed through different mixtures of additives.

[0004] Methods for marketing or providing consumer products to the end users are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,514; U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,601; U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,407; and EP 1,205,865A1. None of these references disclose a method for marketing a fabric treating composition for use in a home dry cleaning system in the manner described and claimed in the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a method of marketing fabric care material for use in conjunction with a home dry cleaning system comprising the steps of: a) identifying desired consumer benefits for fabric care; b) selecting at least one fabric care material to respond to identified consumer benefits for fabric treating; c) optionally, distributing the at least one fabric care material to a vendor. In another aspect of the present invention, the selected fabric care materials can be packaged in a kit for use in a home dry cleaning system to provide desired consumer benefits.

[0006] In another aspect of the present invention, a method for providing customized fabric care composition for use in a home dry cleaning system is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) identifying a desired fabric treating benefit; (b) providing an article of manufacture comprising: at least one composition comprising an effective amount of a fabric treating material for delivering the desired benefit, a container for containing said composition, and a set of instructions associated with the container; (c) optionally, distributing the article of manufacture to a vendor; wherein said composition is selected from the group consisting of a general detergent composition, an additive composition, a pretreating composition, and mixtures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a home dry cleaning system for use in the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a cut away side view of a home dry cleaning system for use in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The term “fabric article” as used herein means any article that is customarily cleaned in a conventional laundry process or in a dry cleaning process. As such the term encompasses articles of clothing, linen, drapery, and clothing accessories. The term also encompasses other items made in whole or in part of fabric, such as tote bags, furniture covers, tarpaulins and the like.

[0010] The term “lipophilic fluid” as used herein means any non-aqueous fluid capable of removing sebum, as described in more detail herein below.

[0011] The term “fabric treating or treatment composition” or “fabric care composition” as used herein means any lipophilic fluid-containing composition that comes into direct contact with fabric articles to be treated. It should be understood that the term encompasses uses other than cleaning, such as refreshing, softening, conditioning and sizing. Thus, “fabric treating” and “fabric care” are used interchangeably herein. Optional cleaning adjuncts (such as additional detersive surfactants, bleaches, perfumes, and the like) and other fabric care agents may be added to the composition.

[0012] The term “soil” as used herein means any undesirable substance on a fabric article that is desired to be removed. By the terms “water-based” or “hydrophilic” soils, it is meant that the soil comprised water at the time it first came in contact with the fabric article, that the soil has high water solubility or affinity, or the soil retains a significant portion of water on the fabric article. Examples of water-based soils include, but are not limited to beverages, many food soils, water soluble dyes, bodily fluids such as sweat, urine or blood, outdoor soils such as grass stains and mud.

[0013] The term “capable of suspending water in a lipophilic fluid” as used herein means that a material is able to suspend, solvate or emulsify water, which is immiscible with the lipophilic fluid, in a way that the water remains visibly suspended, solvated or emulsified when left undisturbed for a period of at least five minutes after initial mixing of the components

[0014] The term “insoluble in a lipophilic fluid” as used herein means that when added to a lipophilic fluid, a material physically separates from the lipophilic fluid (i.e. settle-out, flocculate, float) within 5 minutes after addition, whereas a material that is “soluble in a lipophilic fluid” does not physically separate from the lipophilic fluid within 5 minutes after addition.

[0015] The term “processing aid” as used herein refers to any material that renders a cleaning composition more suitable for formulation, stability, and/or dilution with a lipophilic fluid.

[0016] Home Dry Cleaning System

[0017] The home dry cleaning system comprises a chamber capable of receiving a fabric article, fabric care materials that can be added to the chamber, and a means to remove the fabric care materials from the chamber. Suitable examples are discussed in WO 01/94675. Other suitable examples are discussed in EP 1 103 646; WO 02/08510; U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,161; U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,194; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,126.

[0018] One preferred embodiment of the home dry cleaning system 70 shown in FIG. 1, comprises a fabric-containing chamber 1 capable of receiving a fabric article to be treated and a fabric care material (not shown and discussed hereinbelow), wherein when a fabric article to be treated is present in the fabric-containing chamber 1, and a fabric care material may be introduced into the fabric-containing chamber 1. The home dry cleaning system 70, preferably further comprises an outer chamber 2 capable of receiving the fabric care material from the fabric-containing chamber 1 that is not retained in said fabric-containing chamber 1. The outer chamber 2 preferably houses the fabric-containing chamber 1. The fabric-containing chamber 1 and the outer chamber 2 preferably are of cylindrical construction and have a horizontal access opening 58 and door 59, respectively, and, as shown in FIG. 2. The horizontal center line of the outer chamber 2, which is preferably stationary with respect to the fabric-containing chamber 1 coincides with the axis of rotation 100 of the movable fabric-containing chamber 1 movably mounted within the outer chamber 2. The outer chamber 2 preferably comprises an exit port or drain 7 through which the fabric care material received by the outer chamber 2 exits the outer chamber 2. The fabric-containing chamber 1 is preferably rotatably secured to outer chamber 2 by means of drive shaft 49 (FIG. 2). The cross-sectional views of FIG. 2, the outer chamber 2 may have a door 59 having a circular shape with an outer edge, the door 59 is capable of opening and closing and may be used to load and unload fabric articles from the home dry cleaning system 70. The fabric-containing chamber 1 may have an access opening 58 used to load and unload fabric articles from the home dry cleaning system 70; preferably which is concentrically aligned with the outer edge of the door 59 in outer chamber 2. When the home dry cleaning system 70 is in operation, the door 59 is in the closed position, preferably locked by a locking means (not shown) when the home dry cleaning system 70 is in operation.

[0019] At least one large storage tank 19 may contain the fabric care material. In another embodiment the fabric care material may also be present in one large storage tank 20. This can eliminate the need for any mixing prior to delivery of the contents of the large storage tank, 19 or 20, to the fabric-containing chamber 1 via an applicator 26, preferably a spray nozzle. Alternatively, the fabric care material from the large storage tank 19, may be mixed with other fabric care material which may be stored in small storage tanks 27 and 28. These small storage tanks 27 and 28, preferably contain one or more fabric care material which are intended to be applied on to the fabric article present in the fabric-containing chamber 1 of the home dry cleaning system 70.

[0020] For the convenience of a user, the large storage tanks 19 and 20, and the small storage tanks 27 and 28 may optionally be detachable from the home dry cleaning system 70. The storage tanks, 19, 20, 27 and 28, may then be recycled, or can be refilled and reattached to the apparatus. Various known “quick-connect” devices, not shown in the Figures, are known in the art and may be employed to assure quick or convenient release or connection of the storage tanks, 19, 20, 27 and 28. In a preferred embodiment, each storage tank, 19, 20, 27 and 28, comprises a physical configuration such that it is attachable and detachable from the home dry cleaning system 70 in a “lock and key” manner. In other words, a storage tank, 19, 20, 27 and 28, fits selectively into an intended “receiving port” or receptacle of the home dry cleaning system 70. This “lock and key” system is preferred when a storage tank, 19, 20, 27 and 28, comprises a consumable, such as fabric care material. Alternatively, the storage tank, 19, 20, 27 and 28, may be replaceable or disposable, for example as a replaceable cartridge. In one suitable mode of operation, the large storage tanks 19 and 20 are recyclable, permanently fixed in the home dry cleaning system 70, or removable only by a trained servicer, while the small storage tanks, 27 and 28, are consumer-replaceable cartridges which are sold individually or as part of a kit discussed hereinbelow

[0021] In one mode, once the contents of the storage tanks, 19, 20, 27 and 28, are consumed, the empty storage tanks, 19, 20, 27 and 28, are removed and replaced with identical storage tanks, 19, 20, 27 and 28, containing the desired fabric care material or storage tanks, 19, 20, 27, and 28, differing in the fabric care material contained therein, so as to provide different benefits, e.g., cleaning benefits, antistatic benefits, home waterproofing, etc. In one embodiment, the storage tanks, 19, 20, 27, and 28, may be either disposed of by the use or returned for refilling by a third party, such as, a retailer, wholesaler, or a manufacturer, with the requisite amount of the desired fabric care material. Alternatively, only one of the large storage tanks 19 or 20 might be detachable, with the other large storage tank, 19 or 20, permanently attached to the home dry cleaning system 70. Similarly, another possible alternative is that only one of the small storage tanks 27 or 28 is be detachable, with the other small storage tank, 28 or 29, permanently attached to the home dry cleaning system 70. Any large storage tank, 19 and 20, or small storage tank 28, and 29, permanently affixed to the home dry cleaning system 70 may have a closing means (not shown), such as a re-sealable lid.

[0022] The desired fabric care materials are delivered into the applicator 26 preferably by pumping with pump 24. The fabric care material stored in the large storage tanks 19 and 20 are pumped through lines 22 and 21 respectively, first passing through valve 23, then through pump 24, then finally through line 25 to applicator 26. The fabric care materials stored in the small storage tanks 27 and 28 are pumped through lines 29 and 30, respectively, first passing through valve 23, then through pump 24, the finally through line 25 to applicator 26. Fabric care materials from storage tanks 19, 20, 27, and 28, may pass through valve 23, the through pump 24, then finally through line 25 to applicator 26 at the same, alternating, or at different times.

[0023] Once the fabric care material enters the fabric article chamber 1, it is collected in the outer chamber 2. The fabric care material exits the outer chamber 2 by use of a drain 7 and then enters a recovery tank 8. Prior to delivering fabric care materials into recovery tank 8, fabric care materials are filtered in filter 6. Preferably an air compressor (not shown) would be connected to each of the large storage tanks, 19 and 20, and small storage tanks, 27 and 28, by pressure lines. Other means of conveying fabric care materials may include gravity, centrifugal, diaphragm, piston, or peristaltic pumps.

[0024] Filter 6 removes lint, fabric fibers and large particulate soil, so they don't settle on the recovery tank 8 bottom and clog downstream lines. Also, filter 6 assures reliable operation of pump 10, since pump 10 is a typically higher pressure pump which generally is of a type more easily damaged by solids.

[0025] Another preferred embodiment of the home dry cleaning system not shown is a bi-modal machine. “Bi-modal” as used herein means a home dry cleaning system capable of washing by fabric care materials and by traditional aqueous based materials. Therefore the bi-modal machine can have water-washing cycle in the same home dry cleaning system that uses fabric care materials. Alternatively, water-washed fabric articles may be used in the home dry cleaning system to receive pretreatment

[0026] Fabric Care Materials

[0027] The fabric care material of the present invention may be in any readily dispensable or flowable form, such as, thixotropic gel, shear thinning liquid, liquid, gel, powder, granule, paste, flakes, suspension, microparticles, nanoparticles, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the fabric care materials of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of at least one solvent, at least one surfactant, at least one additive, and mixtures thereof.

[0028] (1) Solvent

[0029] The solvent of the present invention may comprise one or more solvents, preferably being a lipophilic fluid. “Lipophilic fluid” as used herein means any liquid or mixture of liquid that is immiscible with water at up to 20% by weight of water. In general, a suitable lipophilic fluid can be fully liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, can be an easily melted solid, e.g., one that becomes liquid at temperatures in the range from about 0° C. to about 60° C., or can comprise a mixture of liquid and vapor phases at ambient temperatures and pressures, e.g., at 25° C. and 101.3 kPa (1 atm.) pressure.

[0030] It is preferred that the lipophilic fluid herein be non-flammable or, have relatively high flash points and/or low VOC characteristics, these terms having conventional meanings as used in the dry cleaning industry, to equal or, preferably, exceed the characteristics of known conventional dry cleaning fluids.

[0031] Non-limiting examples of suitable lipophilic fluid materials include siloxanes, other silicones, hydrocarbons, glycol ethers, glycerine derivatives such as glycerine ethers, perfluorinated amines, perfluorinated and hydrofluoroether solvents, low-volatility nonfluorinated organic solvents, diol solvents, other environmentally-friendly solvents and mixtures thereof.

[0032] “Siloxane” as used herein means silicone fluids that are non-polar and insoluble in water or lower alcohols. Linear siloxanes (see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,443,747, and 5,977,040) and cyclic siloxanes are useful herein, including the cyclic siloxanes selected from the group consisting of octamethyl-cyclotetrasiloxane (tetramer), dodecamethyl-cyclohexasiloxane (hexamer), and preferably decamethyl-cyclopentasiloxane (pentamer, commonly referred to as “D5”). A preferred siloxane comprises more than about 50% cyclic siloxane pentamer, more preferably more than about 75% cyclic siloxane pentamer, most preferably at least about 90% of the cyclic siloxane pentamer. Also preferred for use herein are siloxanes that are a mixture of cyclic siloxanes having at least about 90% (preferably at least about 95%) pentamer and less than about 10% (preferably less than about 5%) tetramer and/or hexamer.

[0033] The lipophilic fluid can include any fraction of dry-cleaning solvents, especially newer types including fluorinated solvents, or perfluorinated amines. Some perfluorinated amines such as perfluorotributylamines, while unsuitable for use as lipophilic fluid, may be present as one of many possible adjuncts present in the lipophilic fluid-containing composition.

[0034] Other suitable lipophilic fluids include, but are not limited to, diol solvent systems e.g., higher diols such as C6 or C8 or higher diols, organosilicone solvents including both cyclic and acyclic types, and the like, and mixtures thereof.

[0035] Non-limiting examples of low volatility non-fluorinated organic solvents include for example OLEAN® and other polyol esters, or certain relatively nonvolatile biodegradable mid-chain branched petroleum fractions.

[0036] Non-limiting examples of glycol ethers include propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, propylene glycol t-butyl ether, propylene glycol n-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, dipropylene glycol t-butyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-propyl ether, tripropylene glycol t-butyl ether, tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether.

[0037] Non-limiting examples of other silicone solvents, in addition to the siloxanes, are well known in the literature, see, for example, Kirk Othmer's Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, and are available from a number of commercial sources, including GE Silicones, Toshiba Silicone, Bayer, and Dow Corning. For example, one suitable silicone solvent is SF-1528 available from GE Silicones.

[0038] Non-limiting examples of glycerine derivative solvents include materials having the following structure:

[0039] Non-limiting examples of suitable glycerine derivative solvents for use in the methods and/or apparatuses of the present invention include glyercine derivatives having formula (I): 1

[0040] wherein R1, R2 and R3 of formula (I) are each independently selected from: H; branched or linear, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl, C2-C30 alkenyl, C1-C30 alkoxycarbonyl, C3-C30 alkyleneoxyalkyl, C1-C30 acyloxy, C7-C30 alkylenearyl; C4-C30 cycloalkyl; C6-C30 aryl; and mixtures thereof. Two or more of R1, R2 and R3 of formula (I) together can form a C3-C8 aromatic or non-aromatic, heterocyclic or non-heterocyclic ring.

[0041] Non-limiting examples of suitable glycerine derivative solvents include 2,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethoxy)-1-propanol; 2,3-dimethoxy-1-propanol; 3-methoxy-2-cyclopentoxy-1-propanol; 3-methoxy-1-cyclopentoxy-2-propanol; carbonic acid (2-hydroxy-1-methoxymethyl)ethyl ester methyl ester; glycerol carbonate and mixtures thereof.

[0042] Non-limiting examples of other environmentally-friendly solvents include lipophilic fluids that have an ozone formation potential of from about 0 to about 0.31, lipophilic fluids that have a vapor pressure of from about 0 Pa to about 13.3 Pa (0 to about 0.1 mm Hg), and/or lipophilic fluids that have a vapor pressure of greater than 13.3 (0.1 mm Hg), but have an ozone formation potential of from about 0 to about 0.31. Non-limiting examples of such lipophilic fluids that have not previously been described above include carbonate solvents (i.e., methyl carbonates, ethyl carbonates, ethylene carbonates, propylene carbonates, glycerine carbonates) and/or succinate solvents (i.e., dimethyl succinates).

[0043] “Ozone Reactivity” as used herein is a measure of a VOC's ability to form ozone in the atmosphere. It is measured as grams of ozone formed per gram of volatile organics. A methodology to determine ozone reactivity is discussed further in W. P. L. Carter, “Development of Ozone Reactivity Scales of Volatile Organic Compounds”, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, Vol. 44, Page 881-899, 1994. “Vapor Pressure” as used can be measured by techniques defined in Method 310 of the California Air Resources Board.

[0044] Preferably, the lipophilic fluid comprises more than 50% by weight of the lipophilic fluid of cyclopentasiloxanes, (“D5”) and/or linear analogs having approximately similar volatility, and optionally complemented by other silicone solvents.

[0045] (2) Surfactants

[0046] The surfactant suitable for use in the present invention has the general formula (II) and (III):

YU—(Lt−Xv)x—Y′w  (II)

Ly—(Xv—Yu)x-L′z  (III)

[0047] and mixtures thereof.

[0048] wherein L and L′ of formulas (II) and (III) are solvent compatibilizing (or lipophilic) moieties, which are independently selected from:

[0049] (a) C1-C22 alkyl or C4-C12 alkoxy, linear or branched, cyclic or acyclic, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted;

[0050] (b) siloxanes having the formula (IV):

MaDbD′cD″d  (IV)

[0051] wherein a of formula (IV) is 0-2; b of formula (IV) is 0-1000; c of formula (IV) is 0-50; d of formula (IV) is 0-50, provided that a+c+d of formula (IV) is at least 1;

[0052] M of formula (IV) is R13-eXeSiO1/2 wherein R1 of formula (IV) is independently H, or an alkyl group, X of formula (IV) is hydroxyl group, and e of formula (IV) is 0 or 1;

[0053] D of formula (IV) is R42SiO2/2 wherein R4 of formula (IV) is independently H or an alkyl group;

[0054] D′ of formula (IV) is R52SiO2/2 wherein R5 of formula (IV) is independently H, an alkyl group, or (CH2)f(C6Q4)gO—(C2H4O)h—(C3H6O)i(CkH2k)j—R3, provided that at least one R5 of formula (IV) is (CH2)f(C6Q4)gO—(C2H4O)h—(C3H6O)i(CkH2k)j—R3 (formula (V)), wherein R3 of formula (V) is independently H, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, f of formula (V) is 1-10, g of formula (V) is 0 or 1, h of formula (V) is 1-50, i of formula (V) is 0-50, j of formula (V) is 0-50, k of formula (V) is 4-8; C6Q4 of formula (V) is unsubstituted or substituted; Q of formula (V) is independently selected from H, C1-10 alkyl, C2-10 alkenyl, and mixtures thereof; and

[0055] D″ of formula (IV) is R62SiO2/2 wherein R6 of formula (IV) is independently H, an alkyl group or (CH2)l(C6Q4)m(A)n-[(T)o-(A′)p-]q-(T′)rZ(G)s formula (VI), wherein 1 is 1-10; m of formula (VI) is 0 or 1; n of formula (VI) is 0-5; o of formula (VI) is 0-3; p of formula (VI) is 0 or 1; q of formula (VI) is 0-10; r of formula (VI) is 0-3; s of formula (VI) is 0-3; C6Q4 of formula (VI) is unsubstituted or substituted; Q of formula (VI) is independently selected from H, C1-10 alkyl, C2-10 alkenyl, and mixtures thereof; A and A′ of formula (VI) are each independently a linking moiety representing an ester, a keto, an ether, a thio, an amido, an amino, a C1-4 fluoroalkyl, a C1-4 fluoroalkenyl, a branched or straight chained polyalkylene oxide, a phosphate, a sulfonyl, a sulfate, an ammonium, and mixtures thereof; T and T′ of formula (VI) are each independently a C1-30 straight chained or branched alkyl or alkenyl or an aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted; Z of formula (VI) is a hydrogen, carboxylic acid, a hydroxy, a phosphato, a phosphate ester, a sulfonyl, a sulfonate, a sulfate, a branched or straight-chained polyalkylene oxide, a nitryl, a glyceryl, an aryl unsubstituted or substituted with a C1-30 alkyl or a C2-10 alkenyl, a carbohydrate unsubstituted or substituted with a C1-10 alkyl, C2-10 alkenyl, or an ammonium; G of formula (VI) is an anion or cation such as H+, Na+, Li+, K+, NH4+, Ca+2, Mg+2, Cl−, Br−, I−, mesylate or tosylate; and D″ of formula (IV) can be capped with C1-C4 alkyl or hydroxy groups;

[0056] Y and Y′ of formulas (II) and (III) are hydrophilic moieties, which are independently selected from hydroxy; polyhydroxy; C1-C3 alkoxy; mono- or di-alkanolamine, mono- or di-alkanolamide; C1-C4 alkyl substituted alkanolamine; substituted heterocyclic containing O, S, N; sulfates; carboxylate; carbonate; and when Y and/or Y′ of formulas (II) and (III) is ethoxy (EO) or propoxy (PO), it must be capped with R of formula (II) and (III), which is selected from the group consisting of:

[0057] (i) a 4 to 8 membered, substituted or unsubstituted, heterocyclic ring containing from 1 to 3 hetero atoms; and

[0058] (ii) linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, cyclic or acyclic, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from about 1 to about 30 carbon atoms;

[0059] X of formulas (II) and (III) is a bridging linkage selected from 0; S; N; P; C1 to C22 alkyl, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, cyclic or acyclic, aliphatic or aromatic, interrupted by O, S, N, P; glycidyl, ester, amido, amino, PO42−, HPO4−, PO32−, HPO3−, which are protonated or unprotonated;

[0060] u and w of formulas (II) and (III) are integers independently selected from 0 to 20, provided that u+w≧1;

[0061] t of formulas (II) and (III) is an integer from 1 to 10;

[0062] v of formulas (II) and (III) is an integer from 0 to 10;

[0063] x of formulas (II) and (III) is an integer from 1 to 20; and

[0064] y and z of formulas (II) and (III) are integers independently selected from 1 to 10.

[0065] Nonlimiting examples of surfactants having the above formula include:

[0066] (1) alkanolamines/alkanolamides;

[0067] (2) phophate/phosphonate esters;

[0068] (3) gemini surfactants including, but are not limited to, gemini diols, gemini amide alkoxylates, gemini amino alkoxylates;

[0069] (4) capped nonionic surfactants;

[0070] (5) capped silicone surfactants such as nonionic silicone ethoxylates, silicone amine derivatives;

[0071] (6) alkyl alkoxylates;

[0072] (7) polyol surfactants; and

[0073] (8) mixtures thereof.

[0074] Another class of surfactant can include siloxane-based surfactants. The siloxane-based surfactants in this application may be siloxane polymers for other applications. The siloxane-based surfactants typically have a weight average molecular weight from 500 to 20,000 daltons. Such materials, derived from poly(dimethylsiloxane), are well known in the art. In the present invention, not all such siloxane-based surfactants are suitable, because they do not provide improved cleaning of soils compared to the level of cleaning provided by the lipophilic fluid itself.

[0075] Suitable siloxane-based surfactants comprise a polyether siloxane having the formula (VII):

MaDbD′cD″dM′2-a  (VII)

[0076] wherein a of formula (VII) is 0-2; b of formula (VII) is 0-1000; c of formula (VII) is 0-50; d of formula (VII) is 0-50, provided that a+c+d of formula (VII) is at least 1;

[0077] M of formula (VII) is R13-eXeSiO1/2 wherein R1 of formula (VII) is independently H, or an alkyl group, X of formula (VII) is hydroxyl group, and e of formula (VII) is 0 or 1;

[0078] M″ of formula (VII) is R23SiO1/2 wherein R2 of formula (VII) is independently H, an alkyl group, or (CH2)f(C6Q4)gO—(C2H4O)h—(C3H6O)i(CkH2k)j—R3 (formula (VII), provided that at least one R2 of formula (VII) is (CH2)f(C6Q4)gO—(C2H4O)h—(C3H6O)i(CkH2k)j—R3, wherein R3 of formula (VIII) is independently H, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, f of formula (VIII) is 1-10, g of formula (VIII) is 0 or 1, h of formula (VIII) is 1-50, i of formula (VIII) is 0-50, j of formula (VIII) is 0-50, k of formula (VIII) is 4-8; C6Q4 of formula (VIII) is unsubstituted or substituted; Q of formula (VIII) is independently selected from H, C1-10 alkyl, C2-10 alkenyl, and mixtures thereof;

[0079] D of formula (VII) is R42SiO2/2 wherein R4 of formula (VII) is independently H or an alkyl group;

[0080] D′ of formula (VII) is R52SiO2/2 wherein R5 of formula (VII) is independently R2 of formula (VII) provided that at least one R5 of formula (VII) is (CH2)f(C6Q4)gO—(C2H4O)b—(C3H6O)i(CkH2k)j—R3 (formula (IX)), wherein R3 of formula (IX) is independently H, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, f of formula (IX) is 1-10, g of formula (IX) is 0 or 1, h of formula (IX) is 1-50, i of formula (IX) is 0-50, j of formula (IX) is 0-50, k of formula (IX) is 4-8; C6Q4 of formula (IX) is unsubstituted or substituted; Q of formula (IX) is independently selected from H, C1-10 alkyl, C2-10 alkenyl, and mixtures thereof; and

[0081] D″ of formula (VII) is R62SiO2/2 wherein R6 of formula (VII) is independently H, an alkyl group or (CH2)l(C6Q4)m(A)n-[(T)o-(A′)p-]q-(T′)fZ(G)s (formula (X)), wherein I of formula (X) is 1-10; m of formula (X) is 0 or 1; n of formula (X) is 0-5; o of formula (X) is 0-3; p of formula (X) is 0 or 1; q of formula (X) is 0-10; r of formula (X) is 0-3; s of formula (X) is 0-3; C6Q4 of formula (X) is unsubstituted or substituted; Q of formula (X) is independently selected from H, C1-10 alkyl, C2-10 alkenyl, and mixtures thereof; A and A′ of formula (X) are each independently a linking moiety representing an ester, a keto, an ether, a thio, an amido, an amino, a C1-4 fluoroalkyl, a C1-4 fluoroalkenyl, a branched or straight chained polyalkylene oxide, a phosphate, a sulfonyl, a sulfate, an ammonium, and mixtures thereof; T and T′ of formula (X) are each independently a C1-30 straight chained or branched alkyl or alkenyl or an aryl which is unsubstituted or substituted; Z of formula (X) is a hydrogen, carboxylic acid, a hydroxy, a phosphate, a phosphate ester, a sulfonyl, a sulfonate, a sulfate, a branched or straight-chained polyalkylene oxide, a nitryl, a glyceryl, an aryl unsubstituted or substituted with a C1-30 alkyl or C2-10 alkenyl, a carbohydrate unsubstituted or substituted with a C1-10 alkyl or C2-10 alkenyl, or an ammonium; G of formula (X) is an anion or cation such as H+, Na+, Li+, K+, NH4+, Ca+2, Mg+2, Cl−, Br−, I−, mesylate or tosylate.

[0082] Examples of the types of siloxane-based surfactants described herein above may be found in EP-1,043,443 A1, EP-1;041,189 and WO 01/34,706 (all to GE Silicones) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,705, U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,977, U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,473, and EP 1,092,803A1 (all assigned to Lever Brothers).

[0083] Nonlimiting commercially available examples of suitable siloxane-based surfactants are TSF 4446 (ex. General Electric Silicones), XS69-B5476 (ex. General Electric Silicones); Jenamine HSX (ex. DelCon) and Y12147 (ex. OSi Specialties).

[0084] Yet another preferred class of materials suitable for the surfactant component is organic in nature. Preferred materials are organosulfosuccinate surfactants, with carbon chains of from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms. Most preferred are organosulfosuccinates containing dialkly chains, each with carbon chains of from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms. Also preferred are chains containing aryl or alkyl aryl, substituted or unsubstituted, branched or linear, saturated or unsaturated groups. Nonlimiting commercially available examples of suitable organosulfosuccinate surfactants are available under the trade names of AEROSOL OT® and AEROSOL TR-70® (ex. Cytec).

[0085] The surfactant component, when present in fabric care compositions, preferably comprises from about 1% to about 99%, more preferably 2% to about 75%, even more preferably from about 5% to about 60% by weight of the composition.

[0086] When the fabric care composition is diluted with a lipophilic fluid to prepare the wash liquor, the surfactant preferably comprises from about 0.01% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.02% to about 5%, even more preferably from about 0.05% to about 2% by weight of the wash liquor.

[0087] (3) Polar Solvent

[0088] An additional fabric care material may comprise one or more polar solvent. Non-limiting examples of polar solvents include: water, alcohols, glycols, polyglycols, ethers, carbonates, dibasic esters, ketones, other oxygenated solvents, and mixutures thereof. Further examples of alcohols include: C1-C30 alcohols, such as propanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and the like, benzyl alcohol, and diols such as 1,2-hexanediol. The DOWANOL® series by Dow Chemical are examples of glycols and polyglycols useful as polar solvents, such as DOWANOL® TPM, TPnP, DPnB, DPnP, TPnB, PPh, DPM, DPMA, DB, and others. Further examples include propylene glycol, butylene glycol, polybutylene glycol and more hydrophobic glycols. Examples of carbonate solvents are ethylene, propylene and butylene carbonantes such as those available under the JEFFSOL® tradename. Polar solvents can be further identified through dispersive (&dgr;D), polar (&dgr;p) and hydrogen bonding (&dgr;H) Hansen solubility parameters. Preferred polar solvents or polar solvent mixtures have fractional polar (fp) and fractional hydrogen bonding (fH) values of fp>0.02 and fH>0.10, where fp=&dgr;p(&dgr;D+&dgr;p+&dgr;H) and fH=&dgr;H/(&dgr;D+&dgr;p+&dgr;H), more preferably fp>0.05 and fH>0.20, and most preferably fp>0.07 and fH>0.30.

[0089] In a fabric care composition, the levels of polar solvent can be from about 0 wt % to about 70 wt %, preferably about 1 wt % to about 50 wt % even more preferably about 1 wt % to about 30 wt % by weight of the fabric care composition.

[0090] When the fabric care composition comprises an amino-functional silicone as the only emulsifying agent, preferred levels of polar solvent are from about 0.01 wt % to about 2 wt %, preferably about 0.05 wt % to about 0.8 wt %, even more preferably about 0.1 wt % to about 0.5 wt % by weight of the fabric care composition.

[0091] When the fabric care composition comprises higher levels of polar solvent, the fabric care compositions preferably comprise from about 2 wt % to about 25 wt %, more preferably from about 5 wt % to about 20 wt %, even more preferably from about 8 wt % to about 15 wt % by weight of the fabric care composition.

[0092] (4) Fabric Care Adjuncts

[0093] Some suitable fabric care adjuncts or additives include, but are not limited to, builders, enzymes, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, bleach boosters, bleaches, alkalinity sources, antibacterial agents, colorants, perfumes, pro-perfumes, finishing aids, lime soap dispersants, odor control agents, odor neutralizers, color care agents, polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents, crystal growth inhibitors, photobleaches, heavy metal ion sequestrants, anti-tarnishing agents, anti-microbial agents, anti-oxidants, anti-redeposition agents, soil release polymers, electrolytes, pH modifiers, thickeners, abrasives, divalent or trivalent ions, metal ion salts, enzyme stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, diamines or polyamines and/or their alkoxylates, suds stabilizing polymers, solvents, process aids, fabric softening agents, wrinkle releaser, starch, rebuild agent, body agent, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, suds or foam suppressors, suds or foam boosters and mixtures thereof.

[0094] Optionally, the fabric care adjuncts may comprise processing aids. Processing aids facilitate the formation of the cleaning compositions by maintaining the fluidity and/or homogeneity of the cleaning composition, and/or aiding in the dilution process. Processing aids suitable as solvents, preferably solvents other than those described above, include hydrotropes, and/or surfactants, preferably surfactants other than those described above with respect to the surfactant component. Particularly preferred processing aids are protic solvents such as aliphatic alcohols, diols, triols, etc. and nonionic surfactants such as ethoxylated fatty alcohols.

[0095] Processing aids, when present in the cleaning compositions, preferably comprise from about 0.02 wt % to about 10 wt %, more preferably from about 0.05 wt % to about 10 wt %, even more preferably from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % by weight of the cleaning composition. Processing aids, when the cleaning composition is diluted with a lipophilic fluid to prepare the wash liquor, preferably comprise from about 1 wt % to about 75 wt %, more preferably from about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % by weight of the wash liquor.

[0096] Suitable odor control agents, which may optionally be used as finishing agents, include agents include, cyclodextrins, odor neutralizers, odor blockers and mixtures thereof. Suitable odor neutralizers include aldehydes, flavanoids, metallic salts, water-soluble polymers, zeolites, activated carbon and mixtures thereof.

[0097] Perfumes and perfumery ingredients useful comprise a wide variety of natural and synthetic chemical ingredients, including, but not limited to, aldehydes, ketones, esters, and the like. Also included are various natural extracts and essences which can comprise complex mixtures of ingredients, such as orange oil, lemon oil, rose extract, lavender, musk, patchouli, balsamic essence, sandalwood oil, pine oil, cedar, and the like. Finished perfumes may comprise extremely complex mixtures of such ingredients. Pro-perfumes are also useful in the present invention. Such materials are those precursors or mixtures thereof capable of chemically reacting, e.g., by hydrolysis, to release a perfume.

[0098] Bleaches, especially oxygen bleaches, are another type of fabric care material suitable as a cleaning adjunct for use in the present invention. This is especially the case for the activated and catalyzed forms with such bleach activators as nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate and/or any of its linear or branched higher or lower homologs, and/or tetraacetylethylenediamine and/or any of its derivatives or derivatives of phthaloylimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP; available from Ausimont SpA under trademane Euroco) or other imido- or amido-substituted bleach activators including the lactam types, or more generally any mixture of hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic bleach activators (especially acyl derivatives including those of the C6-C16 substituted oxybenzenesulfonates).

[0099] Also suitable are organic or inorganic peracids both including PAP and other than PAP. Suitable organic or inorganic peracids include, but are not limited to: percarboxylic acids and salts; percarbonic acids and salts; perimidic acids and salts; peroxymonosulfuric acids and salts; persulphates such as monopersulfate; peroxyacids such as diperoxydodecandioic acid (DPDA); magnesium peroxyphthalic acid; perlauric acid; perbenzoic and alkylperbenzoic acids; and mixtures thereof.

[0100] Detersive enzymes may be utilized as fabric care adjuncts. Proteases, amylases, cellulases, lipases and the like as well as bleach catalysts including the macrocyclic types having manganese or similar transition metals may used at very low, or less commonly, higher levels. Fabric care adjuncts that are catalytic, for example enzymes, can be used in “forward” or “reverse” modes. For example, a lipolase or other hydrolase may be used, optionally in the presence of alcohols as adjuncts, to convert fatty acids to esters, thereby increasing solubility in the lipohilic fluid of the enzyme.

[0101] Finishing polymers may also be used as fabric care adjuncts. Nonlimiting examples of finishing polymers that are commercially available are: polyvinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate copolymer, such as Copolymer 958®, weight average molecular weight of about 100,000 daltons and Copolymer 937, weight average molecular weight of about 1,000,000 daltons, available from GAF Chemicals Corporation; adipic acid/dimethylaminohydroxypropyl diethylenetriamine copolymer, such as CARTARETIN F-4® and F-23, available from Sandoz Chemicals Corporation; methacryloyl ethyl betaine/methacrylates copolymer, such as DIAFORMER Z-SM®, available from Mitsubishi Chemicals Corporation; polyvinyl alcohol copolymer resin, such as VINEX 2019®, available from Air Products and Chemicals or MOWE01®, available from Clariant; adipic acid/epoxypropyl diethylenetriamine copolymer, such as DELSETTE 101®, available from Hercules Incorporated; polyamine resins, such as CYPRO 515®, available from Cytec Industries; polyquaternary amine resins, such as KYMENE 557H®, available from Hercules Incorporated; and polyvinylpyrrolidone/acrylic acid, such as SOKALAN EG 310®, available from BASF.

[0102] The fabric care adjuncts may also be an antistatic agent. Any suitable well-known antistatic agents used in conventional laundering and dry cleaning are suitable as fabric care adjuncts of the present invention. Especially suitable as antistatic agents are the subset of fabric softeners which are known to provide antistatic benefits. For example those fabric softeners that have a fatty acyl group which has an iodine value of above 20, such as N,N-di(tallowoyl-oxy-ethyl)-N,N-dimethyl ammonium methylsulfate. However, it is to be understood that the term antistatic agent is not to be limited to just this subset of fabric softeners and includes all antistatic agents.

[0103] Insect and moth repelling may also be used as fabric care adjuncts. Preferred insect and moth repellent are perfume ingredients, such as citronellol, citronellal, citral, linalool, cedar extract, geranium oil, sandalwood oil, 2-(diethylphenoxy)ethanol, 1-dodecene, etc. Other examples of insect and/or moth repellents are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,449,987; 4,693,890; 4,696,676; 4,933,371; 5,030,660; 5,196,200; and in “Semio Activity of Flavor and Fragrance Molecules on Various Insect Species”, B. D. Mookherjee et al., published in Bioactive Volatile Compounds from Plants, ACS Symposium Series 525, R. Teranishi, R. G. Buttery, and H. Sugisawa, 1993, pp. 3548.

[0104] (5) Additional Fabric Care Materials

[0105] Additional fabric care materials suitable for use herein may include traditional fabric care materials found in such consumer products typically used in a conventional, water-based cleaning system, such products are exemplified by laundry detergent products including, but not limited to TIDE®E, ARIEL®, GAIN®, CHEER®, IVORY SNOW®, BOLD®, BONUZ®, DASH®, DASH 2-IN-1®, MYTH®, POP®, RINDEX®, VIZIR®, WASH&GO®; in fabric softening products including, but not limited to DOWNY®, LENOR® and BOUNCE®; in fabric refreshing products including, but not limited to FEBREZE®; in pretreating products including but not limited to ERA®; in bleach products including but not limited to ACE®, in home fabric care products such as DRYEL®, and other laundry related products not specifically mentioned here.

[0106] Home Dry Cleaning System Replacement Materials

[0107] Home dry cleaning system replacement materials include such parts of the home dry cleaning system, such as the one discussed above, that require replacement to continue to function at desired levels of performance. This is in contrast to more durable portions of the home dry cleaning system such as a fabric article chamber 1, a door 59, or other similar part of the home dry cleaning system.

[0108] Home dry cleaning system replacement materials may require frequent replacement. “Frequent” as used herein may refer to replacement after every use of the home dry cleaning system, or it may refer to periodic replacement, including but not limited to every 5 years, every 3 years, every year, every six months, every month, or replacement may be dependent upon when fabric care materials are replaced.

[0109] Filters—Filters may be of any materials and can be of any form that functions in the home dry cleaning system. Filters may relate to the removal of solid, liquid, or gas materials used in the home dry cleaning system. Filters may be regenerable for a certain time period, until replacement is recommended.

[0110] As discussed above in the home dry cleaning system 70, preferably filter 6, may be any conventionally used filter and includes, but is not limited to FULFO® basket strainers or pleated cartridges such as those manufactured by Parker Filtration, e.g. US mesh 20 to 100 (840 micron to 149 micron filters) cartridge filter. In one embodiment the filter 6 can be replaced with a new identical, but unused, filter 6 and the removed filter 6 can be discarded or recycled by a third party for resale and reuse. In another embodiment the filter 6 can be self-cleaning until recommendations indicate replacement, including but not limited to every month or every 3-5 years.

[0111] Screens—similarly screens that can be utilized in the home dry cleaning system may need to be replaced. Screens may be used in the home dry cleaning system to control solid wastes.

[0112] Storage tanks—Storage tanks, large or small, may be discarded and replaced after a single use or may be such that refilling the storage tank several times may be done before replacement is recommended. Storage tanks may comprise any known material, but preferably is some material that may be recycles or environmentally friendly. Such materials include, but are not limited to plastics, metals, coated paper, or any combination thereof. Storage tanks may take the form of cartridges that may be used until empty and then replaced with a similar cartridge. Smaller volume materials such as the cleaning adjuncts may utilize cartridges, while higher volume materials such as the solvent utilize storage tanks.

[0113] Identification of Consumer Desired Benefits

[0114] To effectively market a consumer product, an identified need or desired benefit of the consumer must be identified and then addressed. Identification of the consumer need or desired benefit may be accomplished by any known means such as a survey, questionnaire, internet response, free samples, unsolicited responses from consumer, consumer panel testing and the like. Once a consumer need or desired benefit is identified then appropriate consumer products may be developed to address the needs and desired benefits.

[0115] Consumer Desired Benefits For Fabric Treating

[0116] Traditionally, desired consumer needs or benefits in the laundry area primarily relate to the cleaning of fabric articles. As used herein “cleaning” means removal of soils, fabric enhancing to preserve the color and quality of the fabric article. Another consumer desired benefit relates to fabric refreshing. As used herein, “refreshing” deals with the smell of the fabric, and the feel of the fabric, such as softness, wrinkles, and anti-static properties. Additional consumer desired benefit relate to fabric sizing or conditioning, which deals with anti-abrasion, soil or water repellancy, anti-pilling properties.

[0117] The various consumer benefits that can be delivered in a consumer laundry product require the use of varied and diverse classes of fabric treating materials.

[0118] Kit and/or Article of Manufacture

[0119] The identified consumer product may require or be more effectively addressed through the use of a combination of fabric care materials. The fabric care materials may be packaged separately and then combined together to comprise a kit. As used herein “kit” means two or more fabric care materials packaged together. The kit may include fabric care materials, home dry cleaning system replacement materials, aqueous tradition fabric care materials, and any combination thereof.

[0120] In one embodiment of the present invention, kits may be themed to address identified consumer problems. Non-limiting examples include, new user kits providing the basic materials such as fabric care materials and home dry cleaning system replacement materials necessary to start the use of the home dry cleaning system; baby theme kits that give fabric care products for cleaning baby stains; sport theme kits that give fabric care materials that give grass and mud soil cleaning; male theme kits that give fabric care products for male consumers who may prefer, for example, specific scents or to target identified male consumer desired benefits; female theme kits that give fabric care products for female consumers who may prefer, for example, specific scents or to target identified female consumer desired benefits; pet theme kits that give fabric care materials targeting pet odors; and smoker theme kits that target smoke related odors.

[0121] In another embodiment of the present invention, a kit may be assembled for the convenience of the consumer by packaging together the staple materials for the present system or the consumable materials that need to be replaced or replenished often. For example, a kit may include a general detergent composition; a filter; optionally, one or more a fabric care additives, such as a surfactants; and optionally, one or more home dry cleaning system replacement materials.

[0122] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the fabric treating compositions containing one or more fabric treating materials and/or additives are provided in a container having a set of instructions associated therewith. Examples of fabric treating composition suitable for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to, those composition disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,317; U.S. Pat. No. 6,706,677; U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,617; U.S. Pat. No. 6,660,703; U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,153; US 2003/0087793A1; US 2003/00603969A1; US 2003/0119699A1; US 2003/0119711A1; and US 2003/0119709A1. It is understood that the compositions, adjuncts or additives may be distributed to the vendors and/or consumers without the lipophilic fluid content; the fabric treating composition containing lipophilic fluid may be produced by combining the lipophilic fluid with the distributed compositions, adjuncts or additives prior to or during the in home laundering process.

[0123] As used herein, “associated with” means the instructions are either printed on the container itself or on a printed label attached to the container, or presented in a different manner including, but not limited to, a brochure, a printed advertisement, an electroninc or internet advertisement, and/or verbal presentation, so as to communicate the instructions to a consumer.

[0124] The set of instructions includes, but is not limited to, instructions to selected one or more compositions based on the desired benefits; instructions directing the user to dial a specific telephone number wherein the instructions to selected one or more compositions based on the desired benefits are presented by verbal communication; instructions directing the user to a specific computer website wherein the instructions to selected one or more compositions based on the desired benefits are displayed by electronic communication; or combinations thereof.

[0125] The set of instructions may be pictorial, textual, alphanumerical, or combinations thereof.

[0126] In one embodiment, the set of instructions directs the user to choose and/or combine one or more fabric treating compositions or additives to achieve the desired benefit. For example, a basic or general detergent composition may be useful for a general purpose cleaning in the home dry cleaning system of the present invention. For some tough to remove stains (e.g., grass, coffee or blood stains), the general detergent composition may be combined with one or more doses of a specific additive or composition containing the specific additive to enhance the stain removal performance of the system. The instructions may include various types of stains, the corresponding additives, and the effective amount (which may be presented in one or more dosage units) of the specific additives recommended for enhancing or delivering the desired benefits. The additives or compositions containing the additives may be packaged in unit dose packets or in multi-dose dispensers. The dispenser may comprise a dispensing means, such as a spout, a pump, a spray nozzle, and a measuring means for precise dosing, such as an accurated, graduated, or inscribed cup, dropper, syringe, and the like. The dispensing means can also be accurated, graduated or inscribed to serve as the measuring means. The instructions may also direct the user to choose a pretreating composition, which is to be applied to the fabric articles prior to the laundering process in the home dry cleaning system, in combination with the general detergent composition and/or the additives, which is to be applied during the laundering process in the device, to enhance or deliver the desired benefits.

[0127] In another embodiment, the set of instructions may direct the user to choose and/or combine various composition and additives to produce combinations that are focused on themes, such as pet odor targeted theme, smoke odor targeted theme, male or female preferred themes.

[0128] Vendor

[0129] The fabric care material or kit of the present invention is then distributed to a vendor. As used herein “vendor” means any distributor, store, internet sale provider, or any other entity that provides such fabric care materials or kits directly or indirectly to a consumer.

[0130] While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

[0131] All documents cited are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of marketing fabric care material for use in conjunction with a home dry cleaning system comprising the steps of:

a) identifying desired consumer benefits for fabric care;

b) selecting at least one fabric care material to respond to identified consumer benefits for fabric care;

c) optionally, distributing the at least one fabric care material to a vendor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the step of combining two or more of the selected fabric care materials for identified consumer benefits to form a kit and then distributing the kit to vendor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected fabric care materials selected from the group consisting of:

a) fabric care materials;

b) home dry cleaning system replacement materials; and

c) mixtures thereof.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the fabric care materials are selected from the group consisting of: solvent, surfactant, fabric care adjuncts, and mixtures thereof.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the fabric care materials comprise a solvent that is a lipophilic fluid.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the fabric care materials comprise a surfactant selected from the group consisting of:

(1) siloxane-based surfactants;

(2) organosulfosuccinate surfactants;

(3) alkanolamines/alkanolamides;

(4) phosphate/phosphonate esters;

(5) gemini surfactants;

(6) capped nonionic surfactants;

(7) capped silicone surfactants;

(8) alkyl alkoxylates;

(9) polyol surfactants; and

(10)mixtures thereof.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the fabric care materials comprise a fabric care adjunct selected from the group consisting of builders, enzymes, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, bleach boosters, bleaches, alkalinity sources, antibacterial agents, colorants, perfumes, pro-perfumes, finishing aids, lime soap dispersants, odor control agents, odor neutralizers, polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents, crystal growth inhibitors, photobleaches, heavy metal ion sequestrants, anti-tarnishing agents, anti-microbial agents, anti-oxidants, anti-redeposition agents, soil release polymers, electrolytes, pH modifiers, thickeners, abrasives, divalent or trivalent ions, metal ion salts, enzyme stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, diamines or polyamines and/or their alkoxylates, suds stabilizing polymers, solvents, process aids, fabric softening agents, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, suds or foam suppressors, suds or foam boosters and mixtures thereof.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the home dry cleaning system replacement materials are selected from filters, screens, storage tanks, and mixtures thereof.

9. A method for providing customized fabric care composition for use in a home non-aqueous laundering system comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a desired fabric treating benefit;

(b) providing an article of manufacture comprising:

at least one composition comprising an effective amount of a fabric treating material for delivering the desired benefit,

a container for containing said composition, and

a set of instructions associated with the container;

(c) optionally, distributing the article of manufacture to a vendor;

wherein said composition is selected from the group consisting of a general detergent composition, an additive composition, a pretreating composition, and mixtures thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions directs a user to use one or more elements to deliver the desired benefits to fabric articles being treated in a non-aqueous laundering process, the elements comprise:

(1) a general detergent composition;

(2) an additive composition for delivering a desired benefit;

(3) a general detergent composition mixed with an effective amount of one or more additive compositions to enhance the desired benefits;

(4) a combination of a pretreating composition, being applied to fabric articles prior to the non-aqueous laundering process, and a composition selected from (1), (2) or (3) above, being applied to fabric articles in the non-aqueous laundering process.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the set of instructions comprises:

instructions to selected one or more elements based on the desired benefits;

instructions directing the user to dial a specific telephone number wherein the instructions to selected one or more elements based on the desired benefits are presented by verbal communication;

instructions directing the user to a specific computer website wherein the instructions to selected one or more elements based on the desired benefits are displayed by electronic communication; or

combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions is pictorial, textual, alphanumerical, or combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions is provided in a manner selected from the group consisting of a printed label attached to the container, a printed matter on the container, a brochure, a printed advertisement, an electronic or internet advertisement, and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the selected fabric treating materials selected from the group consisting of:

a) fabric care materials;

b) home dry cleaning system replacement materials; and

c) mixtures thereof.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the fabric care materials are selected from the group consisting of: solvent, surfactant, fabric care adjuncts, and mixtures thereof.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the fabric care materials comprise a solvent that is a lipophilic fluid.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the fabric care materials comprise a surfactant selected from the group consisting of:

(1) siloxane-based surfactants;

(2) organosulfosuccinate surfactants;

(3) alkanolamines/alkanolamides;

(4) phosphate/phosphonate esters;

(5) gemini surfactants;

(6) capped nonionic surfactants;

(7) capped silicone surfactants;

(8) alkyl alkoxylates;

(9) polyol surfactants; and

(10) mixtures thereof.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the fabric care materials comprise a fabric care adjunct selected from the group consisting of builders, enzymes, bleach activators, bleach catalysts, bleach boosters, bleaches, alkalinity sources, antibacterial agents, colorants, perfumes, pro-perfumes, finishing aids, lime soap dispersants, odor control agents, odor neutralizers, polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents, crystal growth inhibitors, photobleaches, heavy metal ion sequestrants, anti-tarnishing agents, anti-microbial agents, anti-oxidants, anti-redeposition agents, soil release polymers, electrolytes, pH modifiers, thickeners, abrasives, divalent or trivalent ions, metal ion salts, enzyme stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, diamines or polyamines and/or their alkoxylates, suds stabilizing polymers, solvents, process aids, fabric softening agents, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, suds or foam suppressors, suds or foam boosters and mixtures thereof.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the home dry cleaning system replacement materials are selected from filters, screens, storage tanks, and mixtures thereof.