In accordance with the present invention an acidic liquid detergent composition, suitable for cleaning ceramic tiles without eroding grout between them, comprises a minor proportion of glutaric acid, a lesser minor proportion of phosphoric acid, both acids being partially neutralized to a pH in the range of 3 to 5 and the detergent composition being at such pH, and the partially neutralized glutaric and phosphoric acids being present in such proportions that the proportion of partially neutralized glutaric acid in the composition is effective to remove soap scum from tiles and the proportion of partially neutralized phosphoric acid is effective to inhibit erosion of grout between the tiles by the partially neutralized glutaric acid, a minor proportion of a condensation product of ethylene oxide and higher linear alcohol of 8 to 20 carbon atoms, with the content of ethylene oxide being at least about 20 ethylene oxide groups per mole of the alcohol, which condensation product is effective in acid medium to lift soap scum off the tiles being cleaned, a minor proportion of a mono-lower alkyl ether or phenyl ether of diethylene glycol, wherein the lower alkyl is of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, with the proportion of such monoether of diethylene glycol being effective to assist in removing loosened soap scum from the tiles by helping to transport it away from the location where it was initially bonded to the tiles, and a major proportion of water, in which the partially neutralized glutaric acid, partially neutralized phosphoric acid, condensation product of ethylene oxide and linear alcohol, and diethylene glycol ether are dissolved. Alternatively, the corresponding salts may be employed, as may be mixtures of the acids and/or salts. In such compositions a minor proportion will be a detergent and a major proportion will be water, such proportions respectively being preferably 1 to 4% and 75 to 90%, more preferably 2 to 3% and 80 to 90%, and most preferably about 2.5% and about 85 to 88%. Phosphoric acid is found to diminish grout erosion more effectively than sulfuric acid, the salt of which is also water insoluble. The experiments of Examples 1 and 2 are repeated, with the nonionic detergent condensation product being replaced with similar condensation products wherein the fatty alcohol is a primary or secondary alcohol or mixture thereof of an average of 12, 14 or 16 carbon atoms, and the number of ethylene oxide groups per mole is 20, 30 or 40, respectively. Still, before the present invention cleaning compositions were not available which were useful for effectively cleaning ceramic tiles and porcelain ware without damaging the grout between such tiles or adjacent to the porcelain. In an aspect of the invention of intermediate scope the acidic detergent composition comprises a minor proportion of glutaric acid, as the physiologically and aesthetically acceptable non-sequestering acid, and the acid which forms a water insoluble calcium salt may be selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, tartaric acid, sulfuric acid, oxalic acid, tungstic acid, cumene sulfonic acid and higher linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid wherein the higher alkyl is of 10 to 18, preferably 11 to 15 carbon atoms. The detergent is preferably a nonionic detergent, and of such detergents the condensation products of ethylene oxide and higher secondary linear monoalkanol, previously described, are preferred. 3,650,965 describes a low foaming detergent composition which comprises a mixture of two nonionic surface active components, one having a cloud point above 45 C. and the other having a cloud point below 35 C., an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, butyl Cellosolve and a mineral acid, such as phosphoric acid. Proportions of such nonionic detergent and monoether of diethylene glycol, when both are employed, should be within the ranges of 1 to 4% and 2 to 5%, respectively, preferably 2 to 3% and 3.5 to 4.5%, and more preferably will be about 2.5% and about 4%, respectively. When a suitable thickener is added to the formulas of this example or to the formulas of Example 1 a product will be made which flows less readily down a vertical wall onto which it has been sprayed. A composition according to claim 6 wherein said composition contains, in addition, a minor proportion of a detergent selected from the group consisting of anionic detergents, nonionic detergents and mixtures thereof. However, citric acid is a sequestering acid and tends to remove calcium from calcium carbonate in the grout employed between adjacent ceramic tiles, which is detrimental to its use, and the other mentioned acids are often unsatisfactory because of unacceptable odors and/or because they result in human nasal and/or respiratory irritation. The cleaners so made, like the cleaner of the first formula given, when brought to a pH of 3.5 to 4.5, are effective for removing soap scum from ceramic tiles and other bathroom surfaces and do not erode the grout between the tiles, whether it is of latex or Portland cement type, even after repeated applications of the cleaner (more than 40). Acidic liquid detergent composition for cleaning ceramic tiles without eroding grout, Acid liquid detergent composition for cleaning ceramic tiles without eroding grout, ACID LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITION FOR THE CLEANING OF CERAMIC TILES WITHOUT DELETING THE MORTAR, ACID, LIQUID CLEANER FOR CLEANING CERAMIC TILES AND PROCEDURE FOR MANUFACTURING THE CLEANER. Calcium carbonate reacts with acid and therefore the use of acidic cleaners has in the past caused erosion of the grout so that after repeated uses it would become non-adherent and would crack and disintegrate, causing leakage, and eventually requiring replacement. Instead of the phenyl ether the benzyl ether may sometimes be desirably substituted, and mixtures of such ethers, including mixtures of the aromatic and aliphatic ethers, may also be employed. 4,032,466 described a thickened acid cleaner concentrate which comprises an inorganic acid, an organic acid, a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a flocculating agent, such as iron or aluminum ion, and water. The nonionic surface active agent, at the pH described, has an improved detersive action and acts to promote lifting or release of the soap scum from the substrate to which it was previously strongly held. The invented product is comparatively mild to the hands, is easy to employ and consistently yields excellent results. Especially with respect to metal parts this is an important advantage of the present invention because platings are not worn through after repeated uses and base metals are not exposed. Nevertheless, in those circumstances when phosphorus-containing materials are to be avoided in detergent products, it may be desirable to substitute another of such acids (or others of equivalent performance) for the phosphoric acid. The experimental formulas of Example 1 that are within the invention are modified by replacing the phosphoric acid thereof with one of the following: sulfuric acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, cumene sulfonic acid, linear tridecylbenzene sulfonic acid and tungstic acid. The composition is also at a pH in a certain range for most effective cleaning of ceramic material and for minimal erosion of grout. Normally, the corresponding monoethers of ethylene glycol will not be utilized, often because of problems of toxicities or poor performances, but in some circumstances they may be substitutable for the described monoethers of diethylene glycol, especially for the ethyl and hexyl ethers. It is known that acids and acidic preparations help to remove soap scum from tiles, and acidic cleaners have been made, patented and marketed. U.S. Pat. from the surface to be cleaned. The products made, when tested in the manner previously described or when tested by soaking experimental ceramic tile panels repeatedly with intermediate latex or Portland cement grout between them for five minutes in the test cleaning solution, followed by wiping and rinsing, show improved stability of the grout, compared to "control" solutions wherein such acids (which form insoluble calcium salts) are not present, being replaced by glutaric acid. When the salts are used the solution may be brought to the desired pH by addition of the corresponding acids or of suitable compatible acidifying agents. 9. A search in the classified patent files of the United States Patent and Trademark Office has revealed a number of references of different degrees of relevance to the present invention. Such acids will include those which do not form water insoluble calcium salts. In repeated applications after light soilings with soap scum the wiping step may sometimes be omitted (and is omitted) and the surface being cleaned, whether porcelain or porcelain enamelware, as in a sink or tub, or ceramic tile, such as on bathroom walls or floors, or of shower stalls, tub enclosures or other such hard bathroom surfaces, will be cleaned of the hard to remove soap scum and will be attractively lustrous, without the need for wiping prior to rinsing off of the acidic cleaner. U.S. Pat. Of the acids which form water insoluble calcium salts, and thereby apparently act to protect the calcium carbonate component of the grout against detrimental erosion, phosphoric acid (orthophosphoric acid) has been found to be highly acceptable. The product described is said to be useful for cleaning hard surfaces, such as bathroom surfaces, for example, toilets. An acidic liquid detergent composition, suitable for cleaning ceramic tiles without eroding grout between them, which comprises a minor proportion of glutaric acid, a lesser minor proportion of phosphoric acid, both acids being partially neutralized to a pH in the range of 3 to 5 and the detergent composition being at such pH, and the partially neutralized glutaric and phosphoric acids being present in such proportions that the proportion of partially neutralized glutaric acid in the composition is effective to remove soap scum from tiles and the proportion of partially neutralized phosphoric acid is effective to inhibit erosion of grout between the tiles by the partially neutralized glutaric acid, a minor proportion of a condensation product of ethylene oxide and higher linear alcohol of 8 to 20 carbon atoms, with the content of ethylene oxide being at least about 20 ethylene oxide groups per mole of the alcohol, which condensation product is effective in acid medium to lift soap scum off the tiles being cleaned, a minor proportion of a mono-lower alkyl ether or phenyl ether of diethylene glycol, wherein the lower alkyl is of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, with the proportion of such monoether of diethylene glycol being effective to assist in removing loosened soap scum from the tiles by helping to transport it away from the location where it was initially bonded to the tiles, and a major proportion of water, in which the partially neutralized glutaric acid, partially neutralized phosphoric acid, condensation product of ethylene oxide and linear alcohol, and diethylene glycol ether are dissolved. 13. The invention is said to be an improvement over a previous invention of the same inventors, in which nonionic surface active agents, hydroxypolycarboxylic acids or their salts, and polypropylene glycol were specified. No. The ceramic surfaces, such as tiles, which are cleaned by the described method, are found to be shiny and lustrous, looking almost like new, and microscopic examinations of the grout between such tile surfaces shows little erosion or other deterioration, compared to "control" cleaning compositions which do not employ the described mixtures of partially neutralized acids. No. The present cleaners, in addition to being useful for cleaning ceramic tiles and intermediate grout, may also be employed to clean various other ceramic, synthetic organic polymeric plastic and metal surfaces, including glass, fiberglass and chrome-plated metal, and do not harm such surfaces or associated grout. Japanese patent application No. In such nonionic detergents the higher linear alcohol will average the number of carbon atoms indicated and preferably such average will be from 9 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 9 to 15 carbon atoms, and most preferably 11 to 15 carbon atoms, e.g., about 13 carbon atoms per mole of the alkanol. The described nonionic surface active materials will include an average of at least about 20 ethylene oxide groups per mole of the alcohol, preferably from 20 to 100 moles, more preferably 20 to 60 moles, still more preferably 20 to 30 moles, and most preferably about 20 moles of ethylene oxide, on the average. For best results the composition also includes a solvent which is a mono-lower alkyl ether or phenyl ether of diethylene glycol wherein the lower alkyl is of 2 to 6 carbon atoms. ;ASSIGNORS:ASZMAN, HARRY W.;BUCK, CHARLES E.;EVERHART, CHERIE H.;REEL/FRAME:004339/0556, PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362, SUR LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITION, PREPARED FOR ITS PREPARATION AND ITS APPLICATION FOR CLEANING THE FLOOR PLATE WITHOUT ERODING THE SEWING MATERIAL, Acidic liquid detergent for ceramic tiles, ACID, LIQUID, CLEANING AGENT FOR CERAMIC PLATES, WHICH DOES NOT DETERMINE THE Potting Material, ACID, LIQUID CLEANING AGENT FOR CERAMIC PLATES AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF, Acidic liquid detergent composition for removing soap scum. Also, when acetic acid, succinic acid and propionic acid or mixtures thereof are employed in place of the glutaric acid the products made are objectionable because they have unacceptable odors and cause nasal and respiratory irritations due to the presence(s) of such acid(s). COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY, 300 PARK AVE., NEW YORK, Free format text: In the compositions of this invention the described type and proportion of each component are considered important to the obtaining of a desired product, which is effective to clean ceramic tiles and other bathroom surfaces without eroding grout that will of necessity also be contacted by the detergent composition.

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