House dust can create an unsightly appearance.

Further, many people have allergic reactions to house dust. A portion of the dust commonly found in homes is caused by the excrement of house dust mites. It has therefore been proposed to treat their preferred habitats with an acaricide. For example, in U. S. patent 4, 666, 940 it was suggested to include such acaricides in carpet treating compositions. This approach had little effect on the level of dust already in room air, or on dust caused by other sources. Further, the 4, 666, 940 treatment created a pulverulent residue of small particles (that were suitable for ingestion by dust mites). These particles themselves are an additional potential source of"dust".

A variety of complex electrical room air filtration systems have also been developed. However, this approach is quite expensive.

It can therefore be seen that a need exists for an improved way of controlling dust levels in room air.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention provides a fabric treating composition which has at least 10% by weight of benzyl benzoate, and at least 20% (preferably

at least 50%) by weight of a volatile alcohol having less than four carbons. Preferably there is also between 5 and 20% by weight of water.

Ethanol is a highly preferred alcohol because of its volatility and known toxicity characteristics. However, other suitable volatile alcohols may be used such as methanol, propanol and isopropanol.

It is also preferred that there be a hydrocarbon propellant that permits delivery of the composition from an aerosol can. The hydrocarbon propellant can be propane, butane, isobutane, pentane, and various mixtures thereof. Other standard aerosol hydrocarbon propellants may also be used.

The compositions of the present invention may also include a variety of other fabric treating components which enhance effectiveness, modify physical appearance or fragrance, extend the life of the container, or add other desired features. Such optional components include (without limitation) perfumes, chelating agents, preservatives and corrosion inhibitors, each typically present in an amount from 0 - 2%.

In another aspect, the invention provides methods of reducing the level of airborne dust in a carpeted room.

One can apply the above compositions to a carpet surface in the room and thereafter vacuum the carpet. Preferably, the application is by spraying the composition on the carpet and the vacuuming step occurs after the composition has dried on the carpet surface. It is preferable to wait two or more hours before the first vacuuming. There is no criticality to the time between the first and any future vacuuming.

Apart from the acaricidal effect of even low levels of benzyl benzoate on dust mites, higher levels of benzyl benzoate in the presence of high levels of alcohol serve to trap dust in and on the carpet (or other room fabric) between vacuuming, yet permit release of the dust into a vacuum cleaner during conventional vacuuming. The carpet, drapes, upholstery, and other interior room fabric surprisingly act as a"filtering"system for the air in the room.

The objects of the invention therefore include providing compositions of the above kind which : (a) help reduce the amount of airborne dust in a room ; (b) which can both treat carpets and prevent dust that falls on the carpet from being reintroduced into room air ; and (c) which dry quickly and have acceptable flammability, odor and other characteristics.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention (e. g. providing methods for using such compositions) will be apparent from the description which follows. The description is merely of the preferred embodiments. To evaluate the full scope of the invention the claims should be reviewed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Example 1 A composition of the present invention has the following content : Ingredient %wt water 12. 60 benzyl benzoate 18. 00

isobutane 10. 0 ethanol 58. 32 sodium nitrate (preservative) 0. 36 perfume 0. 72 Testing In one set of experiments dusty carpets were simulated by taking collection bag residue from a vacuum cleaner, passing the residue through a sieve to select for dust size particles, and then dirtying clean carpet samples (12 inch by 14 inch nylon carpet) with the dust.

The above composition was sprayed on the dirty carpet at a concentration of 11 gm per square yard. The carpet was then allowed to dry for two hours. The carpet was then raked to force dust from the carpet into the air. The airborne dust level was monitored.

Before the raking the carpet was first vacuumed in a second, similar comparative experiment. In another (control) experiment dust levels were measured when there was no treatment by a composition of the present invention ("untreated"). The untreated carpet was raked without vacuuming. In a fourth experiment the untreated carpet was raked after vacuuming.

Each of the four experimental conditions was repeated four times, and air particle levels were averaged for each condition. The following are the results : (a) treatment plus vacuuming - 1215 particles per cubic foot of air ; (b) treatment without vacuuming - 1676 particles per cubic foot of air ;

(c) no treatment and no vacuuming - 4323 particles per cubic foot of air ; and (d) no treatment, but with vacuuming - 5830 particles per cubic foot of air.

Thus, in the absence of treatment with a composition of the present invention, vacuuming tended to spread dust into the air. Use of the compositions of the present invention reduced dust levels regardless of whether there was vacuuming. Further, it increased the efficiency of vacuuming (so that vacuuming helped suppress the airborne dust level).

In another set of experiments 12" x 12" nylon carpet squares were soiled in a standard manner using composite vacuum cleaner soil. Six of such squares were selected, with three being controls that were not treated with a formulation of the present invention, and three being treated with a formulation of the present invention.

At a first time each carpet square was placed in a monitoring chamber and then agitated by stroking a squeegee five times against the carpet. Dust levels in the chamber were monitored at one minute intervals for the next six minutes.

The carpeting was then placed in a foot traffic location for four weeks. At weekly intervals the carpets were removed, vacuumed, and tested as noted above. Dust levels with treated carpets averaged significantly less than for untreated carpets (e. g. at the end of week one, at five minutes after squeegeeing, the control count was about 270, 000 particles and the treated count was about 120, 000 ; at the end of week three, after three minutes,

the control count was about 190, 000 particles and the treated count was about 45, 000).

While the above describes preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made to the above embodiment without departing from the concept. For example, the fabric need not be nylon. It can be a wide variety of natural and synthetic fibers commonly used for carpeting, upholstery or drapery such as acrylics sold under the trademarks "Verel", "Orlon", and "Acrilan"; polyesters sold under the trademarks"Kodel"and"Dacron" ; wool ; cotton ; and blends of such fibers.

Also, a wide variety of other formulations having high levels of benzyl benzoate and volatile alcohol can be used (albeit aqueous ethanol aerosol formulations are highly preferred).

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The compositions and methods of the present invention can treat interior fabrics in a way which reduces airborne dust.