Method for foaming a cleaning composition

1. A method for foaming a cleaning composition, the method comprising:

(a) mixing a cleaning composition and air in a mechanical foaming head to generate a foam without the use of a non-air containing propellant, the cleaning composition comprising:

(i) about 0.01 wt.% to about 10 wt.% total amount of surfactant;

(ii) at least about 80 wt.% water; and

(iii) a glycol ether solvent consisting of one or more glycol ethers each having a HLB value of at least about 6.9 and an OHLB value of between about 12 and about 20, wherein the weight ratio of the glycol ether solvent to the total amount of surfactant is at least about 1:100.

2. The method according claim 1 , wherein the cleaning composition comprises between about 0.1 wt.% and about 5 wt.% of the glycol ether solvent.

3. The method according claim 2 , wherein the cleaning composition comprises between about 0.5 wt. % and about 3 wt. % of the glycol ether solvent.

4. The method according claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the glycol ether solvent to the total amount of surfactant is between about 1:40 and about 40:1.

5. The method according claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the glycol ether solvent to the total amount of surfactant is between about 0.05:1 and about 20:1.

6. The method according claim 1 , wherein the glycol ether solvent has the formula:

wherein R is a C 1 -C 6 aliphatic or aromatic group, R′ is H, CH 3 , or C 2 H 5 , and n has a value of at least 1.

7. The method according claim 1 , wherein the glycol ether solvent comprises at least one of propylene glycol butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol propyl ether, and triethylene glycol methyl ether.

8. The method according claim 1 , wherein the glycol ether solvent comprises a derivative of a glycol ether having the formula:

wherein R is a C 1 -C 6 aliphatic or aromatic group, R′ is H, CH 3 , or C 2 H 5 , n has a value of at least 1, and A comprises at least one of an ester, an amide, and an ether.

9. The method according claim 8 , wherein the derivative of a glycol ether comprises propylene glycol methyl ether acetate.

10. The method according claim 1 , wherein the glycol ether solvent comprises a glycol having at least four carbon atoms.

11. The method according claim 1 , wherein the cleaning composition contains least 50 wt.% foam according to a 15 second vertical separation test.

12. The method according claim 1 , wherein the cleaning composition provides a foam having less than 1 ppm non-air containing propellant when measured using a gas chromatographic head space analysis.

13. A method of cleaning a surface, the method comprising:

(a) mixing a cleaning composition and air in a mechanical foaming head to generate a foam, the cleaning composition comprising:

(i) about 0.01 wt.% to about 10 wt.% total amount of surfactant;

(ii) at least about 80 wt.% water; and

(iii) a glycol solvent selected from the group consisting of n-propoxypropanol, propylene glycol butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol propyl ether, and triethylene glycol methyl ether and wherein the cleaning composition is substantially free of a propellant; and

(b) applying the foam to the surface.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the surface is a hard surface.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the hard surface is formed of one of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, vinyl, plastic, metal, glass, rubber, formica, wood, mild steel, melamine, brass, ceramic and stone.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the surface is non-horizontal.

17. A method for foaming a cleaning composition, the method comprising:

(a) providing a concentrated cleaning composition;

(b) diluting the concentrated cleaning composition to form a use solution, the use solution comprising:

(i) about 0.01 wt.% to about 10 wt.% total amount of surfactant;

(ii) at least about 80 wt.% water; and

(iii) a glycol solvent selected from the group consisting of n-propoxypropanol, propylene glycol butyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol propyl ether, and triethylene glycol methyl ether and wherein the cleaning composition is substantially free of a propellant; and

(c) mixing the use solution and air in a mechanical foaming head to generate foam.

18. The method according claim 17 , wherein diluting the concentrated cleaning composition occurs in a single dilution step.

19. The method according claim 17 , wherein diluting the concentrated cleaning composition occurs in multiple dilution steps.

20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein diluting the concentrated cleaning composition comprises diluting with water at a dilution ratio of about 1:256 parts concentrated cleaning composition to water.