Drycleaning method using dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether
View Patent ↗A drycleaning method is disclosed. In the method, a composition that comprises dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether (DPnP) and is essentially free of siloxanes or polysulfonic acids is used. The composition contains at least about 80 wt. % DPnP and up to about 15 wt. % of water. The method enables superior stain removal while avoiding excessive fabric shrinkage or soil redeposition.
1. A method which comprises drycleaning a fabric or fiber using a composition comprising water and at least 95 wt. % of dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether (DPnP), wherein the composition is essentially free of siloxanes and polysulfonic acids.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises up to 5 wt. % of water.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition consists essentially of DPnP and water.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fabric is a garment.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the fiber is wool fiber.
6. A method which comprises drycleaning a fabric using a composition comprising water and at least 95 wt. % of DPnP, wherein the composition is essentially free of siloxanes and polysulfonic acids.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the composition comprises up to 5 wt. % of water.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the fabric is a garment.
9. A method which comprises:
(a) tumbling garments in the presence of a cleaning composition comprising water and at least 95 wt. % of DPnP, wherein the composition is essentially free of siloxanes and polysulfonic acids;
(b) separating the garments from the cleaning composition; and
(c) tumbling the garments in heated air to remove traces of the cleaning composition from the garments.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the cleaning composition comprises up to 5 wt. % of water.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the cleaning composition is reused after purifying it by adsorption, distillation, or a combination of these methods.