JPH0726322B2 - Dispersible fabric softener - Google Patents

Abstract

Amines and phosphate esters are combined in substoichiometric amounts to provide water-insoluble, water-dispersible fiber and fabric softeners. The softeners are formulated in a variety of laundry and shampoo compositions.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for treating fibers and fabrics. To provide softness and antistatic benefits in this regard, a sub-stoichiometric amine and phosphate ester complex is used. Compositions containing the amine-phosphate ester are disclosed. The compositions of the present invention can be used to soften fibers.

Treating the fabric with a softener after the background washing operation is
It is a well-known laundry practice. Fabric softeners are primarily water insoluble cationic materials that are incompatible with the anionic detersive surfactants used in most fabric cleaning compositions. Therefore, the softening operation is generally performed in a wash rinse bath after the surfactant has been removed from the washing machine. This leaves the user with additional work.

Fabric laundry composition formulators have long sought means to simultaneously wash and soften fabrics. A method using a clay softening agent, a mixture of clay and various amine substances, and the like is described in the following patents: West German Patent No. 29 / 64114.3, No. 28 / 57163.3, No. 24/3.
9541.3, 23 / 34899.4 and EP 80200570.2, 80200877.1 and
80201015.7. The use of a mixture of amines and soaps (salts of fatty acids) as a through-the-wash softener
It is disclosed in GB 1,514,276.

The prior art also describes the use of various cationic substances in sheet form (see US Pat. No. 4,220,562).

The prior art also teaches the use of compounds of alkyl phosphates and quaternary ammonium as softeners (European Publication No. 0,006,268, filed June 11, 1979).

The prior art further teaches the fiber-softening action of various phosphate ester mixtures in detergents (Belgian Patent No. 802,679).

In the present invention, an amine-phosphate ester softener is used in the laundry composition for simultaneous cleaning and softening. The softeners of the present invention provide softening and antistatic benefits, especially when used with clay softeners. Importantly, the use of a substoichiometric amount of a phosphoric acid ester in combination with an amine in the method disclosed in this invention results in
That is, it can be effectively increased up to about 1.5 to 2 times as compared with the prior art amine fabric softening composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides for a fabric to be substoichiometric in the presence of water,
A method of softening a fabric by contacting it with a water-insoluble, water-dispersible amine-phosphate ester complex (described in more detail below). This method can also be carried out, for example, by tumbling wet fibers with the complex in a hot air clothes dryer. Alternatively, the complex may be used in a wash bath, such as a wash rinse. As a further alternative, the method is carried out simultaneously with the fabric washing treatment, for example in a wash liquor containing a detergent,
Make the fabric soft.

The present invention also includes conventional detergent ingredients such as detergent surfactants (including anionic surfactants), detergent builders, optical brighteners, detergent enzymes, fabric bleaching agents, etc. (all near normal amounts), As well as detergent compositions (preferably granular) which can be briefly described as containing a clay fabric softener, preferably smectite clay. The composition is
The above-described substoichiometric, water-insoluble, water-acidic amine-phosphate softener at least 0.1% (preferably 1.0
% To 15). The most preferred composition with clay is 5% or less (preferably 1% to 2%).
The following) are formulated as containing a nonionic detergent surfactant.

The invention further provides a laundry and rinsing bath comprising a water-insoluble carrier, such as the above-described sub-stoichiometric amine-phosphate ester softener releasably deposited on a sheet of paper or fabric, Alternatively, it includes articles used in dryers. Such compositions can optionally be formulated to contain a bleach activator, and such activator-containing compositions are particularly effective for use in a wash bath.

The ingredients and means for preparing the compositions are disclosed in further detail below. All weights and proportions are by weight unless otherwise noted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As will be described below, the composition of the invention comprises, as a major part, the usual ingredients which are quite familiar to the formulator of detergent compositions. One of the major advantages of the amine-phosphate softener used in the present invention is that it is completely compatible with such conventional detergent ingredients when used in conventional concentrations. .

Amine The amine used in the present invention has the formula R ₁ R ₂ R ₃ N (wherein R ₁ is C
₆ -C was ₂₀ alkyl, R ₂ is C ₁ -C ₂₀ alkyl or hydrogen, R ₃ is represented by C ₁ is -C ₁₀ alkyl or hydrogen). It is preferred that both R ₁ and R ₂ of this amine are C _{6 to} C ₂₀ alkyl, of which C _{16 to} C ₁₈ alkyl is most preferred, and R ₃ is C _{1 to} C ₃ alkyl. preferable. Mixed amines such as dicoconut alkylmethylamine and ditallowalkylmethylamine may also be used. Such materials are used commercially under trademarks such as "Armeen".

Phosphate Ester Phosphate ester essential for the practice of the present invention is a commercial product represented by the following general formula.

Wherein R and R'are C ₁ -C ₂₀ alkyl or (preferably) general formula alkyl (OCH ₂ CH ₂ ) _Y (wherein the alkyl substituent is C ₁ -C ₂₀ , preferably C _8- ). It is C ₁₆ .
Y is an integer from 1 to 15, preferably 2 to 10, most preferably 2 to 5) ethoxylated alkyl groups.
Such compounds are prepared by well known methods from phosphorus pentoxide, phosphoric acid or phosphorus oxyhalides and alcohols or ethoxylated alcohols.

It will be appreciated that the above formula represents mono- and di-esters. Also, commercially available phosphoric acid esters will generally consist of a mixture of mono- and di-esters with a proportion of the tri-ester. Representative commercial esters include the trademarks "Phospholan" PDB3 (Diamond Shamrock) and "Servoxyl (Se
rvoxyl) ”VPAZ (Servo Inc.) is used.

Amine-phosphate ester softeners Various phosphoric acid-amine compounds have been described in the prior art (see US Pat. No. 3,364,192),
It is disclosed that some of them are used as fiber finishes (US Pat. No. 3,434,874, US Pat.
(See 3,428,481 and 3,560,382). However, the prior art compositions are generally 1: 1 (molar basis) of compounds or complexes, ie compounds or complexes from stoichiometric mixtures. Surprisingly, such a stoichiometric complex has no meaning in the present invention, as it is apparent that it has an unstable dispersion which is prone to aggregation. In contrast, the substoichiometric mixtures of the present invention disperse very well in water, but are not water soluble.

While not intending to be limited by theory, it is both valuable and meaningful for the formulator to consider the physicochemical behavior of the amine-phosphate softeners of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that the amines used in the present invention and the disclosed technology are present in aqueous solution as fairly coarse particles with a range of sizes, or as oily spheres. It appears that the contact of these particles with the fabric, which provides the desired softening effect, can be greatly enhanced by reducing its average size. The coarse material is then rinsed off by mechanical action. On the other hand, complete solubilization or micellization should be avoided as it results in inadequate amine contact with the fabric.

In addition to the size of dispersed amine particles, their phase structure is important because it affects the effective spread of the particles after contact with the fiber or fabric surface. The phase structure also affects the dispersion stability of the amine.

By considering these factors, one can see that one unamined phosphate-treated amine and another stoichiometric amine-ester complex are substoichiometric as disclosed in the present invention. It is clearly explained whether it is very ineffective compared to the mixture of selective amine-phosphate esters.

Here, it was found that the substoichiometric amine-phosphate mixture was present as an aqueous dispersion whose particles readily deposited and spread on the fibers and fabrics and softened it.

The term "quasi-stoichiometric" as used herein means that there is an excess of amine over phosphate ester. Generally, there is at least about 2 parts (by weight) of amine to 1 (weight) part of the phosphate ester, although this will of course vary depending on the molecular weight of the amine and ester. The goal is to have a mixture that is easily (water) dispersible, not one that is water soluble.

Effective amine-phosphate esters can be easily found by simple tests. The amine referred to in the present invention is
When suspended in water, it forms a generally greasy, heterogeneous mixture. In contrast, the sub-stoichiometric amine-phosphate ester mixture used in this invention forms a stable "milky" suspension in water.

Laboratory evaluation of the particle size of this suspension shows that 60-80% of the particles settle in the size range of 1-8 microns and 20-40% of the particles settle in the range of 8-20 microns. . And essentially all particles are less than 40 microns in diameter.

For the substoichiometric amine-phosphate ester softeners of the present invention, it is preferred that the amine: phosphate ester weight ratio be 5: 1 or greater, generally 7: 1 to 15: 1, and 10: 1. Most preferably. Again, a softener that is water-dispersible rather than water-soluble is selected.

Generally speaking, the amine-phosphate softener is preferably prepared separately from the rest of the composition and added at the end of the other conventional ingredients to provide the final formulation.

This can be most conveniently done by preparing a melt of phosphate ester and amine and holding the melt for a few minutes.

The melt can then be layered onto the substrate of the sheet to prepare, for example, a dryer additive softener. When preparing a detergent, the melt can be solidified, ground to the desired particle size (eg in an extruder) and dry mixed with the granular detergent composition. The melt may also be sprayed onto the detergent particles. The melt may also be dispersed in an agitated clutcher mixture consisting of the balance of the detergent ingredients and spray dried by standard methods. This method of adding to the clutcher is not preferable because it decomposes the complex to some extent. Simply adding the amine and the phosphate ester separately to the detergent clutcher mixture does not guarantee the intended benefits of the present invention.

A particularly preferred softening agent in the present invention is 10 parts by weight of di-
C ₁₂ -C ₁₄ alkyl and monomethylamine, "SERVOXYL VPA
1 part by weight of monophosphate [[C
_12- C ₁₄ (EO) _1-5 ] ester prepared by dissolving together.

Typical levels of use of amine-phosphate softeners are at least 0.1% for use in detergent compositions,
It is preferably 1% to 15%, at least 1% for fabric softeners for rinsing addition, preferably 1% to 25%, in the case of dryer or washing machine addition sheets (where the balance of the composition is mainly Consisting of the weight of the sheet substrate)
Will be between 2% and 60%.

Clay Softeners The amine-phosphate ester softeners disclosed above are preferably used in granular detergent compositions, most preferably in combination with detergent compatible clay softeners. Such clay softeners are well known in the detergent patent literature and are widely used commercially in both Europe and the United States. Among such clay softeners are various heat treated kaolins and various multilayer smectites. Preferred clay softeners are the smectite clay softeners described in West German Patent No. 2,334,899 and British Patent No. 1,400,898, which can be referred to for details. Clay softeners are used in preferred compositions in an amount of at least 1%, generally 1-20%, preferably 2-7%.

Detergent Surfactant The composition of the present invention comprises an organic surfactant (“surfactant”).
Would provide the usual cleaning benefits associated with the use of such materials.

Detergent surfactants useful in the present invention include the well known synthetic anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants and zwitterionic surfactants. Typical of these are alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl sulphates and alkyl ether sulphates, paraffin sulphonates, olefin sulphonates, amine oxides, which are well known from the washing art.
Α-sulfonate of fatty acid and α- of fatty acid ester
Sulfonate and the like. Generally such detergent surfactants contain alkyl groups in the C _{9 to} C ₁₈ range. Anionic surfactants can be used in the form of their sodium, potassium or triethanolammonium salts. US Pat. No. 4,111,855 contains a detailed listing of such typical detergent surfactants. C ₁₁ -C ₁₆ alkyl benzene sulfonates, C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ paraffin sulfonates and alkyl sulfates are especially preferred in the compositions of the present invention.

Water-soluble soaps known in the art, such as conventional sodium and potassium coconut soap or tallow soap, are also useful as surfactants in the present invention.

Typical alkoxylated nonionic surfactants (eg C ₉
~ _C18 alkyl alcohols and alkylphenols with 5-20 ethoxyl groups) are used in the practice of the present invention, when the clay is used as a co-softener, the alkoxide interferes with the softening properties of the clay. Therefore, the amount of activator used is about 5% or less of the composition, preferably 2% or less,
It has to be understood that it is most preferred to be limited to 0 to 1%. In the clay-free composition, the alkoxylated nonionic surfactant can be used in any amount.

The surfactant component may be as much as 1% of the detergent composition, but generally the composition will contain from 5% to 40%, preferably from 6% to 30 of surfactant. . Mixtures with anionic surfactants such as alkyl benzene sulphonates, alkyl sulphates and paraffin sulphonates are preferred for cleaning a wide range of fabric stains and stains.

Detergent Adjuvants The composition can contain other ingredients that aid in its cleaning performance. For example, through-the-wash detergent compositions are highly preferred to contain a detergent builder and / or a sequestrant. Compounds that can be classified as detergent builders and are well known in the art include, for example, nitrilotriacetate, polycarboxylates, citrates, water soluble phosphates such as tripolyphosphate and sodium orthophosphate and sodium pyrophosphate, silicates, and mixtures thereof. Is. Sequestrants include, for example, all of the above materials, and materials such as ethylene amine tetraacetate, aminopolyphosphonates and phosphates (DEQUEST), and various other polyfunctional organic acids and salts (too much and in particular It cannot be described). See U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,454 for typical examples of the use of such materials in various cleaning compositions. Generally, the piller / sequestrant will make up 0.5% to 45% of the composition. West German Patent No. 2,4
The 1-10 micron size zeolite (eg, zeolite A) builders disclosed in 22,655 are particularly preferred for use in low phosphate compositions containing the softeners of the present invention.

The laundry compositions of the present invention preferably also contain enzymes to enhance through-the-wash cleaning performance against various stains and stains. Amylase and brotase enzymes suitable for use in detergents are well known in the art and commercially used liquid and granular detergents. Commercial detergent enzymes (preferably a mixture of amylase and protease) are typically used in the composition in amounts of 0.001% to 2%, and higher.

In addition, the composition may optionally contain, in addition to the ingredients described above, various other ingredients typically used in commercial products to provide aesthetic or additional product performance benefits. it can. Typical ingredients include, for example, pH adjusters, fragrances, dyes, bleaches, optical brighteners, soil suspending agents, hydrotropes and gel control agents, freeze / thaw stabilizers, bactericides, preservatives, antifoams. Agents and bleach activators.

The composition further comprises a peroxide bleach activator, especially tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED), typically at 0.1% to
5%, preferably 0.5% to 2.5%.
Other detergent ingredients highly desirable for use in detergent compositions of the present invention have the formula _{R 4 R 5 R 6 R 7} N + X - (In the formula, R ₄ is 10 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably Quaternary alkyl having 12 to 18 R ₅ , R ₆ and R ₇ are each C _{1 to} C ₄ alkyl, preferably methyl, X ⁻ is an anion (eg, chlorine ion) It is an ammonium compound. Examples of such quaternary ammonium compounds are monotallow alkyltrimethylammonium chloride and mono (cocoalkyl) trimethylammonium methosulfate. Quaternary ammonium compound is 0.5% to 5
%, Preferably 1% to 3%. Highly preferred is a detergent composition containing both TAED and mono (long chain alkyl) tri (short chain alkyl) ammonium.

In the Through The Wash process, the composition is used to wash fabrics at a concentration of typically at least 500 ppm, preferably 0.10% to 2.5% in an aqueous laundry bath at pH 7-11. Washing can be carried out over a range from 5 ° C to boiling with excellent results.

In another method, the amine-phosphate softeners of the invention are releasably adsorbed or releasably adsorbed onto a non-particulate substrate, such as a nonwoven sheet, paper sheet or flexible sponge mat. Can be coated. Such sheet forms can be added to the wash or rinse bath, or to the washer / dryer, where the softener releases and softens the fibers. In yet another, and highly preferred method, the amine - phosphoric acid esters, bleach activators in sheet form (for example tetraacetylethylenediamine or a straight-chain or branched-chain C ₆ -C ₁₀ oxybenzene sulphonate) Used in combination as a perborate activator and softener in laundry liquors. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,562.

Such sheet form products will generally use 1 to 20 grams of amine-phosphate softener and 1 to 20 grams of bleach activator.

In yet another method, the amine-phosphate ester can be formulated as a liquid fabric softener and used in a post-wash rinse bath. Such liquid softeners
For example, it may include a simple dispersion of an amine-phosphate ester softener in water or water-alcohol.

The compositions and methods of the present invention typically apply to at least a few milligrams per square meter (generally at least 1 mg to 1 mg) on the treated fabric as seen in the examples below.
It has to be understood that it is carried out in such a way that it will deposit (000 mg) of substoichiometric amine-phosphate softener.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The following examples are typical of preferred composition parts of the present invention,
It does not limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1 Ditalo-methylamine mixture (total of 3.8% of complete formulation after spray drying) and monococonut alkyl (ethoxy) 1-5 phosphate (0.38% of complete formulation)
Are mixed in a jacketed bath, melted and maintained as a melt for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the uniformity is maintained by stirring.

A standard aqueous clutcher mixture is prepared consisting of the following components (% in the label indicates% components in the complete formulation after spray drying).

Ingredients% C _{11 to 12} alkyl benzene sulphonate 6.2 Tallow alcohol ethoxylate (E011) 1.0 sodium perborate 20.0 Sodium tripolyphosphate 24.0 Sodium sulphate 22.0 Sodium silicate 8.0 Sumetaito clay ^* 2.4 carboxymethylcellulose 0.4 polyacrylates (soil suspending agent) 1.7 Enzyme 0.5 Optical brightener 0.23 Sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine ^** 25ppm EDTA 0.2 Fragrance / copper salt / trace component 0.5 Moisture balance * Natural smectite; 50meq; 50meq / Ion exchange capacity higher than 100g of clay ** US Patent No. 3,927,967 The clutcher mixture is processed in exactly the standard manner and spray dried to prepare a granulated dry product.

To the spray-dried particles, the amine-phosphate ester softener is added as particles, more precisely as "prills".

The composition of Example 1 is free-flowing,
Gives excellent cleaning and through-the-wash fiber softening when used at laundry concentrations above 0.1%.

In the alternative, the amine-phosphate softener can be sprayed onto the spray dried granulate.

The composition of Example 1 can be modified by adding 1.0% tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) as a perborate bleach activator. Substances such as bleach activators and enzymes are preferably spray dried and then dry mixed with the rest of the composition.

The composition can be further modified by adding 2.4% of monotalo-alkyltriethylammonium chloride in addition to TAED.

Example 2 A low phosphorus spray dried detergent formulation is as follows.

Ingredients% Zeolite A (1 to 10 microns) 26.0 nitrilotriacetic sodium acetate 5.0 smectite clay ^* 3.0 Amine - phosphoric acid esters ^** 4.1 C _{11 to 12} alkyl benzene sulfonate (Na) 6.5 talo - ethoxylate (EO9~11) 0.5 perborate Sodium acid salt 4H ₂ O 20.0 Sodium silicate 8.0 CMC 1.0 Sodium sulphate 20.0 Enzyme (amylase / protease 1: 1) ^*** 1.5 Optical brightener 0.5 TAED 1.2 Water, trace components Remainder * Gelwhite GP (TM) As; CaCO ₃ ion exchange capacity 70meq / 100g ** Similar to Example 1 *** Dry mixed with composition.

The composition of Example 2 is prepared by the method described in Example 1 by spray drying the aqueous clutcher mixture. Upon use, the composition provides excellent cleaning and through-the-wash fabric softening performance.

Example 3 A clay-free composition is prepared by removing the clay from the composition of Example 1 and instead adding 2.4% monotallow alkyltrimethylammonium chloride of the total composition.

Example 4 A laundry additive product was prepared by heating and melting 6.5 g of bis (tetradecyl) methylamine and 0.8 g of tetradecyl phosphate and melting the melt into a normal disposable paper towel (20 x 20
cm) and spread. Sprinkle 4 g of TAED paradder (1-10 microns) onto the melt before it solidifies and press fit.

The article of Example 4 was added to a wash liquor containing a commercial perborate / clay detergent composition [DASH-3 ™] to enhance through-the-wash softening and bleaching performance.

Example 5 The article of Example 4 can be modified by removing the TAED and replacing the softener of Example 4 with 3.5 g of the amine-phosphate ester of Examples 1 and 2. When the resulting article is rolled with a damp fabric in a standard hot air clothes dryer, the softener is transferred onto the fabric and imparts flexibility.

Example 6 Fine-fabric fabric with fiber gun softening properties
The washing composition for ic) is as follows.

Composition % C _10-14 Alkyl sulphate 9.0 _Chloro- alkyl benzene sulphonate 2.0 Coconut soap 4.0 Glycerin 3.0 Amine phosphate ester complex ^* 6.0 Triethanolamine up to pH 7.0 Perfume 0.25 Moisture * Octadecylamine (15 parts) / bis- as a melt Decyl Phosphate (1 part) The composition of Example 6 is a "milky" liquid.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-49-69998 (JP, A) JP-A-48-19892 (JP, A) JP-A-57-158297 (JP, A) JP-B-44- 3275 (JP, B1)

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A laundry composition comprising: (a) an amine of formula R ₁ R ₂ R ₃ N, wherein (a) is prepared separately from the rest of the composition, wherein R ₁ is C _6- . C ₂₀ alkyl, R ₂ is C ₁ -C ₂₀ alkyl or hydrogen, and R ₃ is C ₁ -C ₁₀ alkyl or hydrogen) and (ii) Formula (Where R and R ′ are C ₁ -C ₂₀ alkyl or C ₁ -C ₂₀ alkyl- (OCH ₂ CH ₂ ) y ethoxylated alkyl groups, y is an integer of 1-15 and The weight ratio of phosphate ester is at least 2: 1)
0.1% water dispersible amine / phosphate softener complex (b) at least 1% clay fiber softener and (c) alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkyl sulphate, alkyl ether sulphate, paraffin sulphonate, olefin sulphonate, fatty acid A laundry detergent composition comprising at least 1% of a detersive surfactant selected from the group consisting of α-sulfonates and α-sulfonates of fatty acid esters. 2. A composition according to claim 1 comprising 1% to 15% of the amine / phosphate softener complex. 3. A composition according to claim 2 which contains not more than 5% of an alkoxylated nonionic detersive surfactant. 4. An orthophosphate, a pyrophosphate,
A detergent builder selected from the group consisting of tripolyphosphate, nitrilotriacetate, polycarboxylate, citrate and zeolite-builders and mixtures thereof.
The composition according to the item. 5. A quaternary ammonium compound of the formula R ₄ R ₅ R ₆ R ₇ N ⁺ X ⁻ in which 0.1% to 5% tetraacetylethylenediamine and 0.5% to 5% are used, wherein R ₄ is C ₁₀ -C. ₂₀ alkyls,
R ₅ , R ₆ and R ₇ are each an alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and X ⁻ is an anion.) A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3. . 6. The amine / phosphate ester weight ratio in the amine / phosphate ester softener complex is 7: 7.
The composition according to claim 1, which is 1 to 15: 1. 7. R ₁ and R ₂ in the amine are C ₁₆ -C ₁₈ alkyl, R ₃ is C ₁ -C ₃ alkyl, and R and R'in the phosphate ester.
There C ₈ -C ₁₆ alkyl - (OCH ₂ CH ₂₎ composition of y is according to paragraph 1 the claims is an integer from 2 to 10 by y. 8. A laundry composition comprising (a) an amine of formula R ₁ R ₂ R ₃ N, wherein (a) is prepared separately from the rest of the composition, wherein R ₁ is C _6- . C ₂₀ alkyl, R ₂ is C ₁ -C ₂₀ alkyl or hydrogen, and R ₃ is C ₁ -C ₁₀ alkyl or hydrogen) and (ii) Formula (Where R and R ′ are C ₁ -C ₂₀ alkyl or C ₁ -C ₂₀ alkyl- (OCH ₂ CH ₂ ) y ethoxylated alkyl groups, y is an integer of 1-15 and The weight ratio of phosphate ester is at least 2: 1)
0.1% water dispersible amine / phosphate softener complex (b) at least 1% clay fiber softener, and (c) alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl sulphates, alkyl ether sulphates, paraffin sulphonates, olefin sulphonates, fatty acids. A-sulfonate, and a non-granular substrate comprising a laundry detergent composition comprising at least 1% of a detersive surfactant selected from the group consisting of fatty acid ester α-sulfonates,
Articles used for rinse bath washer dryer. 9. Article according to claim 8, additionally provided with a bleach activator. 10. The laundry composition containing the fibers,
(A) Prepared separately from the rest of the composition and essentially (i) an amine of formula R ₁ R ₂ R ₃ N, where R ₁ is C ₆ -C ₂₀ alkyl, R ₂ is C ₁ -C. ₂₀ alkyl or hydrogen, R ₃ is C ₁ -C
₁₀ alkyl or hydrogen) and formula (ii) (Where R and R ′ are C ₁ -C ₂₀ alkyl or C ₁ -C ₂₀ alkyl- (OCH ₂ CH ₂ ) y ethoxylated alkyl groups, y is an integer of 1-15 and The weight ratio of phosphate ester is at least 2: 1)
0.1% water dispersible amine / phosphate softener complex (b) at least 1% clay fiber softener, and (c) alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkyl sulphate, alkyl ether sulphate, paraffin sulphonate, olefin sulphonate, fatty acid A method of laundering fibers which is contacted with a laundry detergent composition comprising at least 1% of a detersive surfactant selected from the group consisting of α-sulfonates and α-sulfonates of fatty acid esters. 11. A claim as claimed in claim 1, which is carried out with an aqueous washing liquid.
The method described in paragraph 10. 12. A method according to claim 10 which is carried out by rolling the moist fibers in a hot air clothes dryer after washing in the composition.