METHOD FOR FORMULATING A BRANDED CLEANING PRODUCT
An aminocarboxylate- or polycarboxylate-containing cleaning product manufactured or sold in association with a brand may be replaced by a substitute similarly-branded cleaning product or cleaning system containing less of one or both of the aminocarboxylate or polycarboxylate, and containing (or used with a water treatment product containing) sufficient magnesium compound to provide commercially acceptable cleaning performance when the substitute cleaning product contains or is used with hard water.
1 . A method for formulating a cleaning product, which method comprises:
(a) manufacturing or selling, in association with a brand, a cleaning product containing sufficient aminocarboxylate or polycarboxylate to provide commercially acceptable cleaning performance when the cleaning product contains or is used with hard water;
(b) formulating a substitute cleaning product containing less of one or both of the aminocarboxylate or polycarboxylate, and containing sufficient magnesium compound to provide comparable or improved cleaning performance when the substitute cleaning product contains or is used with hard water; and
(c) manufacturing or selling the substitute cleaning product in association with the brand.
2 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is substantially free of aminocarboxylates.
3 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is free of aminocarboxylates.
4 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is substantially free of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and its salts.
5 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is free of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and its salts.
6 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is substantially free of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and its salts.
7 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is substantially free of nitrilotriacetic acid and its salts
8 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is substantially free of polycarboxylates.
9 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is substantially free of polyacrylates, polymethacrylates and olefin/maleic acid copolymers.
10 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is free of polycarboxylates.
11 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is substantially free of phosphorus-containing chelating agents.
12 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is substantially free of chelating agents.
13 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product is free of chelating agents.
14 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the magnesium compound comprises magnesium acetate, magnesium benzoate, magnesium bromide, magnesium bromate, magnesium chlorate, magnesium chloride, magnesium citrate, magnesium formate, magnesium hexafluorosilicate, magnesium iodate, magnesium iodide, magnesium lactate, magnesium molybdate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium perchlorate, magnesium phosphinate, magnesium salicylate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium sulfite, magnesium tartrate, magnesium thiosulfate, hydrates thereof, or mixtures thereof.
15 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the magnesium compound is a magnesium salt with an anion that also forms a soluble salt with calcium
16 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the magnesium compound is selected from the group consisting of magnesium acetate, magnesium benzoate, magnesium bromide, magnesium bromate, magnesium chlorate, magnesium chloride, magnesium formate, magnesium iodide, magnesium lactate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium perchlorate, magnesium phosphinate, magnesium salicylate, hydrates thereof, and mixtures thereof
17 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the magnesium compound comprises magnesium chloride.
18 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the magnesium compound is water insoluble.
19 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the magnesium compound comprises magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide or magnesium oxide.
20 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the magnesium compound comprises a mixture of water soluble and water insoluble magnesium compounds.
21 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product contains at least about 5 wt. % magnesium compound.
22 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product consists essentially of a source of alkalinity, magnesium compound and surfactant.
23 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product has improved cleaning performance.
24 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product comprises a liquid.
25 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product comprises a ready to use solution.
26 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product comprises a concentrate to which water is added prior to use.
27 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product comprises a gel or paste.
28 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product comprises a solid.
29 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product comprises a ware washing detergent.
30 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product comprises a laundry detergent.
31 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product comprises a hard surface cleaner.
32 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the substitute cleaning product comprises a soft surface cleaner.
33 . A method according to claim 1 , comprising manufacturing the substitute cleaning product, and selling the substitute cleaning product in association with the brand.
34 . A method for formulating a cleaning system, which method comprises:
(a) manufacturing or selling, in association with a brand, a cleaning product containing sufficient aminocarboxylate or polycarboxylate to provide commercially acceptable cleaning performance when the cleaning product contains or is used with hard water;
(b) formulating a substitute cleaning product containing less of one or both of the aminocarboxylate or polycarboxylate;
(c) manufacturing or selling the substitute cleaning product in association with the brand, for use together with a water treatment product containing sufficient magnesium compound to provide comparable or improved cleaning performance when the substitute cleaning product is used with water treated using the water treatment product.