摘要:
A piece of soiled fabric (39) is cleaned by contacting it with a jet of an ionized soil-dislodging gas to dislodge the soil therefrom. The ionized gas and the use of an oppositely charged electrostatic filter (34) aid in preventing redeposition of the soil onto the fabric (39). The fabric (39) may be agitated while it is contacted with the gas jet. A portion of the piece of fabric (39) may be treated with an electrostatic spotting compound that enhances the effect of the ionized gas and may also enhance the removal of the soil. An apparatus (30) for accomplishing the cleaning includes a container (36) having an interior (38) in which the fabric (39) is received, a gas jet nozzle (46) directed into the interior (38) of the container (36), a source (50, 52) of a pressurized gas communicating with an inlet of the gas jet nozzle (46), a gas jet manifold (44) extending from the source (50, 52) to the gas jet nozzle (46), and a gas ionizer (80) disposed to ionize the pressurized gas passing through the gas jet nozzle (46).