EP1133546A1 - The use of a peroxygen bleach as a fabric/textile softening agent - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of a peroxygen bleach as a fabric/textile softening ingredient in a composition to treat fabrics and/or textiles whereby softness characteristics are provided to said fabrics and/or textiles.

Description

The use of a peroxygen bleach as a fabric/textile softening agent

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the use of a peroxygen bleach as a fabric/textile softening agent in a composition to treat fabrics and/or textiles.

Background of the Invention

Carpets produced from synthetic or natural fibers and mixtures thereof are commonly used in residential and commercial applications as a floor covering. Various types of fibers can be used in making carpets such as polyamide fibers, polyester fibers as well as wool, cotton or even silk in the case of rugs.

However, carpets irrespective of whether they are made from natural or synthetic fibers are all prone to soiling and staining when contacted with many household items. Foods, grease, oils, beverages in particular such as coffee, tea and soft drinks especially those containing acidic dyes can cause unsightly, often dark stains on carpets. Also fibers may become soiled as a result of dirt particles, clay, dust, i.e., particulate soils in general, coming into contact with and adhering to the fibers of the carpet. These latter soils often appear in the form of a diffuse layer of soils rather than in the form of spots and tend to accumulate particularly in the so called "high traffic areas" such as near doors as a result of intensive use of the carpets in such areas. Another major concern in the care of carpeting, besides the overall cleaning performance desired for a given treating process, is sanitizing. Indeed it is important to reduce or even prevent microbial contamination on carpet surfaces. This is especially important in houses with pets, hotels or in hospitals and other health care facilities, where the presence of micro-organisms like bacteria should be kept to a minimum. Compositions for the treatment of carpets are already known in the art. For example carpet cleaning compositions based on surfactants and polyvinylpyrrolidone as disclosed in EP-A-822 249.

However, such compositions are not fully satisfactory from a consumer viewpoint. In particular, it is well known from consumer research that consumers are often looking for a composition to treat carpets whereby the carpet surface feels softer.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a composition to treat carpets that imparts softness characteristics to carpets treated therewith.

It has now been found that the above objective can be met by the use of a peroxygen bleach as a fabric/textile softening ingredient in a composition to treat carpets.

An advantage of the compositions according to the present invention is that they provide excellent overall cleaning performance. More advantageously, the compositions according to the present invention provide excellent cleaning performance, when both used to clean the whole carpet or localized carpet stains.

Advantageously, excellent cleaning performance is obtained on different types of stains and soils, including bleachable stains, especially in the so called "high traffic areas".

A further advantage of the present invention is that the compositions as described herein are applicable to all carpet types, especially delicate natural fibers, and are also safe to all carpet dye types, particularly sensitive natural dyes used therein. Another advantage of the present invention is that said softness characteristics are also provided to other textiles besides carpets, as for example, upholstery or car seat covering, and to fabrics (e. g., clothes, curtains, drapes, bed linens, bath linens, table cloths, sleeping bags, tents and the like).

Yet another advantage of the composition as described herein is that they may be applied directly on the carpet without causing damage to the carpet.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention encompasses the use of a peroxygen bleach as a fabric/textile softening ingredient in a composition to treat fabrics and/or textiles whereby softness characteristics are provided to said fabrics and/or textiles.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The composition

The compositions according to the present invention may be formulated either as solids or liquids. In the case where the compositions are formulated as solids for example as granular compositions or powder compositions, they may be applied directly on the fabrics and/or textiles, preferably carpets, to be treated or they may be diluted before use with an appropriate solvent, typically water. Liquid compositions are preferred herein for convenience of use. In the case where the compositions are formulated as liquids including gel and paste form, the compositions are preferably but not necessarily formulated as aqueous compositions. Preferred aqueous compositions preferably comprise water in an amount of from 60% to 98%, more preferably of from 80% to 95% and most preferably 85% to 90% by weight of the total composition.

The pH of the liquid compositions according to the present invention may typically be from 1 to 14. In a preferred embodiment, the recommended pH range is from 1 to 10, preferably between 2 and 8, more preferably between 3 and 7, even more preferably between 4.5 and 7 and most preferably between 3.5 and 6.5. Indeed, it has been surprisingly found that cleaning performance is further improved at these preferred pH ranges. Also these preferred pH ranges contribute to the stability of hydrogen peroxide, when present. Accordingly, the compositions herein may further comprise an acid or base or a mixture thereof to adjust the pH as appropriate.

Preferred acids herein are organic or inorganic acids or mixtures thereof. Preferred organic acids are acetic acid or citric acid or a mixture thereof. Preferred inorganic acids are sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid or a mixture thereof. A particularly preferred acid to be used herein is an inorganic acid and most preferred is sulfuric acid.

Typical levels of such acids, when present, are of from 0.01 % to 1.0% by weight, preferably from 0.05% to 0.8% and more preferably from 0.1% to 0.5% by weight of the total composition.

The bases to be used herein can be organic or inorganic bases. Suitable bases for use herein are the caustic alkalis, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and/or lithium hydroxide, and/or the alkali metal oxides such, as sodium and/or potassium oxide or mixtures thereof. A preferred base is a caustic alkali, more preferably sodium hydroxide and/or potassium hydroxide.

Other suitable bases include ammonia, ammonium carbonate and hydrogen carbonate.

Typical levels of such bases, when present, are of from 0.01 % to 1.0% by weight, preferably from 0.05% to 0.8% and more preferably from 0.1 % to 0.5% by weight of the total composition.

Fabric/textile softening ingredient

Peroxygen bleach is used as fabric/textile softening agent in compositions to treat fabrics and/or textiles, preferably carpets, whereby softness characteristics are provided to said fabrics and/or textiles.

Suitable peroxygen bleaches to be used herein are selected from the group consisting of : hydrogen peroxide; water soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide; organic or inorganic peracids; hydroperoxides; diacyl peroxides; and mixtures thereof.

As used herein a hydrogen peroxide source refers to any compound that produces perhydroxyl ions when said compound is in contact with water. Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use herein are selected from the group consisting of percarbonates, perborates and persilicates and mixtures thereof.

Suitable diacyl peroxides for use herein are selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, aromatic and aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxides, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable aliphatic diacyl peroxides for use herein are dilauroyl peroxide, didecanoyl peroxide, dimyristoyl peroxide, or mixtures thereof. A suitable aromatic diacyl peroxide for use herein is for example benzoyl peroxide. A suitable aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxide for use herein is for example lauroyl benzoyl peroxide. Such diacyl peroxides have the advantage to be particularly safe to fabrics and color while delivering excellent bleaching performance when used in any laundry application.

Suitable organic or inorganic peracids for use herein are selected from the group consisting of : persulphates such as monopersulfate; peroxyacids such as diperoxydodecandioic acid (DPDA); magnesium perphthalic acid; perlauric acid; perbenzoic and alkylperbenzoic acids; and mixtures thereof.

Suitable hydroperoxides for use herein are selected from the group consisting of tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumyl hydroperoxide, 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl-2- hydroperoxide, di-isopropylbenzene-monohydroperoxide, tert-amyl hydroperoxide and 2,5-dimethyl-hexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide and mixtures thereof. Such hydroperoxides have the advantage to be particularly safe to fabrics and color while delivering excellent bleaching performance when used in any laundry application.

Preferred peroxygen bleaches herein are selected from the group consisting of : hydrogen peroxide; water soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide; organic or inorganic peracids; hydroperoxides; and diacyl peroxides; and mixtures thereof. More preferred peroxygen bleaches herein are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, water soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide and diacyl peroxides and mixtures thereof. Even more preferred peroxygen bleaches herein are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, water soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide, aliphatic diacyl peroxides, aromatic diacyl peroxides and aliphatic-aromatic diacyl peroxides and mixtures thereof. Most preferred peroxygen bleaches herein are hydrogen peroxide, water soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide or mixtures thereof. Typically, the liquid compositions herein comprise from 0.01 % to 20%, preferably from 0.5 % to 10%, and more preferably from 1 % to 7% by weight of the total composition of a peroxygen bleach.

By "softness characteristics" it is meant herein the softening performance as defined by the softening performance test method as outlined below. The softness characteristics provided by the use of the composition as described herein are perceived by the consumers in a variety of different ways, e.g., soft touch, soft feel, soft appearance, soft texture, smoothness, fluffiness, restored fluffiness, reduced pungency, reduced roughness, reduced coarseness, reduced rudeness, a pile rinsing effect and/or a pile-up effect

The softening performance of a composition on fabrics and/or textiles may be evaluated by the following softening performance test method. A composition comprising the fabric/textile softening ingredient according to the present invention is first applied in a liquid form, preferably sprayed, onto a 25 cm * 25 cm piece of carpet, left to act thereon from 1 minute to 1 hour, preferably 30 minutes, after which the carpet is vacuum cleaned with a standard Hoover® vacuum cleaner for 5 seconds to 15 seconds, preferably 10 seconds. The above described treatment is repeated for five times and the pieces of carpets are then evaluated by panelists grading the softness characteristics in comparison to the softness characteristics of a similar piece of carpet treated the way as described above but with a composition not comprising the fabric/textile softening ingredient.

The present invention is based on the finding that when a composition comprising a fabric/textile softening ingredient as described is used to treat fabrics and/or textiles, softness characteristics are delivered to the fabrics and/or textiles treated with said composition. Softness characteristics can be observed after the treatment of fabrics and/or textiles having natural fibers, e.g., wool, silk and/or cotton, as well as synthetic fibers, e.g., polyamide or polyester, or fabrics and/or textiles having mixed natural and/or synthetic fibers. By "natural fibers" it is meant fibers consisting to the major part of keratin polypeptides, as for example in wool and in silk, or cellulose molecules, as for example in cotton and jute, or other natural fibers having a natural origin, or mixtures thereof.

By "fabrics" it is meant clothes, curtains, drapes, bed linens, bath linens, table cloths, sleeping bags, tents and the like.

By "textiles" it is meant carpets, rugs, upholstery, car seat coverings and the like.

Although not wishing to be bound by theory, it has been observed that said softness characteristics provided to fabrics and/or textiles treated with a composition described herein may be due to one or more of three speculated effects caused by the fabric/textile softening ingredient.

The first effect is fiber plasticization caused by the fabric/textile softening ingredient. By "fiber plasticization" it is meant that due to its minor polarity a peroxygen bleach can easily penetrate between the macromolecules that form the fabric/textile fibers, temporarily overcoming the intra-molecular attractions that tend to hold said macromolecules together, thereby increasing the mobility of the polymeric chains of said macromolecules. The first effect can be observed in fabrics and/or textiles having natural fibers, fabrics and/or textiles having synthetic fibers as well as fabrics and/or textiles having mixed natural and synthetic fibers.

The second effect is fiber swelling. By "fiber swelling" it is meant that due to the release of molecules in their gas state, preferably oxygen gas, released by a peroxygen bleach, within fabric/textile fibers, the volume around the macromolecule is increased. Thereby increasing the macromolecule's mobility, i.e., providing twisting/translation freedom. The second effect is predominant in fabrics and/or textiles having synthetic fibers and fabrics and/or textiles having mixed natural and synthetic fibers.

The third effect is temporary fiber denaturation. By "temporary fiber denaturation" it is meant that inter/intra-molecular bond and/or attractions connecting fabric/textile fibers, e.g., disulfide bridges connecting cysteine moieties of keratin proteins making up wool fabrics and/or textiles, are oxidised by a peroxygen bleach, preferably due to its oxidising properties, thereby, temporarily stretching/breaking the bonds and/or attractions and resulting in the temporary relaxation of said inter/intra-molecular bonds and/or attractions. Said temporary relaxation leads to a reversible change in the structure of the fibers. The change enables the fibers to move more freely with respect to each other. The third effect is predominant in fabrics and/or textiles having natural fibers and fabrics and/or textiles having mixed natural and synthetic fibers.

Peroxygen bleach is used as a fabric/textile softening ingredient in a composition to treat fabrics and/or textiles. Preferably peroxygen bleach is used as a fabric/textile softening ingredient in a composition to treat textiles as carpets, rugs, upholstery, car seat coverings and the like. Even more preferably peroxygen bleach is used as a fabric/textile softening ingredient in a composition to treat carpets, rugs and the like. Most preferably peroxygen bleach is used as a fabric/textile softening ingredient in a composition to treat carpets.

The presence of a peroxygen bleach, preferably hydrogen peroxide, also contributes to the excellent cleaning (especially on bleachable stains) and sanitizing benefits of the compositions of the present invention.

Indeed, the compositions comprising a peroxygen bleach provide excellent cleaning performance on diffuse soils (e.g., particulate and/or greasy/oily stains) and on other types of stains or soils, i.e., on spot stains like bleachable stains (e.g., coffee, beverage, food) and/or enzymatic stains like blood. Said excellent cleaning performance is provided on various types of fabrics and/or textiles. By "particulate stains" it is meant herein any soils or stains of particulate nature that can be found on any fabric and/or textile, e.g. clay, dirt, dust, mud, concrete and the like.

By "greasy/oily stains" it is meant herein any soils or stains of greasy/oily nature that can be found on any fabric and/or textile, e.g., make-up, lipstick, dirty motor oil and mineral oil, greasy food like mayonnaise and spaghetti sauce.

By "bleachable stains" it is meant herein any soils or stains containing ingredients sensitive to bleach that can be found on any fabric and/or textile, e.g., coffee or tea.

By "enzymatic stains" it is meant herein any soils or stains of enzymatic nature that can be found on any fabric and/or textile, e.g., grass.

The cleaning performance of a given composition on soiled fabrics and/or textiles, e.g., carpets, may be evaluated by the following test method. A composition comprising the fabric/textile softening ingredient according to the present invention is first applied in a liquid form, preferably sprayed, onto the stained portion of a carpet, left to act thereon from 1 to 60 minutes, preferably 30 minutes, after which the carpet is vacuum cleaned. Typical soils used in this test may be grass, dirty motor oil, tea, coffee, dust and/or mayonnaise. The cleaning performance may be evaluated by visual grading.

Optional ingredients

The compositions herein may further comprise conventional fabric/textile cleaning ingredients. Preferably the compositions herein may further comprise a number of additional compounds such as anti-resoiling agents, surfactants, stabilising agents, chelating agents, builder systems, radical scavengers, perfumes, dyes, suds suppressing agents, enzymes, photobleaching agents, bleach activators and other minors. Anti-resoiling agent

As an optional but highly preferred ingredient the compositions according to the present invention may comprise an anti-resoiling agent.

Any anti-resoiling agent having the desired anti-resoiling properties may be used.

By "anti-resoiling properties" it is meant herein that the fabrics and/or textiles, preferably carpets, having been cleaned with a composition according to the present invention, is more effectively cleaned in a subsequent cleaning operation (e.g., mechanical carpet cleaning, as vacuum cleaning, brushing and the like; or carpet cleaning by chemical means). Particularly, it is meant that less effort and/or less product needs to be applied to the fabrics and/or textiles to achieve the same or even a better cleaning versus when the fabrics and/or textiles are cleaned with a composition not containing an anti-resoiling agent.

Suitable anti-resoiling agents include anti-resoiling polymers.

Suitable anti-resoiling polymers include polyamine N-oxide polymers.

Suitable polyamine N-oxide polymers for use herein are according to the following formula : R-A_x-P; containing at least one N-oxide group (N-O group);

wherein : P is a polymerizable unit to which an N-O group can be attached and/or the N-O group can form part of the polymerizable unit;

A is one of the following structures:

$ I -NC- -CO- -C- -N- -O- -S- - x is 0 or 1 ;

and R is an aliphatic, ethoxylated aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic group or any combination thereof to which the N-O group can be attached to R or the nitrogen of the N-O group is part of R.

By "N-O group" it is meant one of the following general structures:

? ?

(Rι)χ-N— (R₂)_v; =N— (Rι χ

R3)₂

wherein R-| , R2, R3 are aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclic groups or combinations thereof; x, y and z are 0 or 1 ; and the nitrogen of the N-O group can be attached or form part of any of the aforementioned groups.

Any polymerizable unit P can be used as long as the amine oxide polymer formed is water-soluble and provides the fabric/textile cleaning composition with fabric/textile cleaning and/or fabric/textile anti-resoiling benefits. Preferred polymerizable unit P are vinyl, alkylenes, esters, ethers, amides, imides, acrylates and mixtures thereof. A more preferred polymerizable unit P is vinyl.

Preferred polyamine N-oxide polymers are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such as pyridine, pyrrole, imidazole, or a derivative thereof, to which the nitrogen of the N-O group can be attached or the N-O group is part of these groups. Most preferred polyamine N-oxide polymers are those wherein R is a pyridine.

The polyamine N-oxide polymer can be obtained in almost any degree of polymerization. Typically, the average molecular weight is within the range of 1 ,000 to 100,000; more preferred 5,000 to 100,000; most preferred 5,000 to 25,000.

Suitable polyamine N-oxide polymer are polyvinyl pyridine-N-oxide polymers wherein : the polymerizable unit P is vinyl; x=0; and R is pyridine wherein the nitrogen of the N-O group is part of.

Suitable poly vinyl pyridine-N-oxide polymers are commercially available from Hoechst under the trade name of Hoe S 4268®, and from Reilly Industries Inc. under the trade name of PVNO.

Suitable anti-resoiling polymers also include soil suspending polycarboxylate polymers or a soil suspending polyamine polymers.

Any soil suspending polycarboxylate polymer known to those skilled in the art can be used according to the present invention such as homo- or co-polymeric polycarboxylic acids or their salts including polyacrylates and copoiymers of maleic anhydride or/and acrylic acid and the like. Indeed, such soil suspending polycarboxylate polymers can be prepared by polymerizing or copolymerizing suitable unsaturated monomers, preferably in their acid form. Unsaturated monomeric acids that can be polymerized to form suitable polymeric polycarboxylates include acrylic acid, maleic acid (or maleic anhydride), fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid. The presence in the polymeric polycarboxylates herein of monomeric segments, containing no carboxylate radicals such as vinylmethyl ether, styrene, ethylene, etc. is suitable provided that such segments do not constitute more than 40% by weight.

Particularly suitable polymeric polycarboxylates to be used herein can be derived from acrylic acid. Such acrylic acid-based polymers which are useful herein are the water-soluble salts of polymerized acrylic acid. The average molecular weight of such polymers in the acid form preferably ranges from 2,000 to 10,000, more preferably from 4,000 to 7,000 and most preferably from 4,000 to 5,000. Water-soluble salts of such acrylic acid polymers can include, for example, the alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts. Soluble polymers of this type are known materials. Use of polyacrylates of this type in detergent compositions has been disclosed, for example, in Diehl, U.S. Patent 3,308,067, issued March 7, 1967.

Acrylic/maleic-based copoiymers may also be used as a preferred soil suspending polycarboxylic polymer. Such materials include the water-soluble salts of copoiymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid. The average molecular weight of such copoiymers in the acid form preferably ranges from 2,000 to 100,000, more preferably from 5,000 to 75,000, most preferably from 7,000 to 65,000. The ratio of acrylate to maleate segments in such copoiymers will generally range from 30:1 to 1 :1 , more preferably from 10:1 to 2:1. Water- soluble salts of such acrylic acid/maleic acid copoiymers can include, for example, the alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts. Soluble acrylate/maleate copoiymers of this type are known materials which are described in European Patent Application No. 66915, published December 15, 1982. Particularly preferred is a copolymer of maleic / acrylic acid with an average molecular weight of 70,000. Such copoiymers are commercially available from BASF under the trade name SOKALAN® CP5.

Any soil suspending polyamine polymer known to those skilled in the art may also be used herein. Particularly suitable polyamine polymers for use herein are alkoxylated polyamines. Such materials can conveniently be represented as molecules of the empirical structures with repeating units :

[N R] n Amine form

I (alkoxy)y

and R1

I _. [N+ R] n nX- Quaternized form

I (alkoxy)y

wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group, usually of 2-6 carbon atoms; R-| may be a C-_j- C20 hydrocarbon; the alkoxy groups are ethoxy, propoxy, and the like, and y is 2-30, most preferably from 10-20; n is an integer of at least 2, preferably from 2- 20, most preferably 3-5; and X- is an anion such as halide or methylsulfate, resulting from the quaternization reaction.

The most highly preferred polyamines for use herein are the so-called ethoxylated polyethylene amines, i.e., the polymerized reaction product of ethylene oxide with ethyleneimine, having the general formula :

(EtO)y [N CH₂ CH₂ ] n N (EtO)y

I I

(EtO)y (EtO)y

when y = 2-30, preferably 15 and n is 1-30 preferably 4. Particularly preferred for use herein is an ethoxylated polyethylene amine, in particular ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine, and quaternized ethoxylated hexamethylene diamine.

Other suitable anti-resoiling polymers include those anti-resoiling polymers having: (a) one or more nonionic hydrophile components consisting essentially of (i) polyoxyethylene segments with a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (ii) oxypropylene or polyoxypropylene segments with a degree of polymerization of from 2 to 10, wherein said hydrophile segment does not encompass any oxypropylene unit unless it is bonded to adjacent moieties at each end by ether linkages, or (iii) a mixture of oxyalkylene units comprising oxyethylene and from 1 to about 30 oxypropylene units wherein said mixture contains a sufficient amount of oxyethylene units such that the hydrophile component has hydrophilicity great enough to increase the hydrophilicity of conventional polyester synthetic fiber surfaces upon deposit of the soil release agent on such surface, said hydrophile segments preferably comprising at least about 25% oxyethylene units and more preferably, especially for such components having about 20 to 30 oxypropylene units, at least about 50% oxyethylene units; or (b) one or more hydrophobe components comprising (i) C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate segments, wherein, if said hydrophobe components also comprise oxyethylene terephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene terephthalate: C3 oxyalkylene terephthalate units is about 2:1 or lower, (ii) C4-C6 alkylene or oxy C4-C6 alkylene segments, or mixtures therein, (iii) poly (vinyl ester) segments, preferably polyvinyl acetate), having a degree of polymerization of at least 2, or (iv) C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether substituents, or mixtures therein, wherein said substituents are present in the form of C1-C4 alkyl ether or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether cellulose derivatives, or mixtures therein, and such cellulose derivatives are amphiphilic, whereby they have a sufficient level of C-1-C4 alkyl ether and/or C4 hydroxyalkyl ether units to deposit upon conventional polyester synthetic fiber surfaces and retain a sufficient level of hydroxyls, once adhered to such conventional synthetic fiber surface, to increase fiber surface hydrophilicity, or a combination of (a) and (b).

Typically, the polyoxyethylene segments of (a)(i) will have a degree of polymerization of from about 1 to about 200, although higher levels can be used, preferably from 3 to about 150, more preferably from 6 to about 100. Suitable oxy C4-C6 alkylene hydrophobe segments include, but are not limited to, end- caps of polymeric soil release agents such as Mθ3S(CH2)_nOCH2CH2θ-, where M is sodium and n is an integer from 4-6, as disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,721 ,580, issued January 26, 1988 to Gosselink.

Anti-resoiling polymers useful in the present invention also include cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxyether cellulosic polymers, co-polymeric blocks of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalate with polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide terephthalate, and the like. Such anti-resoiling polymers are commercially available and include hydroxyethers of cellulose such as METHOCEL® (Dow). Cellulosic anti-resoiling polymers for use herein also include those selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl and C4 hydroxyalkyl cellulose; see U.S. Patent 4,000,093, issued December 28, 1976 to Nicol, et al.

Anti-resoiling polymers characterised by poly(vinyl ester) hydrophobe segments include graft co-polymers of poly(vinyl ester), e.g., C] -CQ vinyl esters, preferably poly(vinyl acetate) grafted onto polyalkylene oxide backbones, such as polyethylene oxide backbones. See European Patent Application 0 219 048, published April 22, 1987 by Kud, et al. Commercially available anti-resoiling polymers of this kind include the SOKALAN type of material, e.g., SOKALAN HP-22®, available from BASF.

One type of preferred anti-resoiling polymers is a co-polymer having random blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide (PEO) terephthalate. The molecular weight of this anti-resoiling polymers is in the range of from about 25,000 to about 55,000. See U.S. Patent 3,959,230 to Hays, issued May 25, 1976 and U.S. Patent 3,893,929 to Basadur issued July 8, 1975.

Another preferred anti-resoiling polymers is a polyester with repeat units of ethylene terephthalate units which contains 10-15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units together with 90-80% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight 300-5,000. Examples of this polymer include the commercially available material ZELCON 5126® (from Dupont) and MILEASE T® (from ICI). See also U.S. Patent 4,702,857, issued October 27, 1987 to Gosselink.

Another preferred anti-resoiling polymers agent is a sulfonated product of a substantially linear ester oligomer comprised of an oligomehc ester backbone of terephthaloyl and oxyalkyleneoxy repeat units and terminal moieties covalently attached to the backbone. These anti-resoiling polymers are fully described in U.S. Patent 4,968,451 , issued November 6, 1990 to J.J. Scheibel and E.P. Gosselink. Other suitable anti-resoiling polymers include the terephthalate polyesters of U.S. Patent 4,711 ,730, issued December 8, 1987 to Gosselink et al, the anionic end-capped oligomeric esters of U.S. Patent 4,721 ,580, issued January 26, 1988 to Gosselink, and the block polyester oligomeric compounds of U.S. Patent 4,702,857, issued October 27, 1987 to Gosselink.

Preferred anti-resoiling polymers also include the soil release agents of U.S. Patent 4,877,896, issued October 31 , 1989 to Maldonado et al, which discloses anionic, especially sulfoaroyl, end-capped terephthalate esters.

Still another preferred anti-resoiling agent is an oligomer with repeat units of terephthaloyl units, sulfoisoterephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy and oxy-1 ,2- propylene units. The repeat units form the backbone of the oligomer and are preferably terminated with modified isethionate end-caps. A particularly preferred anti-resoiling agent of this type comprises about one sulfoisophthaloyl unit, 5 terephthaloyl units, oxyethyleneoxy and oxy-1 ,2-propyleneoxy units in a ratio of from about 1.7 to about 1.8, and two end-cap units of sodium 2-(2- hydroxyethoxy)-ethanesulfonate. Said anti-resoiling agent also comprises from about 0.5% to about 20%, by weight of the oligomer, of a crystalline-reducing stabilizer, preferably selected from the group consisting of xylene sulfonate, cumene sulfonate, toluene sulfonate, and mixtures thereof. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,807, issued May 16, 1995, to Gosselink et al.

The liquid compositions may comprise from 0.01 % to 10%, preferably from 0.01 % to 5%, and more preferably from 0.05% to 2% by weight of the total composition of an anti-resoiling agent.

A preferred anti-resoiling agent is a anti-resoiling polymer. A more preferred anti- resoiling agent is a polyamine N-oxide polymer. An even more preferred anti- resoiling agent is a polyvinyl pyridine-N-oxide polymer. The most preferred anti- resoiling agent useful in the compositions herein is poly(4-vinylpyridine-N-oxide).

The addition of an anti-resoiling agent in the compositions herein enhances the anti-resoiling properties of the compositions. Additionally, the anti-resoiling agents, when present, further contribute to the excellent overall cleaning performance of the present invention.

Volatile organic compounds

As an optional but highly preferred ingredient the compositions according to the present invention may comprise a volatile organic compound (VOC).

Typically, the compositions herein may comprise up to 90%, preferably from 0.1 % to 20%, more preferably from 0.5% to 10% and most preferably from 1 % to 5% by weight of the total composition of a volatile organic compound.

Suitable volatile organic compounds for use herein include aliphatic and/or aromatic alcohol, glycol ethers and/or derivatives thereof, polyol and mixtures thereof.

Suitable aromatic alcohols to be used herein are according to the formula R-j- OH wherein R-| is an alkyl substituted or non-alkyl substituted aryl group of from 1 to 20, preferably from 2 to 15 and more preferably from 2 to 10 carbon atoms. A suitable aromatic alcohol to be used herein is benzyl alcohol.

Suitable aliphatic alcohols to be used herein are according to the formula R2-OH wherein R2 is a linear or branched saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain of from 1 to 20, preferably from 1 to 10 and more preferably from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. Highly preferred herein are aliphatic alcohols with 2 to 4 carbon atoms and most preferably 4 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof. Suitable aliphatic alcohols to be used herein include linear alcohol like 2-octanol, decanol, isopropyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, ethanol and/or methanol. Highly preferred herein are ethanol, isopropyl alcohol or a mixture thereof.

Ethanol may be commercially available from Eridania Italia under its chemical name.

Isopropanol may be commercially available from Merck/BDH Italia under its chemical name.

Suitable glycol ethers and/or derivatives thereof to be used herein include monoglycol ethers and/or derivatives thereof, polyglycol ethers and/or derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof.

Suitable monoglycol ethers and derivatives thereof to be used herein include n- buthoxypropanol (n-BP), water-soluble CELLOSOLVE® solvents or mixtures thereof. Preferred Cellosolve® solvents include propoxy ethyl acetate salt (i.e., Propyl Cellosolve acetate salt®), ethanol-2-butoxy phosphate salt (i.e., Butyl Cellosolve phosphate salt®), 2-(Hexyloxy)ethanol (i.e., 2-hexyl Cellosolve®), 2- ethoxy ethanol (i.e., 2-ethyl Cellosolve®), 2-butoxyethanol (i.e., 2-buthyl Cellosolve®) or mixtures thereof.

Suitable polyglycol ethers and derivatives thereof to be used herein include n- butoxypropoxypropanol (n-BPP), butyl triglycol ether (BTGE), butyl diglycol ether (BDGE), water-soluble CARBITOL® solvents or mixtures thereof.

Preferred water-soluble CARBITOL® solvents are compounds of the 2-(2- alkoxyethoxy)ethanol class, 2-(2-alkoxyethoxy)propanol class and/or 2-(2- alkoxyethoxy)butanol class wherein the alkoxy group is derived from ethyl, propyl or butyl. A preferred water-soluble carbitol is 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol also known as butyl carbitol®. Preferred glycol ethers and/or derivatives thereof are 2-ethoxyethanol, 2- butoxyethanol, n-butoxypropoxypropanol, butyl carbitol® or mixtures thereof.

Suitable polyol solvents to be used herein are the polyols having at least 2 hydroxyl groups (-OH) like diols. Suitable diols to be used herein include 2-ethyl- 1 ,3-hexanediol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1 ,3-pentanediol, methyl-2,4 pentanediol or mixture thereof.

The volatile organic compounds, when present, further contribute to the excellent overall cleaning performance of the present invention. Additionally, their addition in the compositions herein also enhances the sanitising properties of the compositions.

Surfactants

Preferred compositions according to the present invention typically comprise a surfactant or a mixture thereof.

Typically, the compositions herein may comprise from up to 50%, preferably from 0.1 % to 20%, more preferably from 0.5% to 10% and most preferably from 1 % to 5% by weight of the total composition of a surfactant.

Such surfactants may be selected from those well known in the art including anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric and cationic surfactants and mixtures thereof.

Particularly suitable surfactants to be used herein are anionic surfactants. Said anionic surfactants are preferred herein as they further contribute to the outstanding stain removal performance of the compositions of the present invention on various types of stains. Moreover they do not stick onto fabrics and/or textiles, thereby reducing resoiling. Suitable anionic surfactants include sarcosinate surfactants, alkyl sulfate surfactants, alkyl sulphonate surfactants, alkyl glycerol sulfate surfactants and alkyl glycerol sulphonate surfactants.

Suitable sarcosinate surfactants to be used herein include acyl sarcosinate or mixtures thereof, in its acid and/or salt form, preferably long chain acyl sarcosinates having the following formula:

wherein M is hydrogen or a cationic moiety and wherein R is an alkyl group of from 11 to 15 carbon atoms, preferably of from 11 to 13 carbon atoms. Preferred M are hydrogen and alkali metal salts, especially sodium and potassium. Said acyl sarcosinate surfactants are derived from natural fatty acids and the amino- acid sarcosine (N-methyl glycine). They are suitable to be used as aqueous solution of their salt or in their acidic form as powder. Being derivatives of natural fatty acids, said acyl sarcosinates are rapidly and completely biodegradable and have good skin compatibility.

Accordingly, particularly preferred long chain acyl sarcosinates to be used herein include C<|2 acyl sarcosinate, i.e., an acyl sarcosinate according to the above formula wherein M is hydrogen and R is an alkyl group of 11 carbon atom, Sodium N-Lauroyl Sarcosinate, i.e., an acyl sarcosinate according to the above formula wherein M is sodium and R is an alkyl group of 11 carbon atom, and C14 acyl sarcosinate (i.e., an acyl sarcosinate according to the above formula wherein M is hydrogen and R is an alkyl group of 13 carbon atoms). Sodium N- Lauroyl Sarcosinate is commercially available, for example, as Hamposyl L-30® supplied by Hampshire or Crodasinic LS30® supplied by Croda. C-14 acyl sarcosinate is commercially available, for example, as Hamposyl M-30® supplied by Hampshire or Crodasinic MS30® supplied by Croda.

Suitable alkyl sulphonates for use herein include water-soluble salts or acids of the formula RSO3M wherein R is a C6-C20 linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, preferably a Cg-C-iβ alkyl group and more preferably a C-I Q-C-16 a' g^rouP- ^and M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g., methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyl ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperdinium cations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and the like).

An example of a C-14-C15 alkyl sulphonate is Hostapur® SAS available from Hoechst.

Suitable alkyl sulphate surfactants for use herein are according to the formula R1 SO4M wherein Rι represents a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of straight or branched alkyl radicals containing from 6 to 20, preferably 8 to 18, more preferably 10 to 16 carbon atoms and alkyl phenyl radicals containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl group. M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium and the like) or ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g., methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyl ammonium cations and quaternary ammonium cations, such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperdinium cations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and the like).

By "linear alkyl sulphate or sulphonate" it is meant herein a non-substituted alkyl sulphate or sulphonate wherein the alkyl chain comprises from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and more preferably from 10 to 16 carbon atoms, and wherein this alkyl chain is sulphated or sulphonated at one terminus.

By "branched sulphonate or sulphate", it is meant herein an alkyl chain having from 6 to 20 total carbon atoms, preferably from 8 to 18 total carbon atoms, and more preferably from 10 to 16 total carbon atoms, wherein the main alkyl chain is substituted by at least another alkyl chain, and wherein the alkyl chain is sulphated or sulphonated at one terminus.

Particularly preferred branched alkyl sulphates to be used herein are those containing from 10 to 14 total carbon atoms like Isalchem 123 AS®. Isalchem 123 AS® commercially available from Enichem is a C-12-13 surfactant which is 94% branched. This material can be described as CH₃-(CH₂)_m- CH(CH₂OSO₃Na)-(CH₂)_n-CH₃ where n+m=8-9. Also preferred alkyl sulphates are the alkyl sulphates where the alkyl chain comprises a total of 12 carbon atoms, i.e., sodium 2-butyl octyl sulphate. Such alkyl sulphate is commercially available from Condea under the trade name Isofol® 12S. Particularly suitable liner alkyl sulphonates include C-|2-C-| 6 paraffin sulphonate like Hostapur ® SAS commercially available from Hoechst.

Suitable nonionic surfactants include amine oxide surfactants. Suitable amine oxide surfactants are according to the formula R1 R2R3NO, wherein each of R-j , R2 and R3 is independently a saturated substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl groups of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof.

Particularly preferred amine oxide surfactants to be used according to the present invention are amine oxide surfactants having the following formula R1 R2R3NO wherein R-| is a saturated linear or branched alkyl group of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably of from 6 to 16 carbon atoms, and wherein R2 and R3 are independently substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl groups of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and more preferably are methyl groups. Preferred amine oxide surfactants used herein are pure-cut amine oxide surfactants, i.e., a pure single amine oxide surfactant, e.g. Cs N,N- dimethyl amine oxide, as opposed to mixtures of amine oxide surfactants of different chain lengths

Suitable amine oxide surfactants for use herein are for instance pure cut Cg amine oxide, pure cut C-| rj amine oxide, pure cut C14 amine oxide, natural blend C8-C10 amine oxides as well as natural blend C12-C16 amine oxides. Such amine oxide surfactants may be commercially available from Hoechst or Stephan.

Suitable nonionic surfactants for use herein also include any ethoxylated CQ- C24 fatty alcohol nonionic surfactant, alkyl propoxylates and mixtures thereof, fatty acid Cβ-C24 alkanolamides, C6-C20 polyethylglycol ethers, polyethylene glycol with molecular weight 1000 to 80000 and glucose amides, alkyl pyrrolidones.

Suitable cationic surfactants for use herein include quaternary ammonium compounds of the formula R1 R2R3R4N+ where R-| ,R2 and R3 are methyl groups, and R4 is a C-12-15 alkyl group, or where R-| is an ethyl or hydroxy ethyl group, R2 and R3 are methyl groups and R4 is a C-|2-15 alkyl group.

Suitable zwitterionic surfactants are zwitterionic betaine surfactants. Suitable zwitterionic betaine surfactants for use herein contain both a cationic hydrophilic group, i.e., a quaternary ammonium group, and anionic hydrophilic group on the same molecule at a relatively wide range of pH's. The typical anionic hydrophilic groups are carboxylates and sulphonates, although other groups like sulfates, phosphonates, and the like can be used. A generic formula for the zwitterionic betaine surfactant to be used herein is : R₁-N+(R₂)(R3)R4X-

wherein R-| is a hydrophobic group; R2 is hydrogen, C<\ -CQ alkyl, hydroxy alkyl or other substituted C^<\ -CQ alkyl group; R3 is Ci-Cβ alkyl, hydroxy alkyl or other substituted C^<\ -CQ alkyl group which can also be joined to R2 to form ring structures with the N, or a C-i-C sulphonate group; R4 is a moiety joining the cationic nitrogen atom to the hydrophilic group and is typically an alkylene, hydroxy alkylene, or polyalkoxy group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and X is the hydrophilic group, which is a carboxylate or sulphonate group.

Preferred hydrophobic groups R-j are aliphatic or aromatic, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chains that can contain linking groups such as amido groups, ester groups. More preferred R-| is an alkyl group containing from 1 to 24, preferably from 8 to 18, and more preferably from 10 to 16 carbon atoms. These simple alkyl groups are preferred for cost and stability reasons. However, the hydrophobic group R^ can also be an amido radical of the formula R_a-C(O)-NH-(C(Rb)2)m, wherein R_a is an aliphatic or aromatic, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon chain, preferably an alkyl group containing from 8 up to 20, preferably up to 18, more preferably up to 16 carbon atoms, Rb is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydroxy groups, and m is from 1 to 4, preferably from 2 to 3, more preferably 3, with no more than one hydroxy group in any (C(Rb)2) moiety.

Preferred R2 is hydrogen, or a C1-C3 alkyl and more preferably methyl. Preferred R3 is C1-C4 sulphonate group, or a C1-C3 alkyl and more preferably methyl. Preferred R4 is (CH2)_n wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6, more preferably is from 1 to 3.

Some common examples of betaine/sulphobetaine are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,082,275, 2,702,279 and 2,255,082, incorporated herein by reference. Examples of particularly suitable alkyldimethyl betaines include coconut-dimethyl betaine, lauryl dimethyl betaine, decyl dimethyl betaine, 2-(N-decyl-N, N- dimethyl-ammonia)acetate, 2-(N-coco N, N-dimethylammonio) acetate, myristyl dimethyl betaine, palmityl dimethyl betaine, cetyl dimethyl betaine, stearyl dimethyl betaine. For example Coconut dimethyl betaine is commercially available from Seppic under the trade name of Amonyl 265®. Lauryl betaine is commercially available from Albright & Wilson under the trade name Empigen BB/L®.

Examples of amidobetaines include cocoamidoethylbetaine, cocoamidopropyl betaine or C10-C14 fatty acylamidopropylene(hydropropylene)sulfobetaine. For example C10-C14 fatty acylamidopropylene(hydropropylene)sulfobetaine is commercially available from Sherex Company under the trade name "Varion CAS® sulfobetaine".

A further example of betaine is Lauryl-immino-dipropionate commercially available from Rhone-Poulenc under the trade name Mirataine H2C-HA®.

A preferred surfactant for use herein is an anionic surfactant or a zwitterionic surfactant or a mixture thereof, a more preferred surfactant is a sarcosinate surfactant, an alkyl sulphonate surfactant, an alkyl sulphate surfactant, an alkyl glycerol sulphate surfactant, an alkyl glycerol sulphonate surfactant or a zwitterionic betaine surfactant and mixtures thereof, an even more preferred surfactant is a sarcosinate surfactant, an alkyl sulphonate surfactant, an alkyl sulphate surfactant, or a zwitterionic betaine surfactant and mixtures thereof, and the most preferred surfactant herein is an alkyl sarcosinate surfactant.

It has been found that N-vinyl polymers and/or polyamine N-oxide polymers, when present, as described herein can increase the activity of surfactants, preferably anionic surfactants and/or zwitterionic surfactants, most preferably sarcosinate surfactants, when present. Said increase in activity is thought to be due to an interaction of the N-vinyl polymer and/or polyamine N-oxide polymer and a surfactant, preferably an anionic surfactant and/or a zwitterionic surfactant, most preferably a sarcosinate surfactant. Said increase in activity further contributes to the overall cleaning performance of the compositions herein.

Stabilizing agents

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of hydroxy pyridine N-oxides or derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof.

Suitable hydroxy pyridine N-oxides or derivatives thereof are according to the following formula:

wherein X is nitrogen, Y is one of the following groups oxygen, -CHO, -OH, - (CH2)n-COOH, wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 20, preferably of from 0 to 10 and more preferably is 0, and wherein Y is preferably oxygen. Accordingly particularly preferred hydroxy pyridine N-oxides or derivatives thereof to be used herein is 2-hydroxy pyridine N-oxide.

Hydroxy pyridine N-oxides or derivatives thereof may be commercially available from Sigma.

Typically, the compositions herein may comprise up to 2%, preferably from 0.001 % to 1 % and more preferably from 0.001 % to 0.5% by weight of the total composition of a hydroxy pyridine N-oxide or derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof. Chelating agents

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise a chelating agent.

Suitable chelating agents are those known to those skilled in the art. Particularly suitable chelating agents include for examples phosphonate chelating agents, polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents, amino carboxylate chelating agents, other chelating agents like ethylene diamine N,N'- disuccinic acid and mixtures thereof.

Typically, the compositions herein may comprise up to 4%, preferably from 0.001 % to 1 %, and more preferably from 0.001 % to 0.5% by weight of the total composition of a chelating agent.

Suitable phosphonate chelating agents to be used herein may include ethydronic acid, alkali metal ethane 1 -hydroxy diphosphonates as well as amino phosphonate compounds, including amino alkylene poly (alkylene phosphonate), alkali metal ethane 1 -hydroxy diphosphonates, nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates, ethylene diamine tetra methylene phosphonates, and diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates. The phosphonate compounds may be present either in their acid form or as salts of different cations on some or all of their acid functionalities. Preferred phosphonate chelating agents to be used herein are diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates (DETPMP). Such phosphonate chelating agents are commercially available from Monsanto under the trade name DEQUEST®.

Polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents may also be useful in the compositions herein. See U.S. patent 3,812,044, issued May 21 , 1974, to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1 ,2-dihydroxy -3,5-disulfobenzene. A preferred biodegradable chelating agent for use herein is ethylene diamine N,N'- disuccinic acid, or alkali metal, or alkaline earth, ammonium or substitutes ammonium salts thereof or mixtures thereof. Ethylenediamine N,N'- disuccinic acids, especially the (S,S) isomer, have been extensively described in US patent 4, 704, 233, November 3, 1987. to Hartman and Perkins. Ethylenediamine N,N'- disuccinic acid is, for instance, commercially available under the tradename ssEDDS® from Palmer Research Laboratories.

Suitable amino carboxylate chelating agents to be used herein include ethylene diamine tetra acetates, diethylene triamine pentaacetates, diethylene triamine pentaacetate (DTPA), N-hydroxyethylethylenediamine triacetates, nitrilotri- acetates, ethylenediamine tetrapropionates, triethylenetetraaminehexa-acetates, ethanoldiglycines, propylene diamine tetracetic acid (PDTA) and methyl glycine di-acetic acid (MGDA), both in their acid form, or in their alkali metal, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salt forms. A particularly suitable amino carboxylate to be used herein is diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA).

Other suitable chelating agents to be used herein include salicylic acid or derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof according to the following formula:

wherein X is carbon, Y is one of the following groups -CHO, -OH, -(CH2)n- COOH, and preferably is -(CH2)n-COOH, and wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 20, preferably of from 0 to 10 and more preferably is 0. Salicylic acid and derivatives thereof may be used herein either in their acid form or in their salts form as for example sodium salts. Salicylic acid is particularly preferred herein and may be commercially available from Rhone Poulenc.

Bleach activators

The compositions herein may further comprise a bleach activator, as an optional ingredient.

By "bleach activator", it is meant herein a compound which reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form a peracid. The peracid thus formed constitutes the activated bleach. Suitable bleach activators to be used herein include those belonging to the class of esters, amides, imides, or anhydrides. Examples of suitable compounds of this type are disclosed in British Patent GB 1 586 769 and GB 2 143 231 and a method for their formation into a prilled form is described in European Published Patent Application EP-A-62 523. Suitable examples of such compounds to be used herein are tetracetyl ethylene diamine (TAED), sodium 3,5,5 trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulphonate, diperoxy dodecanoic acid as described for instance in US 4 818 425 and nonylamide of peroxyadipic acid as described for instance in US 4 259 201 and n-nonanoyloxybenzenesulphonate (NOBS). Also suitable are N-acyl caprolactam selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted benzoyl caprolactam, octanoyl caprolactam, nonanoyl caprolactam, hexanoyl caprolactam, decanoyl caprolactam, undecenoyl caprolactam, formyl caprolactam, acetyl caprolactam, propanoyl caprolactam, butanoyl caprolactam pentanoyl caprolactam or mixtures thereof. A particular family of bleach activators of interest was disclosed in EP 624 154, and particularly preferred in that family is acetyl triethyl citrate (ATC). Acetyl triethyl citrate has the advantage that it is environmentally friendly as it eventually degrades into citric acid and alcohol. Furthermore, acetyl triethyl citrate has a good hydrolytical stability in the composition upon storage and it is an efficient bleach activator. The compositions according to the present invention may comprise up to 30%, preferably from 1 % to 20%, and more preferably from 2% to 10% by weight of the total composition of a bleach activator.

Builders

The compositions according to the present invention may further comprise a builder system. Any conventional builder system known in the art is suitable for use herein.

Suitable builders for use herein include derivatives of succinic acid of the formula R-CH(COOH)CH2(COOH) wherein R is C^<|0-20- preferably C12-I6 a'W or alkenyl, or wherein R can be substituted with hydroxyl, sulpho sulphoxyl or sulphone substituents. Specific examples include lauryl succinate, myristyl succinate, palmityl succinate, 2-dodecenylsuccinate, 2-tetradecenyl succinate. Succinate builders are preferably used in the form of their water-soluble salts, including sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts.

Other suitable builders are oxodisuccinates and mixtures of tartrate monosuccinic and tartrate disuccinic acid such as described in US 4,663,071.

Further suitable builders for use herein are fatty acid builders including saturated or unsaturated C10-I8 fatty acids, as well as the corresponding soaps. Preferred saturated species have from 12 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. The preferred unsaturated fatty acid is oleic acid.

The compositions herein may comprise up to 10%, preferably from 1 % to 7% by weight of the total composition of a builder system.

Radical scavengers:

The compositions herein may comprise a radical scavenger as another optional ingredient. Suitable radical scavengers for use herein include the well-known substituted mono and di hydroxy benzenes and derivatives thereof, alkyl- and aryl carboxylates and mixtures thereof. Preferred radical scavengers for use herein include di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene (BHT), p-hydroxy-toluene, hydroquinone (HQ), di-tert-butyl hydroquinone (DTBHQ), mono-tert-butyl hydroquinone (MTBHQ), tert-butyl-hydroxy anysole (BHA), p-hydroxy-anysol, benzoic acid, 2,5- dihydroxy benzoic acid, 2,5-dihydroxyterephtalic acid, toluic acid, catechol, t-butyl catechol, 4-allyl-catechol, 4-acetyl catechol, 2-methoxy-phenol, 2-ethoxy-phenol, 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenol, 3,4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde, 2,3-dihydroxy benzaldehyde, benzylamine, 1 ,1 ,3-tris(2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl) butane, tert-butyl-hydroxy-anyline, p-hydroxy anyline as well as n-propyl-gallate.

Highly preferred for use herein is di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene, which is for example commercially available from SHELL under the trade name IONOL CP® and/or tert-butyl-hydroxy anysole and/or propyl gallate.

The radical scavengers further contribute to the stability of the peroxygen bleach- containing compositions herein.

Typically, the compositions according to the present invention may comprise up to 5%, preferably from 0.002% to 1.5% by weight and more preferably from 0.002% to 0.5% by weight of the total composition of a radical scavenger.

Treatment of a carpet

Typically, a carpet is treated by applying the liquid or solid composition, preferably the liquid composition, as described.

The compositions according to the present invention may be applied to the carpet to be treated either in neat or diluted form, this applies to compositions being either liquid compositions or solid composition. By "diluted form", it is meant herein that the compositions for treating fabrics and/or textiles, preferably carpets, as described herein before may be diluted by the user, preferably with water. Compositions herein can be diluted up to 150 times, preferably up to 50 times and more preferably up to 25 times.

By "in its neat form", it is to be understood that the compositions for treating fabrics and/or textiles, preferably carpets, are applied directly onto the carpets to be treated without undergoing any dilution, i.e., the compositions herein are applied onto the carpets as described herein.

Preferably the treatment of a carpet comprises the steps of applying said composition to the surface of the carpet in a liquid form, preferably in a liquid and neat form, and leaving said composition to dry onto the carpet. More preferably said treatment comprises the steps of applying said composition to the surface of the carpet in a liquid form, preferably in a liquid and neat form, leaving said composition to dry onto the carpet and finally removing said composition from said carpet.

By "in liquid form" it is meant that the liquid compositions for treating fabrics and/or textiles, preferably carpets, as described herein can be used per se in neat form or in diluted, and the solid compositions as described herein, for example powders, are dissolved in an appropriate solvent, typically water, before use, i.e., before being applied to said carpet.

Preferably the composition is applied onto the carpet in the form of a spray of droplets having a particle size distribution with a mean diameter D(v,0.9) of less than 1500 microns, preferably less than 1000 microns, more preferably of less than 750 microns, even more preferably less than 500 microns, and most preferably from 350 microns to 10 microns. By "mean diameter D(v,0.9) of less than 1500 microns" for a droplet size distribution it is meant that 90% of the spray of droplets dispensed (expressed in volume unit) has a droplet diameter of less than 1500 microns. For instance, a D(v,0.9) of less than 1500 microns indicates that 90% of the total sprayed volume is dispensed with droplets whose diameter is less than 1500 microns.

The particle size distribution of a spray of droplets can be determined by following the procedure detailed herebelow:

A suitable test equipment is the Malvern Mastersizer S LongBed® with 1000 mm lens and a maximum particle size range of 3475 microns. The Malvern Mastersizer S LongBed® provides 21 cm opening (between lenses) to accommodate spray flow. In all readings at the Malvern®, the lens surface must remain free of spray contamination. In the present setup procedure, the distance from nozzle to laser was fixed at 8 cm, this to minimize lens contamination. At 8 cm distance, the spray was directed to the laser beam to place the laser center to the spray cone. At least three readings have to be made for each composition sprayed to determine the particle size distribution of the spray of droplets. The sprayer used in the test according to the present invention was an electrically operated sprayer. With the battery driven system a "Full charge" test was held consistent by holding the spray head to 3.9 voltage direct current (vdc) from an external power supply, this to insure a consistent spray force. A reference sprayer used herein is a hand trigger operated sprayer. Hand trigger systems have to be tested against repeatability with three different persons. These persons chosen for their varied ability to actuate the trigger against force: Small female, female with strong finger strength, and medium male.

Any container adapted to deliver a spray of droplets as defined herein is suitable for use herein. Several modifications can be made to the conventional, single aperture, spray head to ensure that a spray of such droplets as required herein is formed. Suitable containers to be used herein (also called "spray dispensers") share the common feature of having at least one aperture or a plurality of apertures also called "dispensing openings" through which the composition is dispensed so as to produce the spray of droplets as defined herein.

These spray dispensers may be manually or electrically operated. Typical manually operated spray dispensers include pump operated ones or trigger operated ones. Indeed, in such a container with a spray dispenser head the composition contained in the container is directed through the spray dispenser head via energy communicated to a pumping mechanism by the user as said user activates said pumping mechanism or to an electrically driven pump. Preferred herein is to use a container wherein the means for delivering the composition comprises an electrically driven pump and a spray arm being either extended or extendible and having at least one dispensing opening so that in operation, the composition is pumped by electrically driven pump from the container, through the spray arm to the dispensing opening from which it is dispensed. It is preferred that the spray arm communicates with the container by means of a flexible connector. The spray arm may have one nozzle or multiple nozzles located along its length. The spray arm makes it easier to control where the composition is sprayed. The electrically driven pump may be, for example, a gear pump, an impeller pump, a piston pump, a screw pump, a peristaltic pump, a diaphragm pump, or any other miniature pump. In a highly preferred embodiment of the electrically driven pump for use herein the pump is a gear pump with a typical speed between 6000 rpm and 12000 rpm. The electrically driven pump is driven by a means such as an electric motor which typically produces a torque between 1 and 20 mN.m. The electric motor must in turn be provided with a power source. The power source may be either mains electricity (optionally via transformer), or it may be a throw-away battery or rechargeable battery. The spray arm may be rigidly extended. However such a spray arm can be difficult to store, and the spray arm is preferably extensible either by means of telescopic or foldable configuration.

The amount of the compositions for treating fabrics and/or textiles, preferably carpets, according to the present invention applied will depend on the severity of the stain or soil. In the case of stubborn stains more than one application may be required to ensure complete removal of the stain.

The area to be treated by applying the compositions according to the present invention may be of any size. Indeed, a complete section or more preferably the whole carpet may be treated with the composition for the treating of carpets according to the present invention.

Preferably, in the treatment of a carpet according to the present invention the step of applying a composition onto the carpets as described herein before, does not need to be followed by a step where manual action is required other than a final optional removing step. Indeed the compositions herein allow excellent cleaning performance without requiring any manual action like rubbing and/or brushing. An advantage of the present invention is that the cleaning action of the present compositions commences as soon as said compositions are applied onto said carpet.

Typically, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention the composition is left to dry on the carpet for less than 2 hour, preferably less than 1 hour, more preferably less than 40 minutes, even more preferably from 1 to 30 minutes and most preferably from 1 to 20 minutes.

By "dry" it is meant herein the stage where at least 40%, preferably at least 60% of the initial amount of composition dispensed onto the carpet is lost due to evaporation.

Indeed, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said liquid composition is left to dry, preferably until said composition which combined with dirt has been changed into dry residues. More preferably, said composition is then removed from the carpet. Even more preferably said composition is removed mechanically, and most preferably by vacuum cleaning. This may be carried out with the help of any commercially available vacuum cleaners like for instance a standard Hoover® 1300W vacuuming machine.

According to the present invention the compositions herein may be used for the removal of stains and soils from fabrics and/or textiles as well as of odors. In addition the compositions according to the present invention may be used to hygienise, disinfect and/or exterminate microinsects from fabrics and/or textiles.

Examples The following examples will illustrate the present invention. The compositions are made by combining the listed ingredients in the listed proportions (weight % unless otherwise specified).

Compositions I II III IV V VI

(weight %)

Hydrogen 4.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 4.0 4.0 peroxide

PVNO 0.5 — — — 0.1

PVPVI — 0.5 — — 0.1

PV/AA — — 0.5 — 0.1

PVP — — — 0.5 0.1

Water and minors Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance up to pH 6 6.5 5 6 6 5

Compositions VII VIII IX X XI XII

(weight %) Hydrogen 4.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 4.0 4.0 peroxide

PVNO 0.5 0.4 — — — 0.4

PVPVI — 0.5

PV/AA 0.3

PVP — — 0.5

Ethanol 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

PA — 0.1 0.2 0.1 — 0.1

Sarcosinate 3.0 3.0 3.0 — 2.5 3.0

BHT 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.01 — 0.01

AMCP — — 0.5

Chelant* 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3

Na CnAS — 3.0 0.5

Salicylic Acid 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 — 0.5

Propyl Gallate — — — — 1.0

NaOH 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.06 0.26

Water and Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance Balance minors up to pH 6 6 6 6 6 8

Compositions XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII

(weight %)

Hydrogen 4.0 5.0 4.0 5.5 6.0 3.0 peroxide

PVNO 0.25 — — 0.5 0.4 —

PVPVI — 0.4 0.25 0.1 —

PV/AA 0.25 0.1 — 0.2 0.4

PVP — — 0.25 0.2 0.1

Ethanol 3 3..00 2 2..00 3 3..00 2.5 3.0 2.0

PA 0.1 ~_ 0.2 AMCP — 0.1 — — — —

Chelant* 0.2 0.3 0.25 0.2 0.2 0.2

Sarcosinate 3.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.0

Salicylic Acid 0.5 0.25 0.4 — 0.5

Propyl Gallate — 0.2 — 0.5 1.0 —

BHT 0.01 — 0.1 — — 0.01

Benzyl alcohol — 1.0 — 0.5 — 1.0

Isopropylalcohol 1.0 — — — — 0.5

NaOH 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.16 0.001

Water and Balance Balance Balance Balance Balanc Balance minors e up to pH 6 6.5 5 6.0 6 3.5

PVP is Poly Vinyl Pyrrolidone.

PVNO is Poly(4-Vinylpyridine-N-Oxide) commercially available from Reilly.

PV/AA is N-vinylpyrrolidone and Acrylic Acid commercially available under the trade name Sokalan® PG 310.

PVPVI is N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole co-polymer commercially available under the trade name Sokalan® PG55.

Sarcosinate is Sodium N-Lauroyl Sarcosinate commercially available from

Croda with commercial name of Crodasinic LS 30®.

BHT is butylated hydroxy toluene.

AMCP is acrylic/maleic based copoiymers commercially available under the trade name Sokalan CP5®.

Chelant* is a phosphonate chelant available under the trade name DEQUEST®

Na CnAS is sodium alkyl sulphate.

PA is an ethoxylated tetraethylenepentamine, average molecular weight 12,000.

The compositions exemplified above are preferably packaged in a container adapted to deliver a spray of droplets having a particle size distribution with a mean diameter D(v,0.9) of 200 to 400 microns, when measured with Malvern Mastersizer S LongBed® referenced herein before. A preferred container used is an electrically driven sprayer.

The compositions in the examples above deliver softness characteristics to fabrics and/or textiles, preferably carpets, treated therewith as well as excellent cleaning performance on particulate soil, greasy/oily soil, and/or enzymatic as well as on other types of soils such as bleachable stains like coffee, tea and the like.

Claims

Claims

1. The use of a peroxygen bleach as a fabric/textile softening ingredient in a composition to treat fabrics and/or textiles whereby softness characteristics are provided to said fabrics and/or textiles.

2. The use according to claim 1 wherein said composition is liquid.

3. The use according to claim 2 wherein said fabrics and/or textiles are treated by applying said composition to the surface of said fabrics and/or textiles and leaving said composition to dry onto said fabrics and/or textiles.

4. The use according to any of claims 2 to 3 wherein said composition is delivered onto said fabrics and/or textiles in the form of a spray of droplets having a particle size distribution with a mean diameter D(v,0.9) of less than 1500 microns.

5. The use according to any of the preceding claims wherein said composition comprises from 0.01 % to 20% by weight of the total composition of a peroxygen bleach.

6. The use according to any of the preceding claims wherein said peroxygen bleach is hydrogen peroxide or a water soluble source of hydrogen peroxide or a mixture thereof.

7. The use according to any of the preceding claims wherein said composition further comprises an acid or a base or a mixture thereof.

8. The use according to any of the preceding claims wherein said composition further comprises conventional fabric/textile cleaning ingredients.

9. The use of a peroxygen bleach as a fabric/textile softening ingredient in a composition according to any of the preceding claims to treat textiles as carpets, rugs, upholstery, car seat coverings and the like.

10. The use of a peroxygen bleach as a fabric/textile softening ingredient in a composition according to any of the preceding claims to treat carpets, rugs and the like.