WO2021094127A1 - A fabric care composition comprising hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine and a biocide - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fabric care composition comprising at least one hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine as dye fixative polymer and a biocide such as 4,4'-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether. The present invention further relates to a method for providing an improved color care effect during washing or treatment of colored fabric which comprises use of the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine as dye fixative polymer.

Description

A Fabric Care Composition Comprising Hydrophobically Modified Polyalkyleneimine and a Biocide

Technical Field

The invention relates to a hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine as dye fixative polymer in combination with a biocide in fabric care formulation. The present invention also relates to a method for color fixing effect when washing colored fabric by using the dye fixative polymer.

Background Art

A known problem in the washing and/or treatment of colored fabrics is color fading in the fabric appearance, which is at least partly due to loss of color shade intensity, fidelity and color defini tion. Such a problem of color loss is even more acute in laundry treatment after several washing cycles, especially for dark colors, such as blacks, reds, blues and greens.

During the washing process, when the colors of a colored fabric are poorly fixed, i.e. color bleeding, not just rapid fading of the colored fabrics takes place, but there can also, as a result of the relatively high dye concentrations in the wash liquor, additionally be staining of differently colored or white fabrics washed at the same time.

To solve the problem of color bleeding and color fading, several mechanisms have been specu lated upon for color loss and various means have been proposed to prevent or reduce the ex tent of the loss or transfer of color. Dye fixative agent and dye transfer inhibitor are well-known which are designed to improve the appearance of colored fabrics by minimizing the loss and transfer of dyes from fabrics due to washing or treatment. U.S. Patent No. 2010/0017973 dis closes a dye transfer inhibitor which may prevent color transferring during laundry processes. However, color bleeding and fading of colored fabric cannot be prevented. U.S Patent No. 2007/0277327 discloses a detergent and cleaning agents containing polyamines/polyimines or their derivatives as dye fixative agents, which can be used in combination with soil release pol ymers. However, the use of most dye fixative agents in liquid laundry detergent formulation is in practice restricted to the formulations which do not comprise any anionic surfactants or com prise very low content of anionic surfactants, due to the lack of compatibility of the anionic sur factants with the dye fixative compounds, which causes flocculation, precipitation or phase sep aration of the compounds.

In recent times there is still an increasing demand for laundry formulations comprising dye fixa tive agent and a biocide, which may improve the color fastness and show excellent compatibility with detersive surfactants. It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a dye fixative polymer in combination with a biocide, which will help effectively fix dyes through laundry washing and/or treatment process es, while showing better and broader compatibility with laundry formulations, and providing an antimicrobial effect.

Summary of Invention

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a fabric care composition comprising, as component (a), at least one hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine, wherein the hydropho- bically modified polyalkyleneimine comprises a polyalkyleneimine backbone having a weight- average molecular weight greater than or equal to 200 g/mol and less than 1000 g/mol, and hydrophobic moieties which are covalently attached to the backbone of polyalkyleneimine. Component (b) is a biocide selected from the group consisting of 4,4’-dichloro-2- hydroxydiphenylether, 2-phenoxyethanol, glutaraldehyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, es pecially the biocide 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether.

Preferably, the unmodified polyalkyleneimine backbone can be polyethyleneimine, polypropyl- eneimine or polybutyleneimine. Preferably said unmodified polyalkyleneimine has a weight- average molecular weight greater than or equal to 300 g/mol and less than 1000 g/mol, more preferably greater than or equal to 500 g/mol and less than 1000 g/mol.

In a further aspect, the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines are obtained by a process which comprises the reaction of an unmodified polyalkyleneimine with a hydrophobicizing agent.

In still a further aspect, the present invention provides a fabric care composition comprising the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine (a), present biocide (b), and at least one nonionic, anionic and/or cationic surfactant.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for providing an improved color care effect during washing and/or treating of colored fabrics, which comprises a step of contacting the colored fabrics with a washing solution which contains the hydrophobically modified poly alkyleneimine and the biocide.

In still another aspect, the present invention relates to use of the fabric care composition com prising the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine in combination with a biocide selected from the group consisting of 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether, 2-phenoxyethanol, glutaral dehyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol for enhancing color care effect during washing and/or treatment of colored fabrics, while also providing an antimicrobial effect during washing and/or on the washed fabric, especially when containing 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether. A further advantage is the good stabilization and preservation of fabric care products containing the present biocide, especially when containing 2-phenoxyethanol, glutaraldehyde, and/or 2- bromo-2-nitropropane-1 ,3-diol.

It has further been found that, unexpectedly, the combination of present hydrophobically modi fied polyalkyleneimine with 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether according to present invention, when being formulated in fabric care composition, exhibits satisfactory color fixing effect, good antimicrobial activity and excellent compatibility, and thus makes it possible to achieve the ob jective as outlined above. Excellent compatibility with the fabric care product is also found when present hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine is combined with 2-phenoxyethanol, glutar aldehyde, and/or 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol.

Description

Throughout the description, including the claims, the term "comprising one" or “comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with the term "comprising at least one", unless oth erwise specified, and "between" should be understood as being inclusive of the limits.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” are used to refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article.

The term “and/or” includes the meanings “and”, “or” and also all the other possible combinations of the elements connected to this term.

It should be noted that in specifying any range of concentration, weight ratio or amount, any particular upper concentration, weight ratio or amount can be associated with any particular lower concentration, weight ratio or amount, respectively.

As used herein, the term “fabric care” is the broadest term which refers to the present composi tion which improves the appearance or wear properties of fabric, especially clothing. For the purposes of the present invention fabric care compositions are divided into several categories, inter alia, laundry detergent compositions, fabric appearance, each of which are typically char acterized by the presence of an ingredient or the lack thereof. For example, “laundry detergent compositions” are required to comprise one or more detersive surfactants while “fabric softener composition” are required to comprise one or more cationic quaternary ammonium compounds. The term “fabric care” may refer to the laundry detergent compositions as well as the fabric conditioning compositions.

As used herein, the term “hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine” refers to polyalkylene imine with hydrophobic groups chemically attached to unmodified polyalkyleneimine backbone. As used herein, the term “unmodified or non-modified” refers to a polymer substrate that is not modified or functionalized.

As used herein, the term “hydrocarbon radical” refers to any straight, branched, cyclic, acyclic, heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated chain, which contains a carbon backbone comprising one or more hydrogen atoms, optionally substituted with one or more heteroatoms in or on the car bon backbone.

As used herein, the term “hydrophobic moiety” is a moiety which can be saturated or unsaturat ed, substituted or unsubstituted, straight or branched, cyclic or acyclic hydrocarbon group.

As used herein, the term "alkyl" means a saturated hydrocarbon radical, which may be straight, branched or cyclic, such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, t- butyl, pentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl.

As used herein, the term "hydroxyalkyl" means an alkyl radical, more typically an alkyl radical, that is substituted with a hydroxyl groups, such as for example, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, and hydroxydecyl.

As used herein, the term "alkylene" means a bivalent acyclic saturated hydrocarbon radical, including but not limited to methylene, polymethylene, and alkyl substituted polymethylene radi cals, such as, for example, dimethylene, tetramethylene, and 2-methyltrimethylene.

As used herein, the term "alkenyl" and “alkadienyl” refer to alkyl groups having, respectively, one or two carbon-carbon double bonds within the chain.

As used herein, the term “alkenylcarbonyl” refer s to a group -C(=0)R, wherein R is alkenyl which can be optionally substituted.

The present invention is directed to a fabric care composition comprising at least one hydro- phobically modified polyalkyleneimine, wherein the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine comprises a polyalkyleneimine backbone having a weight-average molecular weight greater than or equal to 200 g/mol and less than 1000 g/mol, preferably greater than or equal to 300 g/mol and less than 1000 g/mol, more preferably greater than or equal to 500 g/mol and less than 1000 g/mol; and hydrophobic moieties which are covalently attached to the backbone of polyalkyleneimine.

The hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines are to be understood as meaning poly- alkyleneimines in which the hydrogen atoms of the primary and secondary amino groups are partially or completely replaced by linear or branched aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated hydro- carbon radicals such as alkyl, alkenyl, alkadienyl or hydroxyalkyl radicals. The hydrocarbon rad icals generally have 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 8 to 16 carbon atoms.

The hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines can be obtained by a process which compris es the reaction of an unmodified polyalkyleneimine with a hydrophobicizing agent. Depending on the hydrophobicizing agent used in each case, the hydrocarbon radicals can be linked to the nitrogen atom of the polyalkyleneimine directly or via a functional group, e.g. via a carbonyl group (*-C(=0)-^#), via an oxycarbonyl group (*-0-C(=0)-^#), via an aminocarbonyl group (*-NH- C(=0)-^#), via a carbonyloxyhydroxylpropyl group (^*-C(=0)-0-CH₂-CH(0H)-CH₂-^#), via a 2- oxycarbonylethylenecarbonyl group (*-CH(COOH)-CH2-CO-^#), or via a radical of the formula *- CH₂-(C=0)-CH-(C=0)-^# (in the formulae given above. Represents the linkage to the hydrocar bon radical and ^# represents the linkage to the nitrogen atom of the polyalkyleneimine). The hy drocarbon radical can also form an aldimine or ketimine group with the nitrogen of the poly alkyleneimine or be linked to 2 nitrogen atoms of the polyalkyleneimine via the carbon atom of a cyclic amidine group.

Preferably, the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine has the hydrocarbon radical which is linked to one nitrogen atom of the polyalkyleneimine directly or via a carbonyl group. The latter being particularly preferred. Preferably, the hydrocarbon radicals are linear, more preferably, the hydrocarbon radicals are saturated.

According to any one of the invention embodiments, the hydrocarbon radicals in the preferred hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines are present in the form of C4-C3o-alkyl, C4-C30- alkylcarbonyl, C4-C3o-alkenyl, C4-C3o-alkenylcarbonyl, C4-C3o-alkadieny, C4-C30- alkadienylcarbonyl and/or hydroxy-C4-C3o-alkyl groups, in particular in the form of C₆-Cis-alkyl, C₆-Cis-alkylcarbonyl, C₆-Cis-alkenyl, C₆-Cis-alkenylcarbonyl, C₆-Cis-alkadienyl, C6-C18- alkadienylcarbonyl and/or hydroxy-C₆-Cis-alkyl groups, particularly preferably in the form of Cs- Ci₆-alkyl, C₈-Ci₆-alkylcarbonyl, Cs-Ci₆-alkenyl, C₈-Ci₆-alkenylcarbonyl, Cs-Ci₆-alkadienyl, Cs- Ci₆-alkadienylcarbonyl and/or hydroxy-Cs-Ci₆-alkyl groups, where the alkyl, hydroxy-alkyl, alkenyl, alkadienyl radicals of the aforementioned groups are preferably linear.

In some preferred embodiment, the hydrocarbon radicals are present in the form of C4-C30- alkylcarbonyl or C4-C3o-alkenylcarbonyl group, particularly in the form of C₆-Cis-alkylcarbonyl or C₆-Cis-alkenylcarbonyl group, more particularly, in the form of C₈-Ci₆-alkylcarbonyl or Cs-Ci₆- alkenylcarbonyl group, where the alkyl and alkenyl radicals of the aforementioned groups are preferably linear.

According to any one of the invention embodiments, about from 2 to 25 mol%, in particular 5 to 20 mol%, in more particular from 6 to 15 mol% of the nitrogen atoms of the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine carry a hydrocarbon radical. Correspondingly, the fraction of the hydrocarbon radicals constitutes preferably 5 to 60% by weight, in particular 10 to 50% by weight and specifically 10 to 35% by weight, based on the total weight of the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine.

The hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine used according to the present invention can be linear or branched. In particular, the branched polyalkyleneimine branching may occur at its nitrogen fractions. The linear polyalkyleneimines are composed exclusively of repeat units of formula A; the branched polyalkyleneimines have, besides the linear repeat units, tertiary nitro gen atoms according to the formula B:

A B

In which Q is C2-C8 alkylene, preferably is ethylene, propylene or butylene.

Preference is given to those branched, hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines, in particu lar branched, hydrophobically modified polyethyleneimines, which, based on the polyalkylene imine on which they are based, have, on average, per polyalkyleneimine molecule at least one, preferably at least 5 or at least 10, branching points according to formula B. In particular, at least 5%, in particular at least 10% and particularly preferably at least 15%, e.g. 5 to 40% and specifically 15 to 35%, of the nitrogen atoms of the parent polyalkyleneimine are tertiary nitro gen atoms. Particularly, in the case of high degrees of branching, i.e. if at least 10%, in particu lar 15%, e.g. 10 to 40%, in particular 15 to 35% of the nitrogen atoms of the parent polyalky- limine are tertiary nitrogen atoms, the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines have a structure similar to a core-shell structure, where the polyalkyleneimine moieties form the core and the hydrophobic radicals form the shell.

According to any one of the invention embodiments, the hydrophobically modified polyalkylene imines can be present in uncrosslinked or crosslinked form. Preferably, the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines are uncrosslinked. According to any one of the invention embodi ments, the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine has a weight-average molecular weight in the range of from 300 g/mol to 5000 g/mol, preferably from 500 to 3000 g/mol, more prefera bly from 800 g/mol to 2000 g/mol.

The hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines which are used according to the invention are in part known from the prior art or can be prepared analogously to the methods described here inafter. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of a hydropho- bically modified polyalkyleneimine obtainably by a process which comprises the reaction of an unmodified polyalkyleneimine, in particular, an unmodified branched polyalkyleneimine, and specifically an unmodified branched polyethyleneimine, with a hydrophobicizing agent.

Examples of suitable hydrophobicizing agents include but not limit to: i) long chain, linear or branched carboxylic acids having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 8 to 16 carbon atoms, in the alkyl or alkenyl radical, such as caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, undecanoic acid, lauric acid, tridecanoic acid, myristic acid, pen- tadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, margaric acid, stearic acid, nonadecanoic acid, arachic acid, be- henic acid, palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid and mixtures thereof, preferably lauric acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid, or their amide-forming derivatives, such as acid chlorides, esters or anhydrides of the specified carboxylic acids and mixtures thereof; ii) natural oils, including plant oils, nut oils, seed oils, animal oils and marine oils, which typically contain triglycerides, free fatty acids, or a combination of triglycerides and free fatty acids. Ex ample of suitable natural plant oils are soybean oil, rapeseed oil, palm oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, palm kernel oil; Example of suitable animal/marine oils are lard, fish oil, beef tallow oil, seal oil and milk fat, and those obtained by hydrogenation or ester-exchange of these oil, and mixture thereof; iii) linear or branched alkyl halides having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 carbon at oms, more preferably 8 to 16 carbon atoms, in the linear or branched alkyl radical such as octyl chloride, nonyl chloride, decyl chloride, dodecyl chloride, tetradecyl chloride, hexadecyl chloride, octadecyl chloride and mixtures thereof; iv) alkyl epoxides having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 carbon atoms, more prefera bly 8 to 16 carbon atoms in the linear or branched alkyl radical, such as hexadecenyl oxide, dodecenyl oxide and octadecenyl oxide and mixtures thereof; v) alkyl ketene dimers having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 carbon atoms, in particu lar 8 to 16 carbon atoms in the linear or branched alkyl radical, such as lauryl ketene, palmityl ketene, stearyl ketene and oleyl ketene dimers and mixtures thereof; vi) cyclic dicarboxylic acid anhydrides, in particular alkyl-substituted succinic anhydrides having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 carbon atoms, in particular 8 to 16 carbon atoms, in the linear or branched alkyl radical, such as dodecenylsuccinic anhydride, tetradecylsuccinic anhy dride, hexadecenylsuccinic anhydride and mixtures thereof; vii) alkyl isocyanates having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 carbon atoms, more pref erably 8 to 16 carbon atoms in the linear or branched alkyl radical, such as tetradecyl isocya nate, hexadecyl isocyanate, octadecyl isocyanate and mixtures thereof; viii) chloroformic acid esters of linear or branched alkanols or alkenols having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and dialkyl ke tones having in total 4 to 30 carbon atoms, in particular 6 to 18 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof. viiii) linear or branched aliphatic aldehydes having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 car bon atoms, in particular 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and dialkyl ketones having in total 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 carbon atoms, in particular 8 to 16 carbon atoms, in the two alkyl groups and mixtures thereof.

According to any one of the invention embodiments, the unmodified polyalkyleneimines which form the basis of the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines comprise homopolymers of ethyleneimine (aziridine) and higher homologs thereof, propyleneimine (methylaziridine) and butyleneimine (1,2-dimethylaziridine, 1,1-dimethylaziridine and 1-ethylaziridine), copolymers of ethyleneimine with its higher homologs, and the graft polymers of polyamidoamines or polyvi- nylamines with ethyleneimine and/or its higher homologs. Also suitable are the graft polymers of alkyleneimines described in W002/095122, such as ethyleneimine onto polyamidoamines or onto polyvinylamines. Such graft polymers generally have a weight fraction of alkyleneimines of at least 10% by weight, in particular at least 30% by weight, e.g. 10 to 90% by weight in particu lar 10 to 85% by weight, based on the total weight of the unmodified polyalkyleneimne. In some preferred embodiments, the unmodified polyalkyleneimines are branched polyalkyleneimines, preferably polyethyleneimines, in particular branched polyethyleneimines, in more particular homopolymers of ethyleneimines, in still more particular branched homopolymers of ethylene- imines.

According to any one of the invention embodiments, the unmodified polyalkyleneimine has a weight-average molecular weight M_w of from greater than or equal to 200 g/mol to less than 1000 g/mol. Preferably, the unmodified polyalkyleneimine has a weight-average molecular weight M_w of from greater than or equal to 300 g/mol to less than 1000 g/mol. More preferably, the unmodified polyalkyleneimine has a weight-average molecular weight M_w of from greater than or equal to 500 g/mol to less than 1000 g/mol. The molecular weights given here refer to the molecular weights specified by means of gel permeation chromatography and measured on dilute aqueous solutions at 25°C, which correspond to the weight-average molecular weight.

The present invention also relates to the reaction of the unmodified polyalkyleneimine with at least one hydrophobicizing agent, which can take place according to the processes known in the prior art. The reaction conditions naturally depend on the type and functionality of the poly- alkyleneimine and the hydrophobicizing agents. In some embodiments, the reaction may be performed with or without a solvent or diluent. Examples of suitable solvents for the reaction include but not limit to hydrocarbons, in particular aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. alkylbenzenes such as xylenes, toluene, cumene, tert-butylbenzene and the like. In some embodiments, the reaction may take place as a solvent-free reaction, which at least comprises (a) heating the mix ture of polyalkyleneimine and hydrophobicizing agent to melt state; (b) stirring the mixture and reacting the polyalkyleneimine with an amount of hydrophobicizing agent, wherein the amount of the hydrophobicizing agent used is sufficient to derivatize about 2 mol% to 25 mol%, in par ticular about 5 to 20 mol%, in more particular 6 to 15 mol% of the nitrogen atoms of the poly alkyleneimine. In some preferred embodiment, the reaction taking place between the unmodi fied polyalkyleneimine and natural oils as the hydrophobicizing agent, comprises (a) heating the mixture of polyalkyleneimine and natural oil to melt state; (b) stirring the mixture and reacting the polyalkyleneimine under nitrogen flow with an amount of natural oil at a temperature of 80 to 120°C, wherein the amount of the hydrophobicizing agent used is sufficient to derivatize about 2 mol% to 25 mol%, in particular about 5 to 20 mol%, in more particular 6 to 15 mol% of the nitro gen atoms of the polyalkyleneimine. In some embodiments, the hydrophobicizing agent will be used in an amount which corresponds to the desired functionality, it also being possible to use the hydrophobicizing agent in excess.

In some embodiments, the reaction may be also performed in the presence of catalysts which improve the reactivity of the hydrophobicizing agent toward the polyalkyleneimine. The type of catalyst depends in a manner known per se on the type and reactivity of the hydrophobicizing agent. The catalysts are usually Lewis acids or Bronsted acids.

In some embodiments, the carboxylic acids and carboxylic acid derivatives are used as the hy drophobicizing agent, it has proven advantageous to remove the low molecular weight products, such as water, alcohols or hydrogen chloride which form during the reaction from the reaction mixture. For example, when using carboxylic acids, the water formed will preferably be removed from the reaction mixture via an entrainer or vacuum. Typical entrainers are hydrocarbons, in particular alkyl aromatics such as toluene or xylenes.

The hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine are generally water-soluble or water-dispersible and can be used in solid and/or liquid fabric care compositions. Said fabric care compositions comprising the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine, can be used for various fabric care products which include but not limit to laundry detergents, after rinse conditioners, pretreatment agents, tumble drier sheet, after-washing sprays etc.

The hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines of the present invention are characterized in particular by high compatibility with conventional detergent ingredients, in particular with the ingredients of liquid detergent formulation, which comprises anionic surfactant, non-ionic surfac tant and optionally a cationic surfactant. The solid/liquid fabric care compositions, which com prise the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine, can be prepared by a method known in the prior art, in which the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine may be used in powder or granule form or in liquid form, preferably being used in liquid form, i.e. dissolved or dispersed form.

In some embodiments, the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines can be used, for exam ple, in those detergent formulations which comprise a detersive surfactant system containing predominantly nonionic surfactants. Preferably the concentration of nonionic surfactants, based on the total amount of surfactants in the fabric care composition, is from 10% to 100% by weight, preferably from 20% to 100% by weight, more preferably from 30% to 100% by weight. In still some embodiments, the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimines come in useful es pecially in those detergent formulations which may comprise relative high content of anionic surfactants in the detersive surfactant system. Preferably, the concentration of anionic surfac tants, based on the total amount of surfactant in the fabric care composition, is from 10 to 100% by weight, preferably from 20% to 100% by weight, more preferably from 30 to 100% by weight.

The fabric care composition according to the invention further contains (as component b) a bio cide selected from the group consisting of 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether, 2- phenoxyethanol, glutaraldehyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 ,3-diol, especially the biocide 4,4’- dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether (CAS: 3380-30-1), which is commercially available as a solu tion of 30 wt.% of 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether in 1 ,2-propyleneglycol under the trade name Tinosan^® HP 100 (BASF, Germany). Present fabric care composition contains the biocide 4, 4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether preferably in a concentration of from 0.001 to 3 %, prefer ably 0.001 to 1 %, more preferably 0.002 to 0.6 %, by weight of the composition; preferred amounts of 2-phenoxyethanol, glutaraldehyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 ,3-diol are as indicated further below.

The solid composition further comprises at least one nonionic, cationic and/or anionic surfactant (component c). The overall concentration of the surfactants in the compositions can be from 0.5% to 60% and preferably 5 to 40% by weight. A typical amount of the hydrophobically modi fied polyalkyleneimine to be employed in the composition of the invention is from 0.01% to 30% by weight, preferably 0.01 % to 15% by weight, more preferably 0.05% to 5% by weight of the composition.

The liquid composition further comprises at least one nonionic, anionic and/or cationic surfac tant (component c). The overall concentration of the surfactants in the composition can be from 0.5% to 80% and preferably 5 to 70% by weight. A typical amount of the hydrophobically modi fied polyalkyleneimine to be employed in the composition of the invention is from 0.01% to 30% by weight, preferably 0.01% to 15% by weight, more preferably 0.05% to 5% by weight of the formulation.

Typical compositions of the invention thus may comprise

(i) 0.01 to 30% of component (a), 0.001 to 1% of component (b), and 5 to 69 % of component

(c);

(ii) 0.01 to 20% of component (a), 0.001 to 1% of component (b), and 5 to 79 % of component

(c);

(iii) 0.05 to 5% of component (a), 0.005 to 1% of component (b), 5 to 40% of component (c) and water and further components until 100%

(iv) 0.05 to 5% of component (a), 0.005 to 1% of component (b), 40 to 80% of component (c) and water and further components until 100%

(v) 0.05 to 5% of component (a), 0.005 to 1% of component (b), 5 to 40% of component (c) and solid builders, solid fillers and further components until 100%; each by weight of the composition.

Depending on their intended use, the composition is adapted to the type of textiles to be washed/treated.

The surfactants used may be anionic, nonionic, amphoteric and cationic. It is also possible to use mixtures of said surfactants, Preferred laundry detergent formulations comprise anionic and/or nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof with other surfactants.

Suitable anionic surfactants are sulfates, sulfonates, carboxylates, phosphates and mixture thereof. Suitable cations here are alkali metals, such as, for example, sodium or potassium or alkaline earth metals, such as, for example, calcium or magnesium, and ammonium, substituted ammonium compounds, including mono-, di- or triethanolammonium cations, and mixtures thereof.

The following types of anionic surfactants are particularly preferred:

Sulfates of (fatty) alcohols having 8 to 22, preferably 10 to 18, carbon atoms, in particular CgCu- alcohol sulfates, Ci2-Ci4-alcohol sulfates, Ci2-Ci8-alcohol sulfates, lauryl sulfate, cetyl sulfate, myristyl sulfate, palmityl sulfate, stearyl sulfate and tallow fatty alcohol sulfate; Sulfated alkox- ylated C8-C22-alcohol (alkyl ether sulfates): compounds of this type are prepared, for example, by firstly alkoxylating a C8-C22-, preferably a Cio-Ci₈-alcohol, e.g. a fatty alcohol, and then sulfat- ing the alkoxylation product. For the alkoxylation, ethylene oxide is preferably used; linear Cs- C20 alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS), preferably linear Cg-C -alkylbenzenesulfonates and alkyltol- uenesulfonates; alkanesulfonates, in particular C8-C24-, preferably Cio-Ci₈-alkanesulfonates; olefinsulfonates; fatty acid and fatty acid ester sulfonates; soaps, such as the Na and K salts of C8-C24-carboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof. The anionic surfactants are preferably added to the laundry formulation in the form of salts. Suitable salts here are, for example, alkali metal salts, such as sodium, potassium and lithium salts, and ammonium salts, such as hydroxyethylammonium, di(hydroxyethyl)ammonium and tri(hydroxyethyl)ammonium salts.

Examples of suitable nonionic surfactants are the following compounds:

Alkoxylated C8-C22-alcohols, such as fatty alcohol alkoxylates, oxo alcohol alkoxylates and Guerbet alcohol ethyoxylates, the alkoxylation can take place with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide. Block copolymers of random copolymers may be present. Per mole of alcohol, they usually comprise 2 to 50 mol, preferably 3 to 20 mol, of at least one al- kylene oxide. A preferred alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide. The alcohols preferably have 10 to 18 carbon atoms; alkylphenol alkoxylates, in particular alkylphenol ethoxylates, which comprise C6-Ci4-alkyl chains and 5 to 30 mol of alkylene oxide; alkyl polyglucosides which comprise Cs- C22-, preferably Cio-Cis-alkyl chains and as a rule 1 to 20, preferably 1.1 to 5, glucoside units; N-alkylglucamides, fatty acid amide alkoxylates, fatty acid alkanolamide alkoxylates, long-chain amine oxides, polyhydroxy(alkoxy) fatty acid amides, gemini surfactants, and block copolymers of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and /or butylene oxide; and their mixtures.

Examples of suitable cationic surfactants are the following compounds:

Substituted or unsubstituted, straight-chain or branched, quaternary ammonium salts of the R_IN(CH₃)3⁺X-, R_IR₂N(CH₃)⁺X-, R₁R₂R₃N(CH₃)⁺X- or R₁R₂R₃R₄N⁺X- type. The Ri, R₂, R₃ and R₄ radicals are each independently preferably unsubstituted alkyl having a chain length of from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, in particular from 10 to 18 carbon atoms, hydroxy-alkyl having from abour 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenyl, C2-Cis-alkeyl, C7-C2₄-aralkyl, (C₂H₄0)_XH where x is an integer from 1 to 3, alkyl radials comprising one or more ester groups, or cyclic quaternay ammonium salts. X is a suitable anion.

Present composition thus may be a fabric softener composition comprising one or more of such cationic quaternary ammonium compounds as softening actives. Of special importance are fab ric softening actives comprising an ester-linked triethanolamine quaternary ammonium com pound, as described e.g. in EP-A-2838982. Commercial examples of such actives include Ste- pantex™ UL85, ex Stepan, Prapagen™ TQL, ex Clariant, and Tetranyl™ AHT-1, ex Kao, (both di-[hardened tallow ester] of triethanolammonium methylsulphate), AT-1 (di-[tallow ester] of tri- ethanolammonium methylsulphate), and L5/90 (di-[palm ester] of triethanolammonium methyl- sulphate), both ex Kao, and Rewoquat™ WE15 (a di-ester of triethanolammonium methyl sulphate having fatty acyl residues deriving from C10-C20 and C16-C18 unsaturated fatty ac ids), ex Witco Corporation. Also, quaternary ammonium actives such as Stepantex VK90, Ste- pantex VT90, SP88 (ex-Stepan), Ceca Noramine, Prapagen TO (ex-Clariant), Dehyquart AU-57 (ex-Cognis), Rewoquat WE18 (ex-Degussa) and Tetranyl L190 P, Tetranyl L190 SP and Tetra nyl L190 S (all ex-Kao) are suitable. Especially preferred are aqueous softener compositions comprising present component (a), 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether as present component (b), and from 0.5 to 35%, by weight of the total composition, of the fabric softening active described above. Softener compositions typically contain 0.01 to 10%, by weight of the total composition, of a perfume.

Further preferred cationic surfactants can be C7-C25-alkylamines; N, N-dimethyl-N-(hydroxy-C7- C25-alkyl)ammonium salts; mono- and di(C7-C25-alkyl)dimethylammonium compounds quater- nized with alkylating agents; ester quaternary ammonium salts, in particular quaternary esteri- fied mono-, di-and trialkanolamines which have been esterified with C8-C22-carboxylic acids; imidazoline quaternary ammonium and its derivatives.

Typical examples of amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants are alkylbetaines, alkylamidobeta- ines, aminopropionates, aminoglycinates or amphoteric imidazolinium compounds. Preferred amphoteric surfactants thereof are cocoamphocarboxypropionate, cocoamidocarboxylpropionic acid, cocoamphocarboxyglycinate (also referred to as cocoamphodiacetate) and cocoampho- acetate. Further preferred amphoteric surfactants are alkyldimethylbetaines and alkyldipolyeth- oxybetaines with an alkyl radical having about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, which may be linear or branched, preferably having about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms.

Further laundry ingredients which may be used in the present invention include inorganic and/or organic builders in order to reduce the degree of hardness of the water.

These builders may be present in the fabric care formulations in proportions by weight of from about 5% to about 80%. Inorganic builders include, for example, alkali metal, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts of polyphosphates, pyrophosphates and glasslike polymeric metaphosphates, phosphonates, silicates, carbonates including bicarbonates and sesquicarbonates, sulfates and alumosilicates. Examples of alumosilicate builders are crystalline and amorphous alumosilicates with ion-exchanging properties, such as in particular zeolites, various types of zeolites are suitable , in particular the zoelites A, X, B, P, MAP and HS in their Na form or in forms in which Na is partially replaced by other cations such as Li, K, Ca, Mg or ammonium; Examples of silicate builders are the alkali metal silicates, in particular those with an SiC>₂:Na₂0 ratio between 1.6:1 and 3.2:1 , and phyllosilicates, amorphous silicates, such as sodium metasilicate and amorphous disilicate. Examples of carbonate and hydrogencarbonate builders are those can be used in the form of their alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salts. Preferred example of polyphosphate builder is pentasodium triphosphate. Organic builders include, for example, low molecular weight carboxylic acids, such as citric acid, hydrophobically modified citric acid, e.g. agaricic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, glutaric acid, succinic acid, imidodisuccinic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, propanetricarboxylic acid, butanetetra-carboxylic acid, cyclopentanetetracarboxylic acid, alkyl- and alkenylsuccinic acides and aminopolycarboxylic acids, e.g. nitrilotriacetic acid, beta-alaninediacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, serinediacetic acid, isoserinediacetic acid, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminoacetic acid, ethylenedia- minedisuccinic acid and methyl- and ethylglycinediacetic acid or alkali metal salts thereof; oli gomeric and polymeric carboxylic acids, such as homopolymers of acrylic acid and aspartic ac id, oligomaleic acids, copolymers of maleic acid with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or C2-C22- olefins, e.g. isobutene or long-chain alpha-olefins, vinyl CrCs-alkyl ethers, vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate, (meth)acrylic acid esters of CrCs-alcohols and styrene; phosphonic acids, such as, for example, 1-hydroxyethylene(1,1-diphosphonic acid), aminotri(methylenephosphonic acid), ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) and diethylenetriamine- penta(methylenephosphonic acid) and alkali metal salts thereof.

The composition of the invention may also contain a further antimicrobial agent: Benzylhemiformal, synonym: (Benzyloxy)methanol (CAS No. 14548-60-8); (Ethylenedioxy)dimethanol, synonyms: Dascocide 9;(ethylenedioxy)dimethanol (reaction prod ucts of ethylene glycol with paraformaldehyde (EGForm)) (CAS. No.3586-55-8);

.alpha...alpha. '..alpha. "-trimethyl-1, 3, 5-triazine-1, 3, 5(2H,4H,6H)-triethanol, synonyms: Tris(N- hydroxypropyl) hexahydrotriazine, hexahydro-1,3-5-tris(2-hydroxypropyl)-s-triazine (HPT, CAS No. 25254-50-6);

2.2-dibromo-2-cyanoacetamide (DBNPA, CAS No. 10222-01-2); 2,2'-dithiobis[N-methylbenzamide] (DTBMA, CAS No. 2527-58-4); 2-bromo-2-(bromomethyl)pentanedinitrile (DBDCB, CAS No. 35691-65-7);

2-Butanone, peroxide, synonym: 2-butanone-peroxide (CAS No. 1338-23-4); 2-butyl-benzo[d]isothiazol-3-one (BBIT, CAS No. 4299-07-4);

2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (MIT, CAS No 2682-20-4);

2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (OIT, CAS No. 26530-20-1);

5-Chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (CIT, CMIT, CAS No. 26172-55-4);

Mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H- isothiazol-3-one (CMIT, EINECS 247-500-7) and 2-methyl-2H- isothiazol-3-one (MIT, EINECS 220-239-6) (Mixture of CMIT/MIT, CAS No. 55965-84-9);

1.2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT, CAS No. 2634-33-5);

3,3'-methylenebis[5-methyloxazolidine] (Oxazolidin/MBO, CAS No. 66204-44-2); 4,4-dimethyloxazolidine (CAS No. 51200-87-4);

7a-ethyldihydro-1H,3H,5H-oxazolo[3,4-c]oxazole (EDHO, CAS No. 7747-35-5);

Benzyl Alcohol (CAS No. 100-51-6);

Biphenyl-2-ol (CAS No. 90-43-7);

Biphenyl -2-ol, and its salts, o-phenylphenol, MEA-o-phenylphenate, potassium phenylphenate, sodium phenylphenate;

Sodium 2-biphenylate (CAS No. 132-27-4); cis-1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1- azoniaadamantane chloride (cis CTAC, CAS No. 51229-78-

8);

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC, CAS No. 68424-95-3 and CAS No. 7173-51-5); Dodecylguanidine monohydrochloride (CAS No 13590-97-1); Ethanol (CAS. No 64-17-5); n-propanol (1 -propanol, CAS No. 71-23-8)

Hexa-2,4-dienoic acid (Sorbic acid, CAS No. 110-44-1) and its salts, e.g. calcium sorbate, sodi um sorbate

Potassium (E,E)-hexa-2,4-dienoate (Potassium Sorbate, CAS No. 24634-61-5);

Hydrogen peroxide (CAS No. 7722-84-1);

Lactic acid and its salts;

L-(+)-lactic acid (CAS No. 79-33-4);

2-methyl-1,2-benzothiazol-3(2H)-one (MBIT, CAS No. 2527-66-4);

Methenamine 3-chloroallylochloride (CTAC, CAS No. 4080-31-3);

Monochloramine generated from ammonium carbamate and a chlorine source N,N'-methylenebismorpholine (MBM, CAS No. 5625-90-1); N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-dodecylpropane-1, 3-diamine (Diamine, CAS No. 2372-82-9); N-(trichloromethylthio)phthalimide (Folpet, CAS No. 133-07-3); p-[(diiodomethyl)sulphonyl]toluene (CAS No. 20018-09-1);

Peracetic acid (CAS No. 79-21-0); polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride (PHMB, CAS No 1802181-67-4), polyhexameth- ylene biguanide hydrochloride (PHMB, CAS No. 27083-27-8), e.g. poly(iminoimidocarbonyl)iminohexamethylene hydrochloride, poly(iminocarbonimidoyliminocarbonimidoylimino -1,6-hexanediyl), polyaminopropyl biguanide; Pyridine-2-thiol 1-oxide, sodium salt (Sodium pyrithione, CAS No. 3811-73-2);

Pyrithione zinc (Zinc pyrithione, CAS No. 13463-41-7);

Reaction mass of titanium dioxide and silver chloride, silver chloride (CAS No. 7783-90-6); Sodium Azide (CAS No. 26628-22-8);

Tetrahydro-1 ,3,4,6-tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)imidazo[4,5-d]imidazole-2,5 (1 H,3H)-dione (TMAD, CAS No 5395-50-6);

Tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulphate (2:1) (THPS, CAS No. 55566-30-8);

Salts of benzoic acid e.g. ammonium benzoate, calcium benzoate, magnesium benzoate, MEA- benzoate, potassium benzoate;

Esters of benzoic acid, e.g. butyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, isobutyl benzoate, isopropyl benzo ate, methyl benzoate, phenyl benzoate, propyl benzoate;

Benzoic acid and its sodium salt (CAS No 65-85-0, CAS No. 532-32-1);

Propionic acid and its salts, e.g. ammonium propionate, calcium propionate, magnesium propi onate, potassium propionate, sodium propionate;

Salicylic acid and its salts, e.g. calcium salicylate, magnesium salicylate, MEA salicylate, sodi um salicylate, potassium salicylate, TEA salicylate;

Inorganic sulphites and hydrogensulphites, e.g. sodium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, ammonium bisulfite, potassium sulfite, potassium hydrogene sulfite, sodium bisulfite, sodium metasulfite, potassium metasulfite, potassium metabisulfite; Chlorobutanol (CAS No 57-15-8);

Butyl 4 -hydroxybenzoate and its salts e.g. butylparaben, sodium butyl paraben, potassium butyl paraben;

Propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate and its salts, e.g. propyl paraben, sodium propyl paraben, potassium propyl paraben; lsopropyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid and its salts and esters; lsobutyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid and its salts and esters;

Benzyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid and its salts and esters;

Pentyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid and its salts and esters;

4 -Hydroxybenzoic acid and its salts and esters, e.g. methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, potassium ethyl paraben, potassium paraben, potassium methyl paraben, sodium methyl paraben, sodium ethyl paraben, sodium paraben, calcium paraben, calcium methyl paraben, calcium ethyl para ben;

3 -Acetyl-6-methylpyran-2,4(3H)-dione and its salts, e.g. dehydroacetic acid, sodium dehydroa- cetic acid (Cas Nos 520-45-6, 4418-26-2, 16807-48-0);

3,3' -Dibromo-4,4'-hexamethylenedioxydibenzamidine and its salts (including isethionate), e.g. dibromohexamidine isethionate (CAS No. 93856-83-8);

Thiomersal (CAS No 54-64-8);

Phenylmercuric salts (including borate), e.g. phenyl mercuric acetate, phenyl mercuric benzoate (CAS Nos. 62-38-4 and 94-43-9);

Undec -10-enoic acid and its salts, e.g. undecylenic acid, potassium undecylenic acid, sodium undecylenic acid, calcium undecylenic acid, MEA-undecylenic acid, TEA-undecylenic acid;

5 -Pyrimidinamine, 1,3-bis(2-ethylhexyl)hexahydro-5-methyl-, e.g. hexetidine (CAS No. 141-94-

6);

1 -(4-Chlorophenyl)-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea, e.g. triclocarban (CAS No 101-20-2); Chlorocresol, e,g, p-chloro-m-cresol (CAS No. 59-50-7);

Chloroxylenol (CAS Nos 88-04-0, 1321-23-9);

N,N" -Methylenebis[N'-[3-(hydroxymethyl)-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-4-yl]urea], synonym: imidazoli- dinyl urea (CAS No. 39236-46-9);

Methenamine (CAS No. 100-97-0);

Methenamine 3 -chloroallylochloride, synonym: Quaternium 15 (CAS No 4080-31-3), 1-(4-Chlorophenoxy)-1-(imidazol-1-yl)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one, synonym: Climbazole (CAS No 38083-17-9);

1,3 -Bis(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione, synonym: DMDM hydantoin (CAS No 6440-58-0);

1 -Hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2 pyridon and its monoethanolamine salt, e.g. 1- hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentenyl)-2-pyridon, piroctone olamine (CAS Nos 50650-76- 5, 68890-66-4);

2,2' -Methylenebis(6-bromo-4-chlorophenol), synonym: bromochorophene (CAS No 15435-29-

7); 4 -Isopropyl-m-cresol, synonym: o-cymen-5-ol (CAS No 3228-02-2);

2 -Benzyl-4-chlorophenol, synonym: chlorophene (CAS No 120-32-1);

2 -Chloroacetamide (CAS No 79-07-2);

N,N' -bis(4-chlorophenyl)-3,12-diimino-2,4,11,13-tetraazatetradecanediamidine and its diglu conate, diacetate and dihydrochloride, e.g. chlorohexidine, chlorhexidine digluconate, chlo- rohexidine diacetate, chlorhexidine dihydrochloride (CAS Nos 55-56-1, 56-95-1, 18472-51-0, 3697-42-5);

Alkyl (C12 -C22) trimethyl ammonium bromide and chloride, e.g. behentrimonium chloriode, cetrimonium bromide, cetrimonium chloride, laurtrimonium bromide, laurtrimonium chloride, steartrimonium bromide, steartrimonium chloride (CAS Nos 17301-53-0, 57-09-0, 112-02-7, 1119-94-4, 112-00-5, 1120-02-1, 112-03-8);

4,4 -Dimethyl-1, 3-oxazolidine (CAS No 51200-87-4);

N -(Hydroxymethyl)-N-(dihydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxo-2,5-imidazolidinyl-4)-N'-(hydroxymethyl)urea, synonym: diazolidinyl urea (CAS No 78491-02-8);

Benzenecarboximidamide, 4,4' -(1,6-hexanediylbis(oxy))bis-, and its salts (including isothionate and p-hydroxybenzoate), e.g. hexamidine, hexamidine diisethionate, hexamidine paraben (CAS Nos 3811-75-4, 659-40-5, 93841-83-9);

5 -Ethyl-3, 7-dioxa-1-azabicyclo[3.3.0] octane, synonym: 7-ethylbicyclooxazolidine (CAS No 7747-35-5);

3 -(p-Chlorophenoxy)-propane-1,2-diol, synonym: chlorophenesin (CAS No 104-29-0);

Sodium hydroxymethylamino acetate, synonym: sodium N-(hydroxymethyl)glycinate, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (CAS No 70161-44-3);

Benzenemethanaminium, N,N -dimethyl-N-[2-[2-[4-(1, 1,3,3, - tetramethylbutyl)phenoxy]ethoxy]ethyl]-, chloride, synonym: benzethonium chloride CAS No 121-54-0);

Benzalkonium chloride, bromide and saccharinate, e.g. benzalkonium chloride, benzalkonium bromide, benzalkonium saccharinate (CAS Nos 8001-54-5, 63449-41-2, 91080-29-4, 68989-01- 5, 68424-85-1, 68391-01-5, 61789-71-7, 85409-22-9);

Methanol, (phenyl methoxy), synonym: benzylhemiformal (CAS No 14548-60-8);

3 -lodo-2-propynylbutylcarbamate (IPBC, CAS No 55406-53-6)

Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCI (CAS No 60372-77-2);

1,2,3 -Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-, monohydrate and 1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-silver(1+) salt, monohydrate, I NCI: citric acid (and) silver citrate; Tetrahydro-3,5-dimethyl-1,3,5-thiadia-zine-2-thione (further names: 3,5-dimethyl-1,3-5- thiadiazinane-2-thione, Protectol® DZ, Protectol® DZ P, Dazomet, CAS No. 533-74-4); 2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol (CAS-No. 1777-82-8, further names: dichlorobenzyl alcohol, 2,4- dichloro-benzenemethanol, (2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-methanol, DCBA, Protectol® DA);

1-propanol (CAS-No. 71-23-8, further names: n-propanol, propan-1-ol, n-propyl alcohol, Protec tol® NP S); 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane (CAS-No. 30007-47-7, further names: 5-bromo-5-nitro-m-dioxane, Bronidox ®);

2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (CAS-No. 52-51-7, further names: 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3- propanediol, Bronopol®, Protectol® BN, Myacide AS);

Glutaraldehyde (CAS-No. 111-30-8, further names: 1-5-pentandial, pentane-1, 5-dial, glutaral, glutardialdehyde, Protectol® GA, Protectol® GA 50, Myacide® GA);

Glyoxal (CAS No. 107-22-2; further names: ethandial, oxylaldehyde, 1,2-ethandial, Protectol® GL);

2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether (CAS No. 3380-34-5, further names: triclosan, Irgasan® DP 300, Irgacare® MP, TCS);

2-Phenoxyethanol (CAS-no. 122-99-6, further names: Phenoxyethanol, Methylphenylglycol, Phenoxetol, ethylene glycol phenyl ether, Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, Protectol® PE); Phenoxypropanol (CAS-No. 770-35-4, CAS No 4169-04-4, propylene glycol phenyl ether, phe- noxyisopropanol 1-phenoxy-2-propanol, 2-phenoxy-1 -propanol);

Glucoprotamine (CAS-No. 164907-72-6, chemical description: reaction product of glutamic acid and alkylpropylenediamine, further names: Glucoprotamine 50);

Cyclohexyl hydroxyl diazenium-1 -oxide, potassium salt (CAS No. 66603-10-9, further names: N- cyclohexyl-diazenium dioxide, Potassium HDO, Xyligene, Protectol® KD);

Formic acid (CAS-No. 64-18-6, further names: methanoic acid, Protectol® FM, Protectol® FM 75, Protectol® FM 85, Protectol® FM 99, Lutensol® FM) and its salts, e.g. sodium formiate (CAS No 141-53-7);

Performic acid and its salts; anorganic silver complexes such as silver zeolites and silver glass compounds (e.g. Irgaguard® B5000, Irgaguard® B6000, Irgaguard® B7000) and others described in WO-A-99/18790, EP1041879B1;

1 ,3,5-Tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-hexahydro-1 ,3,5-triazin (CAS-No. 4719-04-4, further names: Hex- yhydrotriazine, Tris(hydroethyl)-hexyhydrotriazin, hexyhydro-1 ,3-5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-s- triazine, 2,2',2"-(hexahydro-1 ,3,5-triazine-1 ,3,5- triyl)triethanol, Protectol® HT).

The composition may comprise at least one antimicrobial agent from the above list and/or a combination thereof.

This further antimicrobial agent is added to the composition in a concentration of 0.001 to 10% relative to the total weight of the composition.

Preferably, the composition contains 2-Phenoxyethanol in a concentration of 0.1 to 2% and/or Bronopol in a concentration of 20ppm to lOOOppm and/or Glutaraldehyde in a concentration of 10ppm to 2000ppm and/or formic acid (as an acid or its salt) in a concentration of 0.05 to 0.50% (in all cases relative to the total weight of the composition).

In a preferred embodiment, the composition is an aqueous composition comprising 2- phenoxyethanol, Bronopol, Glutaraldehyde and/or formic acid (as an acid or its salt), especially in the amount indicated above. The invention thus further pertains to a method of preserving an aqueous composition according to the invention against microbial contamination or growth, which method comprises addition of an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol, glutaraldehyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and formic acid in acid form or as its salt.

The fabric care composition according to the present invention may further comprise customary auxiliaries or other materials which enhance the cleaning action, serve to treat or care for the textile material to be washed or change the performance properties of the fabric care formula tion.

Examples of suitable auxiliaries include the substances given in U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,537, for example enzymes, in particular proteases, lipases, cellulases and amylases, mannanases; graying inhibitors, in particular carboxymethylcellulose and graft polymers of vinyl acetate onto polyethyleneglycol; bleaches, in particular adducts of hydrogen peroxide onto inorganic salts, such as sodium perboratemonohydrate, sodium perboratetetrahydrate and sodium carbonate perhydrate and percarboxylic acids such as phthalimidopercaproic acid; bleach activators, in particular N,N,N’, N’-tetraacetylethylenediamine, sodium p-nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate and N-methylmorpholinium acetonitrile methyl sulfate.

Other suitable auxiliaries are in particular, enzyme stabilizers, foam boosters, foam limiters, anti tarnish and/or anticorrosion agents, suspension agents, dyes, fillers, optical brighteners, further disinfectants, alkalis, hydrotropic compounds, antioxidants, perfumes, solvents, solubilizers, anti-redeposition agents, dispersants, processing auxiliaries, softeners, antistatic auxiliaries and soil release polymers.

The fabric care composition according to the present invention may further comprise dye trans fer inhibitor. Examples of these dye transfer inhibitor are polyamine N-oxides, such as, for ex ample, poly-(4-vinylpyridine N-oxide), copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone with N-vinylimidazole and optionally other monomers, homopolymers and copolymers of 4-vinylpyridine reacted with chloroacetic acid. A significant disadvantage of the dye transfer inhibitors is that they not only bind the dye detached from the textiles and present in the wash liquor, but additionally can also remove dyes from the textiles and thus promote fading of the washed colored fabric.

Detergent ingredients are otherwise generally known. Detailed descriptions can be found, for example, in Wo-A-99/06524 and 99/04313; in Liquid Detergents, Editor: Kuo-Yann Lai, Surfac tant Sci. Ser., Vol. 67, Marcel Decker, New York, 1997, p. 272-304.

The present invention also relates to a method of preparing a fabric care composition having improved color care properties, which comprises a step of adding the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine in the composition. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for providing an improved color care effect during cleaning and/or treating colored fabrics, which comprises contacting the colored fabrics with a washing solution which contains the hydropho- bically modified polyalkyleneimine and present biocide. More particularly, the improved color care effect is due to color fixing effect.

Materials

Polyethyleneimine (Lupasol^® FG sold by BASF)

Palm kernel oil sold from Shanghai Jinyang Co., Ltd

Tinosan^® HP 100: solution of 30 wt.% of 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether (CAS: 3380-30-1) in 1,2-propyleneglycol

EM PA 130: C.l. Direct Red 83.1 on cotton (Commercially available from Swissatest, Swissatest Testmaterialien AG, Switzerland)

EMPA 133: C.l. Direct Blue 71 on cotton (commercially available from Swissatest, Swissatest Testmaterialien AG, Switzerland)

Stained fabrics:

JB 01: Mineral oil with carbon black on cotton, Chinese standard for detergency tests JB 03: Sebum with pigment on cotton, Chinese standard for detergency tests Test white fabrics:

WFK 10A: Standard cotton (commercially available from wfk testgewebe GmbH, Germany); WFK 20A: Polyester/cotton (65%/35%) (commercially available from wfk testgewebe GmbH, Germany)

WFK 80A: Knitted cotton (commercially available from wfk testgewebe GmbH, Germany)

WFK clay-oil: prepared using 20% WFK Clay (code 05203, commercially available from wfk testgewebe GmbH, Germany) with 1.25% mineral oil and 3.75% peanut oil in water.

Molecular weight Determination

The weight-average molecular weight (M_w) can be measured by gel permeation chromatog raphy (GPC) using TSKgel GMPW_XL columns, aqueous solution containing 1.8% acetic acid and 0.3 mol/L sodium acetate as eluent and polyethylene glycol salt as standards. Value outside this elution range are extrapolated.

Examples

All percentages given are by weight of the whole composition unless specified otherwise.

Preparation of inventive hydrophobically modified polyethyleneimine (unmodified polyethyleneimine has a M_w= 800 g/mol) Polymer 1 : 120 g of polyethyleneimine (M_w=800 g/mol) and 20.3 g of hexanoic acid were mixed and purged with nitrogen flow. The mixture was heated to 150°C and stirred. The reaction was performed for 6h and the product was obtained as a yellow liquid. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 14.4% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Polymer 2: 120 g of polyethyleneimine (M_w=800 g/mol) and 25.1 g of octanoic acid were mixed and purged with nitrogen flow. The mixture was heated to 150°C and stirred. The reaction was performed for 6h and the product was obtained as a yellow liquid. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 18.5% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Polymer 3: 60 g of polyethyleneimine (M_w=800 g/mol) and 17.5 g of lauric acid were mixed and purged with nitrogen flow. The mixture was heated to 150°C and stirred. The reaction was per formed for 6h and the product was obtained as a yellow liquid. The fraction of hydrocarbon radi cals is 26.6% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Polymer 4: 900 g of polyethyleneimine (M_w=800 g/mol) and 297 g of palm kernel oil were mixed and purged with nitrogen flow. The mixture was heated to 90°C and stirred. The reaction was performed for 6h and the product was obtained as a yellow liquid. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 28.7% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Polymer 5: 90 g of polyethyleneimine (M_w=800 g/mol) and 29.9 g of myristic acid were mixed and purged with nitrogen flow. The mixture was heated to 150°C and stirred. The reaction was performed for 6h and the product was obtained as a yellow liquid. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 30.7% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Polymer 6: 90 g of polyethyleneimine (M_w=800 g/mol) and 33.5 g of palmitic acid were mixed and purged with nitrogen flow. The mixture was heated to 150°C and stirred. The reaction was performed for 6h and the product was obtained as a yellow paste. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 34.8% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Polymer 7: 80 g of polyethyleneimine (M_w=800 g/mol) and 33.1 g of stearic acid were mixed and purged with nitrogen flow. The mixture was heated to 150°C and stirred. The reaction was per formed for 6h and the product was obtained as a yellowish paste. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 38.9% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Preparation of comparative hydrophobically modified polyethyleneimine (unmodified polyethyleneimine has a M_w from 1300 to 5000 g/mol) Comparative polymer 1 was obtained by the reaction of polyethyleneimine (M_w = 2000 g/mol) and lauric acid under the condition described in U.S. Pat No. 2010/0017973. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 25.6% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Comparative polymer 2 was obtained by the reaction of polyethyleneimine (M_w = 1300 g/mol) and lauric acid under the condition described in U.S. Pat No. 2010/0017973. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 25.6% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Comparative polymer 3 was obtained by the reaction of polyethyleneimine (M_w = 5000 g/mol) and lauric acid under the condition described in U.S. Pat No. 2010/0017973. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 28.0% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Comparative polymer 4 was obtained by the reaction of polyethyleneimine (M_w = 5000 g/mol) and palmitic acid under the condition described in U.S. Pat No. 2010/0017973. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 36.5% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Comparative polymer 5 was obtained by the reaction of polyethyleneimine (M_w = 5000 g/mol) and palmitic acid under the condition described in U.S. Pat No. 2010/0017973. The fraction of hydrocarbon radicals is 115.8% based on the weight of polyethyleneimine.

Test of color fixing performance

Selected colored fabrics (EMPA 130 and EMPA 133) are washed in the presence of white test fabric made of cotton using a liquid detergent composition (the detergent formulation is pre pared at a pH between 7.0 to 9.0 and the composition is shown in Table 2) at 40°C and 60°C with the addition of the inventive dye fixative polymer. After the washing cycle, the fabrics are rinsed, spun and dried. In order to determine the color care effect, the fabrics are instrumentally assessed with a Datacolor reflection spectrometer Model Type ELREPHO before and after washing. From the reflection data reading L*, a*, b*, Y are derived and further expressed in DE and DU value.

For color fixing effect, DU is adopted for characterization, which is calculated from Y value for lightness according to CIE 1931 XYZ color space in accordance with following equation:

DU ⁼ Ywashed-Yinitial

For dye transfer inhibiting effect, DE is adopted as conventionally used in the art. DE is calculat ed as CIE 1976 color difference according to DIN EN ISO 11664-4 (June 2012) in accordance with following equation:

DE = (AL*²+Aa*²+Ab*²)^1/2 in which

The values L* mtiai, a* mtiai, and b*i_nmai are measured on the test white fabric before washing. The values L*_washed, a*washed, and b*_Washed are measured on the test white fabric after washing. Standard colorimetric measurement is used to obtain L*, a*, and b* values.

The higher absolute values of DU are observed for the color bleeding fabrics in comparison to the initial lightness before the test, the higher color bleeding and lower color fixing is found.

The higher values of DE are observed for the test white fabric in comparison to the initial white ness before the test, the higher dye transfer is found.

Any of the well-known methods of preparing detergent composition can be employed to make the detergent composition of this invention. The washing conditions are given in Table 1. The detergent composition used is given in Table 2. The test results for color fixing effect and dye inhibiting effect are listed in Table 3 & Table 4.

Table 1

Table 2

LAS: Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate Disponil LDBS AEO: C 12/C 14 fatty alcohol (7EO) Lutensol A7N Table 3: Color fixing Test Results

Blank sample: the liquid detergent composition prepared without any dye fixative polymer.

P1-P7: Inventive Polymers 1-7 CP1-CP5: Comparative polymers 1-5 Nd: not determined

As expressly demonstrated in Table 3, the formulations comprising the inventive polymers un expectedly show improved color fixing and lower color bleeding effect with lower absolute val ues of DU in comparison with the formulations comprising comparative polymers (M_w higher than 1000 g/mol).

Table 4: Dye transfer inhibiting test results

Blank sample: the liquid detergent composition prepared without any dye fixative polymer. P1-P7: Inventive Polymers 1-7

As demonstrated in Table 4, the formulations comprising the inventive polymers make it possi- ble to obtain good dye inhibiting effect with lower values of DE in comparison with the formula tions without dye fixative polymer.

Further liquid detergent formulations are prepared according to the composition of Table 2 by varying the concentration of the inventive polymer 4, and replacing 0.2% of the propylene glycol by 0.2% of the biocide Tinosan^® HP 100 in some of the samples. The color fixing effect and dye inhibiting effect of the formulations are tested under the same washing condition listed in Table 1. The results are given in Table 5.

Table 5

Zero sample: the liquid detergent composition prepared without any dye fixative polymer. Formulations comprising the inventive hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine in varying concentrations, with or without biocide, can bring about satisfactory color fixing and dye transfer inhibiting effects. Formulation Compatibility Tests

A) 0.2 % by weight of the inventive polymer 4 and comparative polymer 5 were added respec tively in each aqueous surfactant solution or each formulation during the conventional formula tion process. Each formulation comprises the overall surfactant concentration of 30% by weight but with different ratios of anionic/nonionic surfactants. Each sample with the polymer was kept for 1 week and its appearance was visually checked. The results are listed in Table 6a.

Table 6a

AEO: C 12/C 14 fatty alcohol (7EO) Lutensol A7N

AES: Alcohol Ethoxysulfate Texapon N 70 LAS: Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate Disponil LDBS

The compatibility tests were performed with the formulations containing varied surfactants, par ticularly with the formulation A and formulation C which comprise anionic surfactants as domi nant components in the surfactant blends.

As demonstrated in Table 6a, the formulations comprising polymer 4 useful in compositions of the present invention make it possible to obtain the stable and transparent solutions with im proved compatibilities in comparison with the formulations comprising the comparative polymer 5 (M_w>1000 g/mol). B) Liquid laundry detergent formulations are prepared containing 0.5 % by weight of the in ventive polymer 4 and/or 0.3 % of the biocide Tinosan^® HP 100. The formulations are prepared by first preparing a premix, containing surfactants, solvents, fatty acid, citric acid and NaOH, as shown in Table 6b, and water up to 90%. This pre-mix is prepared by adding all components to the appropriate amount of water and stirring at room temperature. Subsequently, the pH is set to pH=8.5 using NaOH. Then the final formulations are prepared by stirring at room tempera ture: 90% of this pre-mix, the appropriate concentrations of the present polymer and/or Tino san^® HP 100 and water up 100%. For the purpose of comparison, a standard liquid detergent formulation neither containing a polymer of the invention nor a biocide is prepared. For the den sity measurement, 1.00 ml of Formulation D (taken with a calibrated Eppendorf pipette) is weighed on an analytical balance.

The absorbance is measured using a Hach-Lange DR3900 spectrometer with glass 1-inch cu vette at room temperature. Deionized water is taken to measure the base line. Compositions and results are shown in Table 6b.

Table 6b

AEO: C12/C14 fatty alcohol (7EO) Lutensol A07 (BASF)

AES: Alcohol Ethoxysulfate: Texapon N 70 (BASF).

LAS: Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate Maranil DBS/LC (BASF) Coco fatty acid: Edenor K12-18 (Emery Oleochemicals)

In the table above the concentrations of the surfactant trade products are given.

It is clear from the above table, that the present hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine and Tinosan HP 100 can be combined in a liquid laundry formulation without any instability or turbid- ity; the absorbance at 600 and 860 nm is very low showing the formulation is not turbid. Formulation D of present invention shows a good antimicrobial activity.

Detergency test Detergency is tested with the detergent formulations comprising the inventive polymers 3 and 4. The washing conditions are listed in Table 7. The detergent formulations are prepared accord ing the compositions listed in Table 8.

Whiteness test method The degree of whiteness of the test fabric is used to determine the degree of soiling. The differ ence of whiteness is determined by photometric measurement of the reflectance using an Elrepho 2000 photometer (Datacolor) at a wavelength of 457 nm.

The higher values of whiteness decrease are observed for the white test fabrics in comparison to the initial lightness before the test, the higher re-deposition of soil onto fabric is found.

The whiteness test results are given in Table 9.

Table 7

White Test fabric WFK 10 A, WFK 20A

Table 8

AEO: C12/C14 fatty alcohol (7EO) Lutensol A7 AES: Alcohol Ethoxysulfate Texapon N 70 LAS: Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate Disponil LDBS

Tinosan^® HP 100: Solution of 30 wt.% of 4,4’-dichloro-2- hydroxydiphenylether (CAS: 3380-30-1) in 1,2-propyleneglycol

Formulations containing the present hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine and the biocide 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether can prevent re-deposition of dirt which is removed from fabric by a laundry detergent from redepositing onto cleaned/washed fabric during the wash cycle and provide a good antimicrobial effect.

Liquid laundry detergent formulations

The following formulations are prepared (all concentrations given in % b.w. of the formulation):

*Others: further components like dyes, enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase, mannanase, cellu- lase) stabilizers, e.g. for enzymes, buffering agents, solvents, hydrotropes, optical brighteners, preservatives, dye transfer inhibitors, chelating agents, polymers (for antigreying, antiredeposi tion, soil release)

Formulations 1-4 shown above provide good detergency and antimicrobial activity on the fabric. Solid laundry detergent formulations

The following formulations are prepared (all concentrations given in % b.w. of the formulation):

*Others: further components like enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase, mannanase, cellulase), , optical brighteners, dye transfer inhibitors, polymers (for antigreying, antiredeposition, soil re lease).

Formulations 5-7 shown above provide good detergency and antimicrobial activity on the fabric.

Claims

Claims

1. A fabric care composition comprising a) at least one hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine, wherein the hydrophobically modi fied polyalkyleneimine comprises a polyalkyleneimine backbone having a weight-average mo lecular weight greater than or equal to 200 g/mol and less than 1000 g/mol, and hydrophobic moieties which are covalently attached to the backbone of polyalkyleneimine; and b) a biocide selected from the group consisting of 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether, 2- phenoxyethanol, glutaraldehyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 ,3-diol.

2. The fabric care composition according to claim 1, wherein from 2 to 25 mol %, preferably from 5 to 20 mol%, of the nitrogen atoms of the polyalkyleneimine carry an aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated hydrophobic moiety; and said hydrophobic moiety is preferably selected from the group consisting of C₄-C₃₀ alkyl, C₄- C₃₀ alkyl carbonyl, C₄-C₃₀ alkenyl, C₄-C₃₀ alkenyl carbonyl, C₄-C₃₀ alkadienyl, C₄-C₃₀ alkadienyl carbonyl, hydroxy-C₄-C₃o alkyl; more preferably from the group consisting of of C₆-C₁₈ alkyl, C6- C₁₈ alkyl carbonyl, C₆-C₁₈ alkenyl, C₆-C₁₈ alkenyl carbonyl, C₆-C₁₈ alkadienyl, C₆-C₁₈ alkadienyl carbonyl. hydroxy-C6-Cis alkyl; most preferably from the group consisting of Cs-Ci6 alkyl, Cs-Ci6 alkyl carbonyl, Cs-Ci6 alkenyl, Cs-Ci6 alkenyl carbonyl, Cs-Ci6 alkadienyl, Cs-Ci6 alkadienyl car bonyl, hydroxy-Cs-Ci6 alkyl.

3. The fabric care composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fraction of hydrophobic moieties, based on the total weight of the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine, consti tutes 5 to 60 %, preferably 10 to 50%, more preferably 10 to 30% by weight.

4. The fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which composition com prises 4,4’-dichloro-2-hydroxydiphenylether and, as a preserving agent, a further biocide select ed from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol, glutaraldehyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3- diol; preferably comprising said further biocide in an amount ranging from 10 ppm to 2% by weight of the composition; more preferably comprising 0.1% to 2% of 2-phenoxyethanol, 20ppm to lOOOppm of 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol and/or 10ppm to 2000ppm of glutaraldehyde, each by weight of the composition.

5. The fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hydrophobi cally modified polyalkyleneimine has a weight-average molecular weight in the range of from 300 to 5000 g/mol, preferably 500 to 3000 g/mol, more preferably 800 to 2000 g/mol.

6. The fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the hydrophobical ly modified polyalkyleneimine has a polyalkyleneimine backbone, whose weight-average mo lecular weight is greater than or equal to 300 g/mol and less than 1000 g/mol, more preferably greater than or equal to 500 g/mol and less than 1000 g/mol.

7. The fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the polyalkylene- imine backbone in the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine is branched.

8. The fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, containing 4,4’-dichloro-2- hydroxydiphenylether as the biocide (b) in a concentration of from 0.001 to 3 %, preferably 0.002 to 1 %, more preferably 0.01 to 0.6 %, each by weight of the composition.

9. The fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the hydrophobi cally modified polyalkyleneimines are obtained by a process which comprises the reaction of an unmodified polyalkyleneimine with a hydrophobicizing agent, wherein the hydrophobicizing agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of linear or branched carboxylic acids; natural oils; linear or branched alkyl halides; alkyl epoxides; alkyl ketene dimers; cyclic dicar- boxylic acid anhydrides; alkyl isocyanates; chloroformic acid esters of linear or branched alka- nols or alkenols; and linear or branched aliphatic aldehydes; and wherein the hydrophobicizing agent is further characterized in having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 6 to 18 carbon atoms, more preferably 8 to 16 carbon atoms.

10. The fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the hydrophobi cally modified polyalkyleneimine is hydrophobically modified polyethyleneimine, hydrophobically modified polypropyleneimine or hydrophobically modified polybutyleneimine.

11. The fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising at least one nonionic, anionic and/or cationic surfactant.

12. The fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the hydropho bically modified polyalkyleneimine is used in a concentration of from 0.01 to 30 % by weight of the composition.

13. The fabric care composition according to claim 11, wherein the surfactant, based on the total weight of the composition, is from 0.5 to 80 % by weight.

14. A method for providing an antibacterial effect on a fabric during washing and/or improved color care effect during washing and/or treatment of fabrics, which method comprises a step of contacting the fabric with a washing solution which contains the fabric care composition accord ing to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A method of preserving a fabric care composition comprising at least one hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine, wherein the hydrophobically modified polyalkyleneimine comprises a polyalkyleneimine backbone having a weight-average molecular weight greater than or equal to 200 g/mol and less than 1000 g/mol, and hydrophobic moieties which are covalently attached to the backbone of polyalkyleneimine; and optionally the biocide 4,4’-dichloro-2- hydroxydiphenylether; against microbial contamination or growth, which method comprises the incorporation of a biocide selected from the group consisting of 2-phenoxyethanol, glutaralde- hyde, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol into said fabric care composition, preferably in an amount ranging from 10 ppm to 2% by weight of the composition; more preferably in an amount of 0.1% to 2% of 2-phenoxyethanol, 20ppm to lOOOppm of 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol and/or 10ppm to 2000ppm of glutaraldehyde, each by weight of the composition.

16. A method of laundering fabric or of cleaning hard surfaces, which method comprises treat ing a fabric or a hard surface with a composition according to any of claims 1 to 13.

17. Use of the fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13 for enhancing col- or care effect during washing and/or treatment of colored fabrics and/or achieving an antibacte rial effect on the fabric during washing.

18. Use of the fabric care composition according to any one of claims 1 to 13 for preparing laundry detergents, fabric conditioners, pretreatment agents, tumble drier sheet and after- washing sprays products.