Multi-purpose, non-corrosive cleaning compositions and methods of use

1. A method for removing surface contaminants, said method comprising:

providing a composition comprising at least one of a corrosion inhibitor and a surfactant, and the acid-base reaction product of an alkanesulfonic acid component and an organic nitrogenous base component, said base component selected from urea and methylurea, said base component and said acid component in a molar ratio of about 0.5 to about 5.0; and

contacting said composition and a surface comprising at least one contaminant.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said alkanesulfonic acid component is methanesulfonic acid.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said organic nitrogenous base component is urea.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said composition comprises a corrosion inhibitor component.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said composition comprises a nonionic surfactant.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said surface comprises at least one metal.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said surface comprises a metal selected from aluminum, iron and copper.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said surface comprises a metal alloy selected from a steel and a brass.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said surface is selected from commercial and household surfaces.

10. A method for cleaning a hard surface, said method comprising:

providing at least one of a surfactant and a corrosion inhibitor component, at least one alkanesulfonic acid component and at least one organic nitrogenous base component, said base component selected from urea, methylurea and a combination thereof;

mixing said alkanesulfonic acid component and a said organic nitrogenous base component to provide an acid-base reaction product of said components, together with at least one of said surfactant and corrosion inhibitor components, said base component and said acid component in a molar ratio of about 0.5 to about 5.0, to provide a cleaning composition; and

contacting said composition and a hard surface.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said alkanesulfonic acid is methanesulfonic acid.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said organic nitrogenous base is urea.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said surface is selected from commercial and household surfaces, said surfaces comprising contaminants selected from scale, carbonates, rust and combinations thereof.

14. A method of using methanesulfonic acid to affect accumulation of surface contaminants, said method comprising:

providing a substrate comprising a surface contaminant;

providing a composition comprising methanesulfonic acid, urea and at least one of a surfactant and a corrosion inhibitor component, said urea and said methanesulfonic acid in a molar ratio of about 0.5 to about 3.0; and

contacting said substrate surface and said composition, said contact at least partially sufficient to at least partially remove at least one of said contaminants from said surface.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said surface is selected from hard commercial and household surfaces.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said contaminant is selected from metal salts, aluminum scale, road film, rust, lime, siliceous materials, proteinaceous materials and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said contact is substantially absent surface corrosion.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said composition is non-corrosive to human tissue.