Ambient moisture-activated hard surface treatment powder comprising a carbonate/persalt/sulfonium or phosphonium salt combination
Ambient moisture-activatable surface treatment powders containing persalt, positively charged phase transfer agent and alkaline pH buffering may be activatable without the addition of liquid. Some ambient moisture-activatable surface treatment powders are substantially free of bleach activators and/or chlorine. Methods of use of ambient moisture activatable powders include applying them to the surfaces to be treated.
1 . A method of treating a hard surface, the method comprising applying an ambient moisture-activated hard surface treatment powder to the hard surface, wherein the treatment powder comprises by weight percentage of the hard surface treatment powder:
(a) from about 5% to less than about 50% persalt, by weight of the hard surface treatment powder;
(b) a phase-transfer agent selected from one or both of a sulfonium salt and a phosphonium salt; and
(c) an alkaline buffering agent comprising:
i) about 5% to about 10% sodium carbonate by weight of the hard surface treatment powder; and
ii) about 20.5% to about 90% of sodium bicarbonate by weight percentage of the hard surface treatment powder, wherein the hard surface treatment powder comprises particles, wherein at least about 65% of the particles range in size of from about 125 microns to about 250 microns.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is in an environment in which a white powder other than the hard surface treatment powder is present.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the white powder is selected from flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and combinations thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface to be treated is footwear, the method further comprising placing the ambient moisture-activated hard surface treatment powder in a foot pan.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising replacing the powder in the foot pan from about every four to about every 12 weeks.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hard surface treatment powder is substantially free of bleach activator.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hard surface treatment powder is substantially free of anionic surfactant.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the hard surface treatment powder comprises from about 5% to about 40% of persalt by weight percentage of the hard surface treatment powder.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the hard surface is in a setting characterized by dry conditions.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the hard surface is in a food processing facility.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hard surface is a floor.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing traction on the hard surface.
13 . An ambient moisture-activatable hard surface treatment powder comprising, by weight percentage of the surface treatment powder:
(a) from about 5% to about 10% sodium carbonate;
(b) from about 15% to about 90% sodium bicarbonate;
(c) from about 10% to about 40% sodium percarbonate;
(d) from about 1% to about 10% a phase-transfer agent selected from one or both of a sulfonium salt and a phosphonium salt;
(e) from about 2% to about 5% EDTA; and
(f) from about 0.1% to about 4% polyethylene glycol.
14 . The ambient moisture-activatable had surface treatment powder of claim 13 , wherein the powder is substantially free of bleach activator.
15 . The ambient moisture-activatable had surface treatment powder of claim 13 , further comprising a colorant.
16 . The ambient moisture-activatable had surface treatment powder of claim 13 , wherein the ambient moisture is a relative humidity of at least about 5%.