WO2000005330A1

WO2000005330A1 - Low residue aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting compositions

Info

Publication number: WO2000005330A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/002212
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeanne Marie Weller; Kenneth Allen Harrison; Ann Marie Lynch
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Inc.; Reckitt & Colman Products Limited
Priority date: 1998-07-24
Filing date: 1999-07-23
Publication date: 2000-02-03
Also published as: CA2338424A1; GB2339795B; GB2339795A; US6159924A; AR035307A1; GB9917301D0; AU5048099A; EP1100858A1; AU759102B2

Abstract

Aqueous cleaning compositions which provide disinfecting and cleaning characteristics to hard surfaces include one or more quaternary ammonium surfactant compounds with germicidal properties, an organic solvent system comprising two or more glycol ethers in conjunction with a low molecular weight monohydric alcohol, one or more amine oxides, one or more alkylpolyglycoside compounds, water and optionally further conventional additives.

Description

ESIDUE AQUEOUS HARD SURFACE CLEANING AND DISINFECTING COMPOSITIONS

Cleaning compositions ate commercially important products and enjoy a wide field of utility in assisting in the removal of dirt and gπme from surfaces, especially those characterized as useful with "hard surfaces" While the art is replete with various formulations which provide some cleaning benefit and perhaps some disinfecting benefit to surfaces, few such formulations are sufficiently formulated so to be effective sanitizing and cleaning compositions and to appropriately satisfy the registration requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Administration ("EPA") as a "hospital strength ' disinfectant At the same time, it is not believed that there are know n to the art such compositions which in addition to disinfection, which deposit minimal residues, and which also dry to an essentially streak free finish

Thus, it is understood that there is a present and continuing need for cleaning products which simultaneously disinfect, leave a minimum of discernible residue, clean well, and aie inexpensive This need is further heightened when considered conjointly with the need for compositions which meet current requirements of the United States' Environmental Protection Administration, especially as hospital strength disinfecting compositions

One object of the invention is to provide an aqueous liquid disinfectant cleaner which is particularly useful for cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces particularly where effective cleaning, low streaking and low visible residue characteπstics are desired These compositions are especially useful in cleaning and disinfecting of hard surfaces, particularly polished or enameled metal surfaces, as well as on glass surfaces

It is still furthei object of the inv ention to piovide an aqueous cleaning and disinfecting composition which may be categonzed as a hospital strength disinfecting composition in accordance with current United States Environmental Piotection Admimstiation requirements

These and other objects of the invention shall be more apparent from a reading of the specification and of the claims attached According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an aqueous cleaning composition which provides disinfecting and cleaning characteristics to haid surfaces, which comprises (or preferably consists essentially of) the following constituents

A) one or more quaternary ammonium surfactant compounds having germicidal properties,

B) a solvent system which consists of two or more different glycol ethers in conjunction with a low molecular weight monohydric alcohol w herein the monohydric alcohol compπses less than one-half, preferably less than one- fourth of the total of the weights of the two or more glycol ethers. C) one or more amine oxide compounds,

D) one oi more nonionic alkylpolyglycoside compounds,

E) water

The compositions may include one or more further optional additive constituents, sometimes referred to as adjuvants, in minor, but effective amounts The compositions are characterized in providing a disinfecting effect, and particularly preferred embodiments are sufficient to be rated a "broad spectrum disinfectant" yet more desirably are sufficient to be rated a "hospital strength disinfectant" according to EPA guidelines Further, particularly preferred embodiments are essentially non-streaking According to certain particularly preferred embodiment the compositions are essentially free of alkanolammes, particularly mono-, di- and tn- alkanolamines which include for example, ethanolamme, diethanolamme, tπethanolamine and isopropanolamine According to a furthei aspect of the invention there is provided a process for the cleaning and disinfecting of a hard surface in need of such treatment which comprises the step of applying an effective amount of the composition described herein to the hard surface in need of such tieatment Desirably, the composition is used to wet the hard surface in need of such treatment foi a sufficient time period necessary to disinfect the surface, after which the treated hard surface may be wiped until substantially dry Any remaining composition

be thereafter allow ed to dry A) The compositions according to the invention include one or more quaternary ammonium surfactant compounds ha\ ing germicidal properties

Exemplary useful quaternary ammonium compounds include quaternaπ, ammonium germicides which may be characterized by the general structural formula

where at least one of R,. R₂, R, and R is a alk> I an 1 or alkylaryl substituent of from 6 to 26 carbon atoms, and desnably the entire cation portion of the molecule has a molecular

1 substituents may be long-chain alkyl. long-cham alkoxyaryl, long-cham alkyla 1, halogen-substituted long-cham alkylaryl, long-cham alkylphenoxyalkyl, arylalkyl, etc The remaining substituents on the nitrogen atoms other than the abovementioned alkyl substituents are hydrocarbons usually containing no more than 12 carbon atoms The substituents R,, R , R, and R₄ may be straight-chained or

be branched, but are preferably straight-chained, and may include one or more amide, ether or ester linkages The counteπon X may be any salt- forming anion which permits water solubility of the quaternary ammonium complex Exemplary counteπons include hahdes, for example chloride, bromide or iodide, or methosulfate Preferred

ammonium compounds which act as germicides and which aie be found useful in the piactice of the present im ention include those which hav e the stiuctuial formula

wherein R-, and R^ are the same 01 diffeient C,-C_palkyl, or R, is C_r ,₆alkyl, C₈

,,alkylethox> ,

C_{8 ls}alkylphenolethoxy and R, is benzyl, and X is a hahde for example chloride, bromide or iodide, sacchaiinate 01 methosulfate The alkyl groups recited m R, and R, may be straight-chained 01 branched, but are preferably substantially linear

Particularly useful quaternaiy germicides include compositions which include a single quaternary compound, as well as mixtures of two or more different quaternary compounds Particularly useful quaternary germicides include which are presently commercially available under the tradenames BARD AC, BARQUAT, BTC, LONZABAC and HY AMINE, available from Stepan Co

(Chicago IL) or Lonza Inc (Basle, CH) Especially preferred compounds are described in the Examples

It is to be understood that the quaternary ammonium compound constituent may be a single such compound, oi may be a mixture of such compounds In the compositions accoidmg to the invention, the quaternary ammonium compound constituent is required to be present m amounts which are effective in exhibiting satisfactory germicidal actι\ lty against selected bacteπa sought to be treated by the cleaning compositions The quaternary ammonium compound need only be present in germicidally effective amounts Generally, effective "hospital strength" germicidal efficacy meeting current EPA guidelines is provided when the quaternary ammonium compounds are present m an amount of from about 0 01%wt to about 3 %wt Desirably the quaternary ammonium compounds is present in an amount of from 0.01 %wt to about 0 5%w t. and yet more desirably from 0 01%wt to 0 2 %wt based on the total weight of the inventive compositions being taught herein

B) The inventive compositions include a soh ent system which consists of at least two different glycol ethers in con|unctιon with a low molecular weight monohydric alcohol wheiein the monohydπc alcohol composes less than one-half of the total of the weights of the at least t o glycol ethers In preferred embodiment, the monohydric alcohol compnses not more than one-fourth of the total of the weights of the two or moie glycol ethers As the glycol ether constituent there may be used those having the general structure P^-O-R^OH, wherein R_a is an alkyl of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or an

1 of at least 6 carbon atoms, and R_b is an alkylene of 1 to 8 carbons or is an ether or polyether containing from 2 to 20 carbon atoms. Exemplary glycol ethers include propylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, tπpropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol isobutyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol phenyl ether, propylene glycol phenol ether, dipropylene glycol monobutyl ether and mixtures thereof.

Preferably however, one glycol ether is propylene glycol n-butyl ether which has been observed to exhibit good cleaning, as the second and any further glycol ethers may be use any of those described above In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sole glycol ethers in the composition are propylene glycol n-butyl ether and propylene glycol methyl ether The soh ent system also includes at least one low molecular weight monohydric alcohol, preferably the C,-C₃ primary, secondary or tertiary alcohols. One particularl) preferred monohydπc alcohol is isopropanol. It is to be understood that mixtures of two or more alcohols may be used, but desirably only a single alcohol is used in the solvent system.

The solvent system, in total, comprises from 0 01 - 10% t of the inventive compositions, but preferably comprise 0. 1 - 6%w t Further the total amount of the monohydπc alcohol in the solvent system compnses up to half of the total of the weights of the glycol ethers m the solvent systems Preferably the ratio of the monohydric alcohol to the total weight of the glycol ethers is from 0 05 - 0 35 1 , preferabK 0 05 - 0 25 1 in respective parts by weight

According to certain particularly pieferred embodiments, the organic solvent s\ stem (B) consists solely of propvlene glycol n-butyl ether and propvlene glycol methyl ether, and isopropanol

C) The present inventive compositions include one or more surfactant compounds based on amine oxide compounds Such noniomc surfactants are known to the art and are available in commercial preparations, typically as a quantity of the surfactant compound dispersed in an aqueous earner

Such amme oxide compounds are particularly selected from other known surfactant compounds as they have been observed to provide not onK requisite surface active characteristics and, compatibility with the quaternary ammonium catiomc compounds but also have been observed by the inventor to assist m maintaining the phase stability of the inventive compositions over extended intervals of time and/or at high temperatures, up to about 120°F Generally the compositions do not undergo phase separation at these temperatures Such beneficial characteristics have been observed especialh here the organic solvent is selected to be among the preferred, in particular to be the most preferred organic solvent svstem described above Further, the present

entor has observed that these amme oxide compounds do not tend to contπbute to a mottled or streaky appearance to the treated surface during drying Additionally, these amme oxide compounds provide a cleaning benefit to the compositions

Amme oxide compounds which are useful in the compositions of the invention are known to the art One general class of useful amine oxides include alkyl dι(lower alkyl) amme oxides in w hich the alkyl group has about 10-20, and preferabK 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated The lower alkyl groups include between 1 and 7 carbon atoms Examples include lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, myπst\ 1 dimethyl amme oxide, dimethyl cocoamine oxide, dimethyl (hydiogenated tallow) amme oxide, and myπstyl/palmityl dimethyl amine oxide Further am e oxides include alkyl dι(hydroxy lower alkyl) amme oxides in which the

l group has about 10-20, and preferabK 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated Examples are bιs(2-hydroxyethyl) cocoamine oxide, bis(i-hydroxyethyl) tallow amine oxide, and bιs(2-hydroxyethyl) stearylamine oxide Yet further useful amme oxides include alkylamidopropyl dι(lower alkyl) amme oxides in which the alkyl gioup has about 10-20 and preferably 12-16 carbon atoms, and can be straight or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated Examples are cocoamidopropyl dimethyl amme oxide and tallowamidopropyl dimethyl amme oxide

Suitable amme oxides, including many of those recited above, include those which are presently commercially available and include those under the trade name Ammonyx® (Stepan Co , Chicago IL), as well as Barlox® (Lonza Inc , Fairlawn NJ)

With respect to the amme oxides, preferred are the alkyl di (low er alkyl) amine oxides in which the alkyl group has about 12-16 carbon atoms, of which most preferably lauryl amme oxides

The amine oxide constituent forms from 0 01 - 2%wt of the inventive compositions, preferably comprise form 0 01 - l% t

D) The inventive compositions also contain at least one noniomc surfactant based on an alkylpolyglycoside compound Exemplary suitable compounds include alkyl monoglycosides and polyglycosides are prepared generally by reacting a monosacchaπde, or a compound hydrolyzable to a monosacchaπde with an alcohol such as a fatty alcohol in an acid medium

Exemplary alkyl glycoside surfactants suitable for use in the practice of this invention include those which may be represented bv the

wherein

R is an alkyl group, pieferably a linear alkvl chain, w hich comprises C, to C₁₆ alkyl groups, x is an integer value of from 0 - 3. inclusive

Examples of such alkylpolyglycoside compounds according to this structure include where R is comprised substantially of C₈ and C,₀ alkyl chains yielding an average value of about 9 1 alkyl carbons per molecule (Glucopon® 220 UP, Glucopon® 225 DK), where R is comprised of C„ C₁₀, C12, C and C₁₆ alkyl chains yielding an average value of about 10 3 alkyl carbons per molecule

(Glucopon® 425), where R is comprised substantially of C_P, C_l4 and C₁₆ alkyl chains yielding an average value of about 12 8 alkyl carbons per molecule (Glucopon® 600 UP, Glucopon® 625 CSUP, and Glucopon® 625 FE, all of w hich are available from Henkel Corp , Ambler PA ) Also useful as the alkylpolyglycoside compound is Triton® CG-110 (Union Carbide Corp )

A particularly preferred alkylglycoside is GLUCOPON 325N which is described as being a C<,-C_M alkyl polyglycoside, also commonly referred to as D- glucopyranoside (from Henkel Corp, Ambler PA) Particularly preferred as the alkylpolyglycoside compounds are those illustrated in the Examples The nomomc alkylpolyglycoside compounds compnse from 0 01 - 5%wt , preferably considerably less, namely from 0 01 - 1 25%wt

As is noted above, the compositions according to the invention are aqueous in nature Water is added in order to provide to 100% by weight of the compositions of the invention According to preferred embodiments, the inventive compositions are substantially aqueous and comprise at least 85%wt more prefeiably at least 90%wt of watei The water may be tap watei, but is preferably distilled and is most preferably deionized water

In particularly pieferred embodiments, the inventive compositions are shelf stable aqueous cleaning and disinfecting composition which do not undesirably degrade when subjected to an elevated temperature over an extended peπod of time More specifically, the inventive compositions do not suffer precipitation or phase separation when a sample composition is subjected to an accelerated aging testing at 120°F, for a four-week test period As is known to the art, such a test is a harsh test, and a useful indicator of the long term shelf stability of the tested sample composition

The compositions according to the invention may be categoπzed as "broad spectrum" disinfecting compositions as they exhibit antimicrobial efficacy against at least Stapln lococcus aureus and Salmonella choleraesuis in accordance with the AOAC Geπmcidal Spray Test known to those skilled in the art In more preferred embodiments, the compositions according to the invention may be categoπzed as "hospital strength" type disinfecting compositions as they exhibit antimicrobial efficacy against all three of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choletaesuis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in accordance with the AOAC Germicidal Spray Test This test evaluates the antimicrobial efficacy of a composition against Staphylococcus aw eus (gram positive type pathogenic bacteria) (ATCC 6538), Salmonella choletaesuis (gram negative type pathogenic bacteria) ( ATCC 10708), and Pseudomonas aei uginosa (ATCC 15442) The testing is performed generally in accordance ith the protocols outlined generally referred to as the AOAC Official Method 961 02 "Germicidal Spray Products as

Disinfectants", as described in AOAC Official Methods of Analysis, 16^th Ed , (1995) the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference This test is herein interchangeably referred to as the AOAC Germicidal Spray Test In preferred and especially in most preferred embodiments of the invention the compositions may be characterized by being essentially non-streaking, and depositing very little residue The compositions are especially useful in cleaning and disinfecting of hard sui faces, particularly polished or enameled metal surfaces which are frequently encountered on kitchen appliances, as well as on glass surfaces

As noted, the compositions may include one or more optional additives which by way of non-limiting example include coloring agents such as dyes and pigments, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers, pH adjusting agents, pH buffeπng agents, chelatmg agents, rheology modification agents, as well as one or more further nomonic surfactant compounds Desirably, in order to reduce the likelihood of undesired buildup upon treated surfaces, especially hard surfaces, the total amounts of such optional additives is less than about 2% wt but are desirably significantly less, such as less than about 0.5%wt based on the total weight of the aqueous cleaning and disinfecting composition being provided herein Optimally, the amounts of such further optional additives is kept to a minimum in order to minimize the amounts of non-volatile constituents in the compositions as a whole, which tend to contribute to an undesired streaky or mottled appearance of the composition duπng drying Useful as chelatmg agents include those known to the art, including by way of non-hmitmg example, aminopolycarboxyhc acids and salts thereof wherein the ammo nitrogen has attached thereto two or more substituent groups Preferred chelatmg agents include acids and salts, especially the sodium and potassium salts of ethylenediammetetraacetic acid, diethylenetπammepentaacetic acid, N- hydroxyethylethylenediammetπacetic acid, and of which the sodium salts of ethylenediammetetraacetic acid may be particularly advantageously used

The compositions according to the invention optionally but desirably include an amount of a pH adjusting agent or pH buffer composition Such compositions include many which are known to the art and which are conventionally used By way of non-limitmg example pH adjusting agents include phosphorus containing compounds, monovalent and polyvalent salts such as of silicates, carbonates, hydroxides, aluminates, and borates, certain organic mateπals such as gluconates, succinates, maleates, and their alkali metal salts, mineral acids, organic acids, bases, tartrates and certain acetates A particularly preferred mateπal is sodium tetraborate decahydrate, commonly referred to as borax Desirably the compositions according to the invention include an effective amount of an organic acid and/or an inorganic salt form thereof which may be used to adjust and maintain the pH of the compositions of the invention to the desired pH range The inventive compositions are preferably alkaline in natuie, desirably exhibit a pH 8 -

11, and more desirably a pH of about 9-11 Any such pH adjusting agent should be compatible with the other constituents present

Further optional, but advantageously included constituents are one or more coloring agents, particularly useful are water soluble or water dispersible dyes Further optional, but desirable constituent include fragrances, natural or synthetically produced Such fragrances may be added in any conventional manner

Each of the constituents described above, are per se, known to the art and are widely commercially available In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventive composition, there is provided low residue ready to use aqueous hard surface cleaning and broad spectrum disinfecting composition compπsing per 100%wt . (preferably, consisting essentially of,) per

A) 0 01 - 3%wt of one or more quaternary ammonium surfactant compounds having germicidal properties,

B) 0 1 - 6%wt of a solvent system which consists of two or more different glycol ethers in conjunction with a low molecular weight monohydric alcohol wherein the monohydπc alcohol comprises less than one-half of the total of the weights of the two glycol ethers, C) 0 01 - 2%wt of one or more amine oxide compounds,

D) 0 01 - 5 %wt of one or more nomonic alkylpolyglycoside compounds,

E) at least 85%wt water

0 - 0 5%wt optional constituents, wherein the compositions aie characterized by leaving minimal residue, and forming a substantially unifonn film during evaporative drying after being applied to a hard surface

The compositions of the invention can be prepared in a conventional manner such as by simply mixing the constituents in order to form the ultimate aqueous cleaning composition The order of addition <s not critical but beneficially the surfactant constituents are added to the water prior to an\ other constituents

The compositions according to the invention are useful in the cleaning and/or disinfecting of surfaces, especially hard surfaces, having deposited soil thereon In such a process, cleaning and disinfecting of such surfaces compnses the step of applying a soil releasing and disinfecting effective amount of a composition as taught herein to such a soiled surface It is contemplated that where sanitization of the treated surface is a primary concern, that the composition is allowed to keep the treated hard surface wet for a sufficient penod of time in order to achieve sanitization of the hard surface Afterwards, the compositions are optionally but desirably wiped, scrubbed or otherwise physically contacted with the hard surface, and further optionally, may be subsequently πnsed from such a cleaned and disinfected hard surface In certain apphcations especially where undesirable soil deposits are heavy, the cleaning composition according to the invention may be left on the soiled area until it has effectively loosened the soil deposits after which it may then be wiped off, rinsed off, or otherwise removed For particularly heavy deposits of such undesired soils, multiple applications may also be used To ensure effective disinfection, a longer contact time, generally of 10 minutes is required The hard surface cleaner composition provided according to the invention can be desirably provided in an aerosolized form which is packaged in a pressurized container, or may be supplied in a ready-to-use form such as in a bottle or flask which further includes a manually operated spiay dispensing container Whereas the present invention is intended to be produced and provided in the "ready-to-use" form described above, they may be diluted in a further amount of water to fonn a cleaning solution therefrom Desirably however the compositions should be used "as is", that is to say without further dilution The following examples illustrate the superior properties of the formulations of the invention and particular preferred embodiments of the inventive compositions The terms "parts by weight" or "percentage weight" are used interchangeably in the specification and m the following Examples wherein the weight percentages of each of the individual constituents are indicated in weight percent based on the total weight of the composition, unless indicated otherwise

Examples:

Exemplary formulations illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the m\ entive compositions and descnbed in more detail m Table 1 below were formulated generally in accordance with the following protocol

Into a suitably sized \ essel, a measured amount of water was pro\ ided after which the constituents were added in the following sequence surfactants, alcohol and glycol ethers, amme oxide, and lastly the coloring and fragrance constituents (if included) All of the constituents were supplied at room temperature, and mixing of the constituents was achieved bv the use of a mechanical stirrer with a small diameter propeller at the end of its rotating shaft Mixing, which generally lasted from 5 minutes to 120 minutes was maintained until the particular exemplary formulation appeared to be homogeneous The exemplary compositions were readily pourable, and retained well mixed characteristics (i.e., stable mixtures) upon standing for extended periods.

The exact compositions of the example fon ulations are listed on Table 1, below wherein are indicated the weight percentages of the named constituents in their "as supplied^" form, based on a composition total weight of 100% weight.

TABLE 1

Ex.1 Ex.2 Ex.3 Ex.4 Ex.5 Ex.6 Ex.7

BTC 8358 0 027 0.027 0.027 0.027 0.027 0.027 0.027 BTC 65NF 0 172 0 172 0 172 0.172 0.172 0.172 0.172

AMMONYX LO 0.2 0 2 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.2 DOWANOL PnB 2.5 2 5 2.5 2 5 2.5 2.5 2.5

DOWANOL PM 2.5 2.5 2.5. 2 5 2.5 2.5 2.5 isopropanol 0Λ 0 4 04 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

GLUCOPON 325N 0.8 ^" 0.48 0.8 0.48 0.48 0.8 0.48 borax 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 fragrance 0.05 0.05 0.05 0 05 0.05 0.05 0.05 dye 0.1 1 0.1 1 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.1 1 0.11 deionized water to 100^" to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100 to 100

The identity of the particular constituents recited in Table 1 are disclosed in particular detail in Table 2 below, wherein the weight percent of 'actives^' in the particular constituent is also denoted.

TABLE 2

BTC 8358 alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (80%wt. actives)

[Stepan Co.] _

BTC 65NF alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (50%wt. actives) [Stepan Co ]

AMMONYX LO lauryl dimethyl amine oxide (30%wt. actives) [Stepan Co/

DOWANOL PnB propylene glycol n-butyl ether (100%wt. actives) [Dow Chem.Co.] __

DOWANOL PM propylene glycol methyl ether (100%wt. actives) [Dow Chem.Co.] __ _ __ isopropanol isopropanol

GLUCOPON 325N Cg-C,, alkyl polygϊycoside (50%wt. actives) [Henkel Co., Ambler, PA] borax sodium tetraborate decahydrate (100%wt.) U.S. Borax Inc. fragrance proprietary composition aqueous dye proprietary composition __ deionized water deionized water The compositions of Table 1 were evaluated m accordance with one or more of the further tests elucidated below

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy

A formulation according to Example 4 as described on Table 1 above was evaluated at different pH's in order to evaluate their antimicrobial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus (gram positive type pathogenic bacteria) (ATCC 6538), Salmonella choleraesuis (gram negative type pathogenic bacteria) (ATCC 10708), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442) The testing was performed in accordance with the protocols outlined in AOAC Official Method 961 02 "Germicidal Spray Products as Disinfectants", as described in AOAC Official Methods of Analysis, 16^,h Ed , (1995)

As is appreciated by the skilled practitioner in the art, the results of the AOAC Germicidal Spray Test indicates the number of test substrates wherein the tested organism remains viable after contact for 10 minutes with a test disinfecting composition / total number of tested substrates (slides) evaluated in accordance with the AOAC AOAC Germicidal Spray Test Thus, a result of "0/10" indicates that of 10 test substrates beanng the test organism and contacted for 10 minutes in a test disinfecting composition, 0 test substrates had viable (live) test organisms at the conclusion of the test Such a result is excellent, illustrating the excellent disinfecting efficacy of the tested composition

The results of this test is indicated on Table 3, following

As can be seen from the results, the compositions accoidmg to the invention exhibit excellent disinfecting properties

Evaluation of Cleaning Efficacy The compositions of the invention are expected to exhibit good cleaning efficacy

Evaluation of Streaking Drying Characteristics

The compositions of the invention are expected to exhibit low streaking

Claims

An aqueous cleaning composition which provides disinfecting and cleaning chaiacteristics to hard surfaces, which comprises the following constituents

B) a solvent system which consists of two or more different glycol ethers in conjunction with a low molecular weight monohydπc alcohol wherein the monohydπc alcohol compnses less than one-half of the total of the weights of the two or more glycol ethers,

C) one or more amme oxide compounds,

D) one or more nomonic alkylpolyglycoside compounds,

E) water

The composition according to claim 1 wherein the quaternary ammonium germicide is accordance with the following general structural formula

where

R₂ . R₃ may be C₈-C_palkyl, or when R., is C_p ,, alkyl, C₈ ,₈alkylethoxy,

C_g , alkylphenolethoxy, R-, is benzyl,

X is a hahde

An aqueous cleaning composition according to claim 1 which consists essentially of the following constituents A) 0 01 - 3%wt of one or moie quatematy ammonium surfactant compounds having germicidal properties,

B) 0 1 - 6%wt of a solvent system which consists of two or more different glycol ethers in conjunction with a low molecular weight

dπc alcohol wherein the monohydric alcohol comprises less than one-half of the total of the weights of the two glycol ethers,

C) 0 01 - 2%wt of one or more amine oxide compounds,

D) 0 01 - 5 %wt of one or more no onic alkylpolyglycoside compounds,

F) at least 85%\\ t watei

0 - 0 5%wt optional constituents, wherein the compositions are characterized by leaving minimal residue, and forming a substantially uniform film during evaporative drying after being applied to a hard surface

4 A composition according to claim 1 wherein the compositions are characteπzed as being essentially free of alkanolarmne based surfactants

5 A composition according to claim 1 wherein the alkylpolyglycoside compounds may be represented by the structure

wherein

- 1* R is an alkyl group, prefeiably a linear alkyl chain, which comprises C₈ to C,₆ alkyl groups, x is an integer value of fiom 0 - 3. inclusive

A composition according to any of claims 1 - 5 substantially as descπbed with reference to the Examples

A process for the cleaning and disinfecting of a hard surface in need of such treatment which comprises the step of applying an effective amount of the composition according to any of claims 1 - 6 to a hard surface, allowing the surface to remain wet for a time period necessary for disinfection, and, optionally wiping the surface until substantially dry