Stable liquid laundry detergent-fabric conditioning composition

Abstract: Disclosed are stable liquid laundry detergent and liquid fabric softener compositions containing a Smectite-type clay fabric softener and an antisettling agent in a low water/polyol formulation and, optionally, a softness enhancing amount of a polymeric clay-flocculating agent. Also disclosed is a method for producing these compositions and a step-wise method of using them to obtain fabric softening.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to liquid laundry care compositions (i.e., liquid laundry detergent compositions and liquid fabric softener compositions). More specifically, the invention relates to stable low water/polyol content liquid laundry detergent and liquid fabric softener compositions containing a Smectite-type clay fabric softener in combination with an antisettling agent and, optionally, a softness enhancing amount of a polymeric clay-flocculating agent. This invention also relates to a process for producing the stable compositions and a method for using the compositions in a laundry bath. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION British Patent 1,400,898, Storm and Nirschl, published July 23, 1975, discloses detergent compositions comprising, as a fabric-softening ingredient, a Smectite-type clay. Any Smectite-type clay having a cation, exchange capacity of at least 50 meq/100g is taught to be suitable. It is now well recognized in the detergent industry that clays of the type disclosed in the British Patent 1,400,898 provide significant fabric softening benefits when used in a laundry detergent. It is equally well-recognized that the deposition of these clays onto the fabrics during the laundering process is far from complete; in fact, under typical European laundry conditions, less than half of the available clay is deposited onto the fabrics, the remainder being rinsed away with the laundry liquor during the rinsing cycles. EP 299 575, discloses granular and liquid detergent compositions containing a Smectite-type clay fabric softener and a polymeric clay-flocculating agent, from which the clay particles are more effectively deposited onto the fabrics during the laundering process. By enhancing clay deposition, more uniform fabric softening is produced and lower clay content in the detergent compositions can be used. US-A-4 055 248 discloses liquid zinc additive compositions adapted for conditioning fabrics. Product stability tends to be a problem with liquid clay-containing laundry detergent compositions. Generally, where such a composition contains both a clay and a flocculating agent (such as those described in EP 299 575), the flocculating agent tends to cause the clay to settle to the bottom of the product bottle. In certain product environments, the clay itself may stabilize the detergent composition. For example, in typical clay-containing liquid laundry care compositions, many clays self-stabilize due to swelling In the high water-content environment. In low water content systems, however, another means must be employed to stabilize the clay. It is well-known that organic compounds which contain a cation will react under favorable conditions by ion-exchange with clays which contain a negative layer-lattice and exchangeable cations to form organophillic organic-clay products. If the organic cation contains at least one alkyl group with 10 or more carbon atoms, then such organo-clays swell in certain organic liquids. See, for example, Finlayson, et al., U.S. Patent 4,287,086; Hauser, U.S. Patent 2,531,427; Jordan, U.S. Patent 2,966,506; and the book "Clay Mineralogy", 2nd Edition, 1968 by Ralph E. Grim (McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.), particularly Chapter 10 (Clay-Mineral-Organic Reactions), pp. 356-368 (Ionic Reactions, Smectite), and pp. 392-401 (Organophillic Clay-Mineral Complexes). M-P-A ® 14, an organically modified montonorillonite clay, manufactured by NL Industries, is described as an antisettling additive for solvent-based organic systems. ( See NL industries product description No. DS 154, 8/82). NL Industries also manufactures the BENTONE ® family of rheological additives which exhibit similar organophillic properties. Japanese Patent Application 62 [1987]-167216, Seiji Abe & Masayoshi Nakamura, published July 23, 1987, discloses a stable aqueous zeolite suspension which consists essentially of from 40% to 55% of a dehydrated zeolite with a particle size of from 0.1 to 10 µm, and from 0.001% to 0.1% of a lipopolysaccharide biosurfactant. This aqueous zeolite suspension is described as being easier to handle for chemical processing unit operations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stable and aesthetically acceptable liquid fabric softener or heavy duty liquid detergent composition containing a Smectite-type clay In a low water/polyol content system. It is also an object of the present Invention to provide a stable and aesthetically acceptable liquid fabric softener, heavy duty liquid detergent or liquid delicate fabric detergent composition having a low water/polyol content, containing a fabric softening Smectite-type clay in combination with a clay-flocculating agent. It is also an object of the present invention to describe a process for preparing stable clay-containing laundry detergent and fabric softener compositions, as well as a method for their use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The compositions of the present invention encompass stable liquid laundry detergent or stabled liquid fabric softener compositions (referred to generically herein as laundry care compositions) comprising from 1% to 25% of a Smectite-type clay having a longest individual particle dimension of less than one micron and an ion exchange capacity of at least 50 meq/100g, from 0.25% to 5% of an antisettling agent selected from the group consisting of organophillic quaternized organo-clays and fumed silicas, and from 5% to 45% of a solution of water and from 0% to 5% of a polyol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 6 hydroxy groups, such that the combined polyol and water content of the composition does not exceed 45%. Preferred compositions additionally comprise an effective softness enhancing amount, preferably from 0.001% to 10%, of a polymeric clay-flocculating agent, such as polyethylene oxide with a molecular weight between 300,000 and 5,000,000. The invention also includes a method for producing these novel compositions whereby all or part of the composition is passed through a high shear mixer, which serves to reduce the clay particle size to below 1 µm and to fully activate the antisettling agent in the low water/polyol system. Finally, the present invention encompasses a method of softening fabrics whereby the fabrics are placed in an aqueous bath, the composition of the present invention is then added to the bath at a concentration from 0.0004% to 2% and agitation begins immediately (i.e., not later than about 5 minutes after addition of the composition). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Percentages and ratios herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified. The liquid laundry care compositions of the present invention include both laundry detergent compositions and fabric softener compositions and comprise a Smectite-type clay, an antisettling agent and low levels of a water/polyol mixture. The compositions may further comprise a polymeric clay-flocculating agent. Each of these components, as well as additional optional fabric softener/liquid laundry detergent components, are described in detail below. Fabric Softening Clays The first essential component of the present compositions consist of particular Smectite-type fabric softening clay materials. These Smectite-type clays are present in the liquid fabric care composition in an amount, from 1% to 25%, more preferably from 2% to 7%, by weight of the total composition. The clay minerals can be described as three-layer clays, i.e., alumino-silicates and magnesium silicates, having an ion exchange capacity of at least 50 meq/100g of clay. The three-layer expandable clays used herein are those materials classified geologically as Smectites. There are two distinct classes of Smectite-type clays; In the first, aluminum oxide is present in the silicate crystal lattice; in the second, magnesium oxide is present in the silicate crystal lattice. The general formulas of these Smectites are Al₂(Si₂O₅)₂(OH)₂ and Mg₃(Si₂O₅)₂(OH)₂, for the aluminum and magnesium oxide type clay, respectively. It is to be recognized that the range of the water of hydration in the above formulas can vary with the processing to which the clay has been subjected. Furthermore, atom substitution by iron and magnesium can occur within the crystal lattice of the Smectites, while metal cations such as Na+, Ca++, as well as H+, can be co-present in the water of hydration to provide electrical neutrality. Except as noted hereinafter, such cation substitutions are immaterial to the use of the clays herein since the desirable physical properties of the clays are not substantially altered thereby. The three-layer, alumino-silicates useful herein are further characterized by a dioctahedral crystal lattice, while the three-layer magnesium silicates have a trioctahedral crystal lattice. As noted hereinabove, the clays employed in the compositions of the instant invention contain cationic counterions, such as protons, sodium ions, potassium ions, calcium ions, magnesium ions. It is customary to distinguish between clays on the basis of one cation predominantly or exclusively absorbed. For example, a sodium clay is one in which the absorbed cation is predominantly sodium. Such absorbed cations can become involved in exchange reactions with cations present in aqueous solutions. A typical exchange reaction involving a Smectite-type clay is expressed by the following equation: Smectite-type clay (Na) + NH₄OH = Smectite-type clay (NH₄) + NaOH Since in the foregoing equilibrium reaction, one equivalent weight of ammonium ion replaces an equivalent weight of sodium, it is customary to measure cation exchange capacity (sometimes termed "base exchange capacity") in terms of milli-equivalents per 100g of clay (meq/100g). Cation exchange capacity of the clay is a well-known parameter in determining the clay's effectiveness as a fabric softener. The cation exchange capacity may be determined by well-established analytical techniques. See, for example, H. van Olphen, "Clay Colloid Chemistry", Interscience Publishers, 1963, and the relevant references cited therein. It is required that the clay particles used In the present invention have a cation exchange capacity of at least 50 meq/100g. The Smectite-type clays used in the compositions herein are well-known and many are commercially available. Such clays include, for example, montmorillonite, volchonskoite, nontronite, hectorite, saponite, sauconite, and vermiculite. The clays herein are available under various trade names, for example, Thixogel No. 1 (also, "Thixo-Jell") and Gelwhite GP from Georgia Kaolin Co., Elizabeth, New Jersey; Volclay BC and Volclay No. 325, from American Colloid Co., Skokie, Illinois; Black Hills Bentonite BH450, from International Minerals and Chemicals; and Veegum Pro and Veegum F, from R. T. Vanderbilt. It is to be recognized that such Smectite-type minerals obtained under the foregoing trade names can comprise mixtures of the various discreet mineral entities. Such mixtures of the Smectite minerals are suitable for use herein. While any of the Smectite-type clays described herein are useful in the present invention, certain clays are preferred. For example, Gelwhite GP® is an extremely white form of Smectite-type clay and is therefore preferred when formulating white granular detergent compositions. Volclay BC®, which is a Smectite-type clay mineral containing at least 3% Iron (expressed as Fe₂O₃) In the crystal lattice, and which has a very high ion exchange capacity, is one of the most efficient and effective clays for use in the instant compositions from the standpoint of product performance. On the other hand, certain Smectite-type clays are sufficiently contaminated by other silicate minerals that their ion exchange capacities fall below the requisite range; such clays are of no use in the instant compositions. Appropriate clay minerals for use herein can be selected by virtue of the fact that Smectites exhibit a true 14·10⁻¹⁰ m (14A) x-ray diffraction pattern. This characteristic pattern, taken in combination with exchange capacity measurements performed in the manner noted above, provides a basis for selecting particular Smectite-type minerals for use in the composition disclosed herein. Conventional liquid laundry detergent or fabric softener compositions containing expandable hydrophillic clays self-stabilize in high water content systems and do not settle out because clay particle swelling provides a stable matrix. However, in laundry care compositions having a combined water and polyol content of less than 45% (i.e., low water content) the clay cannot self-stabilize. These low water/polyol systems are the subject of the present invention. In order to provide a stable product, the clay particle size must be such that the longest dimension is less than about 1 µm, resulting in a colloidal suspension. The particle size distribution of the clay particles can be determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Details of sample preparation techniques are described in the "Atlas of Electron Microscopy of Clay Minerals and their Admixtures", Elsevier Publishing Company, 1968. The preferred sample preparation involves the use of a mixture of water and t-butylamine (700:1) as the peptizer for clay particles. This makes it possible to obtain TEM micrographs of mineral particles, rather than aggregates. Good results area obtained with suspensions in water/t-butylamine (700:1) applied to a carbon-coated grid, using accelerating voltages of from 60 to 80 kV. Particle size averages obtained with TEM are number averages. Particle dimensions as used herein are number average particle dimensions. Antisettling Agents The second essential component of the present invention is an antisettling agent. A suitable antisettling agent must provide a fully activated support matrix to suspend clay particles and optionally, dispersed flocculating agent, within the liquid laundry care compositions. The antisettling agent must also be able to produce this matrix in a low water/polyol system (i.e., a combined water and polyol content between 5% and 45%). Finally, an acceptable antisettling agent must not adversely effect the viscosity, elasticity or aesthetics of the product. These agents, or mixtures thereof, are used in the compositions of the present invention at levels of from 0.25% to 5%, preferably from 0.5% to 2%. The Bentone ® family of organo-clays, manufactured by NL Industries, and fumed silicas are examples of antisettling agents suitable for use in the present invention. Bentone ® rheological additives are described as the reaction products of a clay which contains a negative layer-lattice and an organic compound which contains a cation and at least one alkyl group containing at least 10 carbon atoms. Bentone ® organo-clays have the property of swelling in certain organic liquids. Organophillic quaternized ammonium-clay compounds are preferred antisettling agents. ( See , U.S. Patent 4,287,086, Finlayson, et al., September 1, 1981,). An organophillic organo-montmorillonite, M-P-A 14 ® antisettling additive, manufactured by NL Industries, is the preferred antisettling agent due to its excellent viscosity stability, small effect on apparent viscosity of the liquid detergent system, good dispersion characteristics and ease of activation via high shear mixing. M-P-A ® 14 antisettling additive requires a liquid shear rate of at least 10,000 sec⁻¹ during its addition to the composition in order to form a fully activated support network in the liquid laundry-care system. Fumed silicas also provide excellent antisettling characteristics to the compositions of the present invention. Fumed silicas are generally defined as a colloidal form of silica made by combustion of silicon tetrachloride in a hydrogen-oxygen furnace. Fumed silicas are normally used as thickener, thixotropic and reinforcing agents in inks, resins, rubber, paints and cosmetics. CAB-O-SIL ® brand fumed silicas, manufactured by Cabot Corp., are suitable antisettling agents for use in this invention. Mixtures of organo-clays and fumed silicas are also suitable antisettling agents. The rheological characteristics of the resulting liquid detergent system are very important to a commercially acceptable product. A liquid detergent which can be described as stringy (i.e., elastic), thick or lumpy is undesirable. The antisettling agents described above avoid these undesirable rheological properties while maintaining a pourable, homogeneous product with good consumer appeal. A liquid laundry care composition viscosity in the range of from ((10⁻¹ Pa.s to 1 Pa.s) 100 to 1000 cP) is desirable. It is also essential for the liquid detergent composition to exhibit plastic rheology. Materials that exhibit plastic flow characteristics will flow only after an applied shearing stress exceeds a critical minimum value. This minimum shearing stress is designated as the "Yield Value". At stresses below the yield value, the system displays the rheology of a solid, whereas ate shearing stresses above the yield value, the system exhibits liquid-like rheology. This allows the suspension of insoluble particles in systems at rest, while still permitting the composition to flow easily once the yield value has been exceeded. The yield value of a plastic system is commonly determined by extrapolation of the shear rate vs. shear stress curve to zero shear rates. The yield value can be approximated by measurement of Brookfield Yield Value (BYV) using a Brookfield RVT viscometer. ( See , Soap/Cosmetics/Chemical Specialties , April, 1985, pg. 46). For systems containing insoluble particles or droplets, the stability against separation can be calculated from the Brookfield Yield Value. The minimum BYV for permanent suspension can be calculated using the equation: BYV = [23.6 R (D - D o )g] 2/3 Where BYV = Minimum Brookfield Yield Value for permanent suspension R = Particle Radius D = Density of Particle D o = Density of Medium g = Acceleration Due to Gravity It has been established that the minimum yield value to support the clay and flocculating agent in the compositions of the present invention is 1.5 dynes/cm². The antisettling additives described above achieve yield values above this limit. Clay-Flocculating Agents The compositions of the present invention may also include a polymeric fabric softness enhancing amount of a clay-flocculating agent. It has been found that polymeric clay-flocculating agents enhance the deposition of fabric-softening clays onto fabrics. The amount of clay-flocculating agent to be used in the present detergent compositions must be such that the deposition of the softening clay onto fabrics is enhanced, but remains substantially uniform. For a given polymeric clay-flocculating agent, the amount to be used in the detergent composition can be readily determined in a simple level study using the clay deposition test described below. Polymeric clay-flocculating agent levels between 0.0001% and 10% are preferred. Clay-flocculating agents are not commonly used in detergent compositions. On the contrary, clay dispersents, which aid in removing clay stains from fabrics, are frequently included in detergents. Such flocculating agents are, however, very well-known for other uses, including oil well drilling and ore flotation. Most of these materials are fairly long chain polymers and copolymers derived from such monomers as ethylene oxide, acrylamide, acrylic acid, dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate, vinyl alcohol, vinyl pyrrolidone, and ethylene imine. Gums, like guar gum, are suitable as well. Mixtures of these clay-flocculating agents may also be used. Preferred are polymers of ethylene oxide, acryl amide, and/or acrylic acid. It has been found that these polymers dramatically enhance the deposition of a fabric softening clay if their molecular weights (weight average) are greater than 300,000, preferably between 300,000 and 5,000,000. The most preferred polymer is polyethylene oxide. The content of polyethylene oxide in the product is preferably between 0.001% and 10%, more preferably between 0.01% and 0.3%. The insolubility of the flocculating agent is critical in preventing flocculation of the clay suspension in the liquid detergent matrix. Since water and polyols are good solvents for most of the flocculating agents described above, their levels must be sufficiently low to prevent solvency toward the clay-flocculating agent. This produces insoluble suspended particles or droplets of the clay-flocculating agent in the compositions. A water/polyol content between 5% and 45% is preferred. Polyols are better solvents for the described polymeric clay-flocculating agents, as a result, the polyol level in the composition must be in the range of from 0% to 5%, such that the combined water/polyol content does not exceed 45%. Suitable polyols of the present invention contain from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 6 hydroxy groups. Preferred polyols are 1,2-propanediol, ethylene glycol and glycerol. The most preferred polyol is 1,2-propanediol. Clay Deposition Test Washloads containing 6 cotton bath towels, 1 pillow case, 9 cotton t-shirts, and 6 cotton terry hand towels are laundered in a Miele washer containing 16 liters of water at 60°C for four complete cycles with various liquid detergents at a 1% level. Three line-dried hand towels from each washload are randomly selected for analysis. A 2.54 10⁻² m (1-inch) diameter circular section from an unhandled area of each cloth is punched out and compressed on a 30-ton hydraulic press using 4137 x 10⁺³ N/m² (600 psi) pressure to form a wafer. These wafers are placed in an EDAX 9500 X-ray fluorescence unit (North American Phillips Corp.) with a rhodium anode X-ray tube, where their surfaces are bombarded with X-rays for 100 live seconds under a vacuum to determine their elemental compositions (X-ray parameters are 15 KV and 500 microamperes). The silicon "counts" of the surfaces are proportional to the levels of deposited clay. The three determinations per detergent treatment are averaged, and a baseline value of silicon obtained for non-clay treated towels is subtracted from the average to give a net silicon count. This is reported as a measure of clay deposition. A net silicon count of from about zero to about three correlates with very poor deposition. Counts of from about three to about seven have fair deposition. Laundry-care compositions which produce more than about seven counts are preferred. Optional Softening Ingredients The compositions of the present invention may further contain, in addition to the clay material, other softening ingredients. Suitable examples include amines of the formula R₁R₂R₃N, wherein R₁ is C₆ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl, R₂ is C₁ to C₂₀ hydrocarbyl, and R₃ is C₁ to C₁₀ hydrocarbyl or hydrogen. A preferred amine of this type is ditallowmethylamine. Preferably, the softening amine is present as a complex with a fatty acid of the formula R⁴COOH, wherein R⁴ is a C₉ to C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl. It is desirable that the amine/fatty acid complex be present in the form of microfine particles, having a particle size in the range of from, e.g., 0.1 to 20 micrometers. These amine/fatty acid complexes are disclosed more fully in European Patent Application 0,133,804. Preferred are compositions that contain from 1% to 10% of the amine. Suitable also are complexes of the above-described amines together with phosphate esters of the formula: wherein R₅ and R₆ are C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, or ethoxylated alkyl groups of the general formula alkyl-(OCH₂CH₂) y , wherein the alkyl substituent is C₁-C₂₀, preferably C₈-C₁₆, and y is an integer of 1 to 15, preferably 2-10, most preferably 2-5. Amine/phosphate ester complexes of this type are more fully disclosed in European Patent Application 0,168,889. Further examples of optional softening ingredients include the softening amides of the formula R₇R₈NCOR₉, wherein R₇ and R₈ are independently selected from C₁-C₂₂ alkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl, aryl, and alkyl-aryl groups; R₉ is hydrogen, or a C₁-C₂₂ alkyl or alkenyl, an aryl or alkyl-aryl group. Preferred examples of these amides are ditallow acetamide and ditallow benzamide. Good results are obtained when the amides are present in the composition in the form of a composite with a fatty acid or with a phosphate ester, as described hereinbefore for the softening amines. The amides are present in the composition at from 1% to 10% by weight. Suitable softening ingredients are also the amines disclosed in U.K. Patent Application GB 2,173,827, in particular the substituted cyclic amines disclosed therein. Suitable are imidazolines of the general formula 1-(higher alkyl) amido (lower alkyl)-2-(higher alkyl)imidazoline wherein higher alkyl has from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, and lower alkyl has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. A preferred cyclic amine is 1-tallowamidoethyl-2-tallow-imidazoline. Preferred compositions contain from 1% to 10% of the substituted cyclic amine. Optional Detergent Components Laundry care compositions of the present invention can also contain conventional detergent components and adjuvants at their art-established levels, provided the resulting mixture of detergent components has minimal (preferably none) solvency toward the flocculating agent. Detersive Surfactants The surfactant component can comprise as little as about 1% of the compositions herein, but preferably the compositions will contain from 5% to 40%, more preferably from 10% to 30%, of surfactant. Combinations of anionic (preferably linear alkyl benzene sulfonates) and nonionic (preferably alkyl polyethoxylated alcohols) surfactants are preferred for optimum combined cleaning and textile softening performance, but other classes of surfactants, such as semi-polar, ampholytic, zwitterionic, and cationic may be used. Mixtures of these surfactants can also be used. A. Nonionic Surfactants Suitable nonionic surfactants are generally disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,929,678, Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975, at column 13, line 14 through column 16, line 6. Classes of useful nonionic surfactants include: 1. The polyethylene oxide condensates of alkyl phenols. These compounds include the condensation products of alkyl phenols having an alkyl group containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms in either a straight chain or branched chain configuration with ethylene oxide, the ethylene oxide being present in an amount equal to from 5 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alkyl phenol. Examples of compounds of this type include nonyl phenol condensed with 9.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dodecyl phenol condensed with 12 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; dinonyl phenol condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol; and diisooctyl phenol condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of phenol. Commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Igepal CO-630, marketed by the GAF Corporation; and Triton X-45, X-114, X-100, and X-102, all marketed by the Rohm & Haas Company. 2. The condensation products of aliphatic alcohols with from 1 to 25 moles of ethylene oxide. The alkyl chain of the aliphatic alcohol can either be straight or branched, primary or secondary, and generally contains from 8 to 22 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are the condensation products of alcohols having an alkyl group containing from 10 to 20 carbon atoms with from 4 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol. Examples of such ethoxylated alcohols include the condensation product of myristyl alcohol with 10 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol; and the condensation product of coconut alcohol (a mixture of fatty alcohols with alkyl chains varying in length from 10 to 14 carbon atoms) with 9 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants of this type include Tergitol 15-S-9 (the condensation product of C₁₁-C₁₅ linear alcohol with 9 moles ethylene oxide), Tergitol 24-L-6 NMW (the condensation product of C₁₂-C₁₄ primary alcohol with 6 moles ethylene oxide with a narrow molecular weight distribution), both marketed by Union Carbide Corporation; Neodol 45-9 (the condensation product of C₁₄-C₁₅ linear alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide), Neodol 23-6.5 (the condensation product of C₁₂-C₁₃ linear alcohol with 6.5 moles of ethylene oxide), Neodol 45-7 (the condensation product of C₁₄-C₁₅ linear alcohol with 7 moles of ethylene oxide), Neodol 45-4 (the condensation product of C₁₄-C₁₅ linear alcohol with 4 moles of ethylene oxide), all marketed by Shell Chemical Company; and Kyro EOB (the condensation product of C₁₃-C₁₅ alcohol with 9 moles ethylene oxide), marketed by The Procter & Gamble Company. 3. The condensation products of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base formed by the condensation of propylene oxide with propylene glycol. The hydrophobic portion of these compounds has a molecular weight of from 1500 to 1800 and exhibits water insolubility. The addition of polyoxyethylene moieties to this hydrophobic portion tends to increase the water solubility of the molecule as a whole, and the liquid character of the product is retained up to the point where the polyoxyethylene content is 50% of the total weight of the condensation product, which corresponds to condensation with up to 40 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of compounds of this type include certain of the commercially-available Pluronic surfactants, marketed by Wyandotte Chemical Corporation. 4. The condensation products of ethylene oxide with the product resulting from the reaction of propylene oxide and ethylenediamine. The hydrophobic moiety of these products consists of the reaction product of ethylenediamine and excess propylene oxide, and generally has a molecular weight of from 2500 to 3000. This hydrophobic moiety is condensed with ethylene oxide to the extent that the condensation product contains from 40% to 80% by weight of polyoxyethylene and has a molecular weight of from 5,000 to 11,000. Examples of this type of nonionic surfactant include certain of the commercially available Tetronic compounds, marketed by Wyandotte Chemical Corporation. 5. Semi-polar nonionic surfactants which include water-soluble amine oxides containing one alkyl moiety of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; water-soluble phosphine oxides containing one alkyl moiety of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and 2 moieties selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and water-soluble sulfoxides containing one alkyl moiety of from 10 to 18 carbon atoms and a moiety selected from the group consisting of alkyl and hydroxyalkyl moieties of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms. Preferred semi-polar nonionic detergent surfactants are the amine oxide surfactants having the formula wherein R¹⁰ is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkyl phenyl group or mixtures thereof containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms; R¹¹ is an alkylene or hydroxyalkylene group containing from 2 to 3 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof; x is from 0 to 3; and each R¹² is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a polyethylene oxide group containing from 1 to 3 ethylene oxide groups. The R¹² groups can be attached to each other, e.g., through an oxygen or nitrogen atom, to form a ring structure. Preferred amine oxide surfactants are C₁₀-C₁₈ alkyl dimethyl amine oxides and C₈-C₁₂ alkoxy ethyl dihydroxy ethyl amine oxides. 6. Alkylpolysaccharides disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,565,647, Llenado, issued January 21, 1986, having a hydrophobic group containing from 6 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably from 10 to 16 carbon atoms and a polysaccharide, e.g., a polyglycoside, hydrophilic group containing from 1.5 to 10, preferably from 1.5 to 3, most preferably from 1.6 to 2.7 saccharide units. Any reducing saccharide containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms can be used, e.g., glucose, galactose and galactosyl moieties can be substituted for the glucosyl moieties. (Optionally the hydrophobic group is attached at the 2-, 3-, 4-, etc. positions thus giving a glucose or galactose as opposed to a glucoside or galactoside.) The intersaccharide bonds can be, e.g., between the one position of the additional saccharide units and the 2-, 3-, 4-, and/or 6- positions on the preceding saccharide units. Optionally, and less desirably, there can be a polyalkyleneoxide chain joining the hydrophobic moiety and the polysaccharide moiety. The preferred alkyleneoxide is ethylene oxide. Typical hydrophobic groups include alkyl groups, either saturated or unsaturated, branched or unbranched containing from 8 to 18, preferably from 10 to 16, carbon atoms. Preferably, the alkyl group is a straight chain saturated alkyl group. The alkyl group can contain up to 3 hydroxy groups and/or the polyalkyleneoxide chain can contain up to 10, preferably less than 5, alkyleneoxide moieties. Suitable alkyl polysaccharides are octyl, nonyldecyl, undecyldodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, and octadecyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides, galactosides, lactosides, glucoses, fructosides, fructoses and/or galactoses. Suitable mixtures include coconut alkyl, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentaglucosides and tallow alkyl tetra-, penta-, and hexaglucosides. The preferred alkylpolyglycosides have the formula R¹³O(C n H 2n O) t (glycosyl) x wherein R¹³ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylphenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkylphenyl, and mixtures thereof in which the alkyl groups contain from 10 to 18, preferably from 12 to 14, carbon atoms; n is 2 or 3, preferably 2; t is from 0 to 10, preferably 0; and x is from 1.3 to 10, preferably from 1.3 to 3, most preferably from 1.3 to 2.7. The glycosyl is preferably derived from glucose. To prepare these compounds, the alcohol or alkylpolyethoxy alcohol is formed first and then reacted with glucose, or a source of glucose, to form the glucoside (attachment at the 1-position). The additional glycosyl units can then be attached between their 1-position and the preceding glycosyl units 2-, 3-, 4- and/or 6-position, preferably predominately the 2-position. 7. Fatty acid amide surfactants having the formula: wherein R¹⁴ is an alkyl group containing from 7 to 21 (preferably from 9 to 17) carbon atoms and each R¹⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, and -(C₂H₄O) x H where x varies from 1 to 3. Preferred amides are C₈-C₂₀ ammonia amides, monoethanolamides, diethanolamides, and isopropanolamides. B. Anionic Surfactants Anionic surfactants suitable for use in the present invention are generally disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,929,678, Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975, at column 23, line 58 through column 29, line 23, and in U.S. Patent 4,294,710, Hardy et al., issued October 13, 1981. Classes of useful anionic surfactants includes: 1. Ordinary alkali metal soaps, such as the sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts of higher fatty acids containing from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably from 10 to 20 carbon atoms. Preferred alkali metal soaps are sodium laurate, sodium stearate, sodium oleate and potassium palmitate. 2. Water-soluble salts, preferably the alkali metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts, of organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl group containing from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and a sulfonic acid or sulfuric acid ester group. (Included in the term "alkyl" is the alkyl portion of acyl groups.) Examples of this group of anionic surfactants are the sodium and potassium alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the alkyl group contains from 9 to 15 carbon atoms in straight chain or branched chain configuration, e.g., those of the type described in U.S. Patent 2,220,099, Guenther et al., issued November 5, 1940, and U.S. Patent 2,477,383, Lewis, issued December 26, 1946. Especially useful are linear straight chain alkylbenzene sulfonates in which the average number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group is from 11 to 13, abbreviated as C₁₁-C₁₃LAS. Other anionic surfactants of this type include sodium alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, especially those ethers of higher alcohols derived from tallow and coconut oil; sodium coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfonates and sulfates; sodium or potassium salts of alkyl phenol ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing from 1 to 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl groups contain from 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and sodium or potassium salts of alkyl ethylene oxide ether sulfates containing 1 to 10 units of ethylene oxide per molecule and wherein the alkyl group contains from 10 to 20 carbon atoms. Also included are water-soluble salts of esters of alpha-sulfonated fatty acids containing from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the fatty acid group and from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the ester group; water-soluble salts of 2-acyloxy-alkane-1-sulfonic acids containing from 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the acyl group and from 9 to 23 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety; alkyl ether sulfates containing from 10 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 1 to about 30 moles of ethylene oxide; water-soluble salts of olefin sulfonates containing from 12 to 24 carbon atoms; and beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from 8 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane moiety. 3. Anionic phosphate surfactants. 4. N-alkyl substituted succinamates. C. Ampholytic Surfactants Ampholytic surfactants can be broadly described as aliphatic derivatives of secondary or tertiary amines, or aliphatic derivatives of hetrocyclic secondary and tertiary amines in which the aliphatic radical can be straight or branched chain and wherein one of the aliphatic substituents contains from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and at least one of the aliphatic substituents contains an anionic water-solubilizing group, e.g., carboxy, sulfonate, sulfate. See U.S. Patent 3,929,678, Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975, column 19, line 38 through column 22, line 48, for examples of ampholytic surfactants useful herein. D. Zwitterionic Surfactants Zwitterionic surfactants can be broadly described as derivatives of secondary and tertiary amines, derivatives of heterocyclic secondary and tertiary amines, or derivatives of quaternary ammonium, quaternary phosphonium or tertiary sulfonium compounds. See U.S. Patent 3,929,678, Laughlin et al., issued December 30, 1975,column 19, line 38 through column 22, line 48, for examples of zwitterionic surfactants useful herein. E. Cationic Surfactants Cationic surfactants are the least preferred detergent surfactants useful in detergent compositions of the present invention. Cationic surfactants comprise a wide variety of compounds characterized by one or more organic hydrophobic groups in the cation and generally by a quaternary nitrogen associated with an acid radical. Pentavalent nitrogen ring compounds are also considered quaternary nitrogen compounds. Suitable anions are halides, methyl sulfate and hydroxide. Tertiary amines can have characteristics similar to cationic surfactants at washing solutions pH values less than 8.5. Suitable cationic surfactants include the quaternary ammonium surfactants having the formula: [R¹⁶(OR¹⁷) y ][R¹⁸(OR¹⁷) y ]₂R¹⁹N⁺X⁻ wherein R¹⁶ is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain; each R¹⁷ is independently selected from the group consisting of -CH₂CH₂-, -CH₂CH(CH₃)-, -CH₂CH(CH₂OH)-, and -CH₂CH₂CH₂-; each R¹⁸ is independently selected from the group consisting of C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, ring structures formed by joining the two R¹⁸ groups, -CH₂CHOHCHOHCOR²⁰CHOHCH₂OH wherein R²⁰ is any hexose or hexose polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000, and hydrogen when y is not 0; R¹⁹ is the same as R¹⁸ or is an alkyl chain wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R¹⁶ plus R¹⁹ is not more than 18; each y is from 0 to 10 and the sum of the y values is from 0 to 15; and X is any compatible anion. Examples of the above compounds are alkyl quaternary ammonium surfactants, especially the mono-long chain alkyl surfactants described in the above formula when R¹⁹ is selected from the same groups as R¹⁸. The most preferred quaternary ammonium surfactants are the chloride, bromide and methylsulfate C₈-C₁₆ alkyl trimethylammonium salts, C₈-C₁₆ alkyl di(hydroxyethyl)methylammonium salts, the C₈-C₁₆ alkyl hydroxyethyldimethylammonium salts, and C₈-C₁₆ alkyloxypropyltrimethylammonium salts. Of the above, decyl trimethylammonium methylsulfate, lauryl trimethylammonium chloride, myristyl trimethylammonium bromide and coconut trimethylammonium chloride and methylsulfate are particularly preferred. A more complete disclosure of these and other cationic surfactants useful herein can be found in U.S. Patent 4,228,044, Cambre, issued October 14, 1980. Detergent Builders Detergent compositions of the present invention may contain inorganic and/or organic detergent builders to assist in mineral hardness control. Built liquid formulations preferably comprise from 5% to 50%, preferably 5% to 30%, by weight of detergent builder. Useful water-soluble organic builders include the various alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium polyacetates, carboxylates, polycarboxylates and polyhydroxysulfonates. Examples of polyacetate and polycarboxylate builders are the sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium and substituted ammonium salts of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, oxydisuccinic acid, mellitic acid, benzene polycarboxylic acids, and citrate. The citrate (preferably in the form of an alkali metal or alkanolammonium salt) is generally added to the composition as citric acid, but can be added in the form of a fully neutralized salt. Highly preferred polycarboxylate builders are disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,308,067, Diehl, issued March 7, 1967. Such materials include the water-soluble salts of homo- and copolymers of aliphatic carboxylic acids such as maleic acid, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, aconitic acid, citraconic acid and methylenemalonic acid. Other builders include the carboxylated carbohydrates disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,723,322, Diehl, issued March 28, 1973. A class of useful phosphorus-free detergent builder materials has been found to be ether polycarboxylates. A number of ether polycarboxylates have been disclosed for use as detergent builders. Examples of useful ether polycarboxylates include oxydisuccinate, as disclosed in Berg, U.S. Patent 3,128,287, issued April 7, 1964, and Lamberti et al, U.S. Patent 3,635,830, issued January 18, 1972. A specific type of ether polycarboxylates useful as builders in the present invention includes those having the general formula: wherein A is H or OH; B is H or and X is H or a salt-forming cation. For example, if in the above general formula A and B are both H, then the compound is oxydissuccinic acid and its water-soluble salts. If A is OH and B is H, then the compound is tartrate monosuccinic acid (TMS) and its water-soluble salts. If A is H and B is then the compound is tartrate disuccinic acid (TDS) and its water-soluble salts. Mixtures of these builders are especially preferred for use herein. Particularly preferred are mixtures of TMS and TDS in a weight ratio of TMS to TDS of from 97:3 to 20:80. Suitable ether polycarboxylates also include cyclic compounds, particularly alicyclic compounds, such as those described in U.S. Patents 3,923,679; 3,835,163; 4,158,635; 4,120,874 and 4,102,903. Other useful detergency builders include the ether hydroxypolycarboxylates represented by the structure: wherein M is hydrogen or a cation wherein the resultant salt is water-soluble, preferably an alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium cation, n is from 2 to 15 (preferably n is from 2 to 10, more preferably n averages from 2 to 4) and each R is the same or different and is selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₄ alkyl or C₁₋₄ substituted alkyl (preferably R is hydrogen). Also suitable in the detergent compositions of the present invention are the 3,3-dicarboxy-4-oxa-1,6-hexanedioates and the related compounds disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,566,984, Bush, issued January 28, 1986. Useful builders also include sodium and potassium carboxymethyloxymalonate, carboxymethyloxysuccinate, cis-cyclohexanehexacarboxylate, cis-cyclopentanetetracarboxylate phloroglucinol trisulfonate, water-soluble polyacrylates (having molecular weights of from 2,000 to 200,000, for example), and the copolymers of maleic anhydride with vinyl methyl ether or ethylene. Other suitable polycarboxylates are the polyacetal carboxylates disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,144,226, Crutchfield et al., issued March 13, 1979. These polyacetal carboxylates can be prepared by bringing together, under polymerization conditions, an ester of glyoxylic acid and a polymerization initiator. The resulting polyacetal carboxylate ester is then attached to chemically stable end groups to stabilize the polyacetal carboxylate against rapid depolymerization in alkaline solution, converted to the corresponding salt, and added to a surfactant. Especially useful builders include alkyl succinates of the general formula R-CH(COOH)CH₂(COOH), i.e., derivatives of succinic acid, wherein R is hydrocarbon, e.g., C₁₀-C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl, preferably C₁₂-C₁₆ or wherein R may be substituted with hydroxyl, sulfo, sulfoxy or sulfone substituents, all as described in the above-mentioned patents. The succinate builders are preferably used in the form of their water-soluble salts, including the sodium, potassium, ammonium and alkanolammonium salts. Specific examples of succinate builders include: lauryl succinate, myristyl succinate, palmityl succinate, 2-dodecenyl succinate (preferred), 2-pentadecenyl succinate. Other useful detergency builders include the C₁₀-C₁₈ alkyl monocarboxylic (fatty) acids and salts thereof. These fatty acids can be derived from animal and vegetable fats and oils, such as tallow, coconut oil and palm oil. Suitable saturated fatty acids can also be synthetically prepared (e.g., via the oxidation of petroleum or by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide via the Fisher-Tropsch process). Particularly preferred C₁₀-C₁₈ alkyl monocarboxylic acids are saturated coconut fatty acids, palm kernel fatty acids, and mixtures thereof. Chelating Agents The detergent compositions herein may also optionally contain one or more iron and manganese chelating agents. Such chelating agents can be selected from the group consisting of amino carboxylates, amino phosphonates, polyfunctionally - substituted aromatic chelating agents and mixtures thereof, as hereinafter defined. Amino carboxylates useful as chelating agents in compositions of the invention contain one or more, preferably at least two, units of the substructure wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g. ethanolamine) and x is from 1 to 3, preferably 1. Preferably, these amino carboxylates do not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups with more than 6 carbon atoms. Operable amine carboxylates include ethylenediaminetetraacetates, N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetates, nitrilotriacetates, ethylenediamine tetrapropionates, triethylenetetraaminehexaacetates, diethylenetriaminepentaacetates, and ethanoldiglycines, alkali metal, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts thereof, and mixtures thereof. Amino phosphonates are also suitable for use as chelating agents in the compositions of the invention when at least low levels of total phosphorus are acceptable for use. Compounds with one or more, preferably at least two, units of the substructure wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium and x is from 1 to about 3, preferably 1, are useful and include ethylenediaminetetrakis (methylenephosphonates), nitrilotris (methylenephosphonates) and diethylenetriaminepentakis (methylenephosphonates). Preferably, these amino phosphonates do not contain alkyl or alkenyl groups with more than about 6 carbon atoms. Alkylene groups can be shared by substructures. Polyfunctionally - substituted aromatic chelating agents, are also useful in the compositions herein. These materials comprise compounds having the general formula wherein at least one R is -SO₃H or -COOH or soluble salts thereof and mixtures thereof. U.S. Patent 3,812,044, issued May 21, 1974, Connor et al., discloses polyfunctionally - substituted aromatic chelating and sequestering agents. Preferred compounds of this type in acid form are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes and 1,2-dihydroxy -3,5-disulfobenzene or other disulfonated catechols in particular. Alkaline detergent compositions can contain these materials in the form of alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium (e.g., mono- or triethanolamine) salts. U.S. Patent 4,704,233, Hartman, et al., issued November 3, 1987, discloses the use of ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid or salts thereof as a biodegradable chelant in laundry detergent compositions. If utilized, these chelating agents will generally comprise from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the detergent compositions herein. More preferably, chelating agents will comprise from 0.1% to 3% by weight of such compositions. Soil Release Agent Polymeric soil release agents useful in the present invention include cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxyether cellulosic polymers, copolymeric blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide terephthalate, cationic guar gums. The cellulosic derivatives that are functional as soil release agents are commercially available and include hydroxyethers of cellulose such as Methocel® (Dow) and cationic cellulose ether derivatives such as Polymer JR-124®, JR-400®, and JR-30M® (Union Carbide). See also U.S. Patent 3,928,213, Temple et al., issued December 23, 1975. Other effective soil release agents are cationic guar gums such as Jaguar Plau® (Stein Hall) and Gendrive 458® (General Mills). Preferred cellulosic soil release agents for use herein have a viscosity in aqueous solution at 20°C of 0.15 10⁻² Pa s to 75 Pa.s (15 to 75,000 centipoise) and are selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxybutyl methylcellulose, or mixtures thereof. A more preferred soil release agent is a copolymer having random blocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide (PEO) terephthalate. More specifically, these polymers are comprised of repeating units of ethylene terephthalate and PEO terephthalate in a mole ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to PEO terephthalate units of from 25:75 to 35:65, said PEO terephthalate units containing polyethylene oxide having molecular weights of from 300 to 2000. The molecular weight of this polymeric soil release agent is in the range of from 25,000 to 55,000. See U.S. Patent 3,959,230, Hays, issued May 25, 1976, and U.S. Patent 3,893,929, Basadur, issued July 8, 1975, which disclose similar copolymers. It has been found that these polymeric soil release agents provide a more uniform distribution over a range of fabrics and can therefore yield improved fabric care qualities. Another preferred polymeric soil release agent is a crystallizable polyester with repeat units of ethylene terephthalate units containing 10-15% by weight of ethylene terephthalate units together with 80% to 90% by weight of polyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethylene glycol of average molecular weight 300-5,000, and the mole ratio of ethylene terephthalate units to polyoxyethylene terephthalate units in the crystallizable polymeric compound is between 2:1 and 6:1. Examples of this type of polymer include the commercially available material Zelcon® 5126 (from Dupont) and Milease® T (from ICI). Preferred soil release polymers and methods for their preparation are described in European Patent Application 185,417, Gosselink, published June 25, 1986. If utilized, these soil release agents will generally comprise from 0.05% to 5%, preferably from 0.2% to 3%, by weight of the detergent compositions herein. Enzymes Enzymes may be used in the compositions of the present invention at levels of from 0.025% to 2%, preferably from 0.05% to 1.5%, of the total composition. Preferred proteolytic enzymes should provide a proteolytic activity of at least 5 Anson units (about 1,000,000 Delft units) per liter, preferably from 15 to 70 Anson units per liter, most preferably from 20 to 40 Anson units per liter. A proteolytic activity of from 0.01 to 0.05 Anson units per gram of product is desirable. Other enzymes, including amylolytic enzymes, are also desirably included in the present compositions. Suitable proteolytic enzymes include the many species known to be adapted for use in detergent compositions. Commercial enzyme preparations such as "Savinase" and "Alcalase", sold by Novo Industries, and "Maxatase", sold by Gist-Brocades, Delft, The Netherlands, are suitable. Other preferred enzyme compositions include those commercially available under the tradenames SP-72 ("Esperase") manufactured and sold by Novo Industries A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark and "AZ-Protease" manufactured and sold by Gist-Brocades, Delft, The Netherlands. Suitable amylases include "Rapidase" sold by Gist-Brocades and "Termamyl" sold by Novo Industries. A more complete disclosure of suitable enzymes can be found in U.S. Patent 4,101,457, Place et al., issued July 18, 1978, and U.S. Patent 4,507,219, Hughes, issued March 26, 1985. In addition to ingredients already mentioned, the compositions of the present invention can include various other optional ingredients typically used in commercial products at their art-established levels, to provide aesthetic or additional product performance benefits. Typical ingredients include pH regulants, pH buffers, perfumes, dyes, optical brighteners, soil suspending agents, enzyme stabilizers, gel-control agents, freeze-thaw stabilizers, bactericides, preservatives, suds control agents, hydrotropes (e.g., ethanol, short chain alkyl sulfonates), bleaches, bleach activators. A typical stable softening thru-the-wash liquid detergent comprises: Anionic Surfactant 10-30% Nonionic Surfactant (e.g., Ethoxylated Fatty Alcohol) 2-10% Fatty Acid Builder 0-20% (pref. 5-20%) Citric Acid 0-3% (pref. 1-3%) Ethanol 0-8% (pref. 3-8%) Propanediol (Polyol) 0-5% Triethanolamine 0-7% (pref. 3-7%) Sodium Hydroxide 0-7% (pref. 3-7%) Fabric Softening Smectite Clay 2-7% Antisettling Agent 0.5-2% Water 25-45% Polymeric Flocculant 0-1% (pref. 0.01-0.3%) Miscellaneous Balance to 100% Other Liquid Fabric Softener Components Liquid Carriers - The carrier normally included in liquid fabric softener compositions is selected from water and mixtures of water and short chain C₁-C₆ monohydric alcohols. Water is already present at critical levels in the present invention, so the liquid carrier used in the softener compositions of the present invention may be supplemented with from about 10% to about 55% of a short chain alcohol, such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol or butanol, and mixtures thereof. Other Optional Ingredients - Adjuvants can be added to the fabric softener composition herein for their known uses at their art-established levels. Such adjuvants include, but are not limited to, cationic softeners, static control agents, viscosity control agents, perfumes, emulsifiers, preservatives, antioxidants, bacteriocides, fungicides, colorants, dyes, fluorescent dyes, brighteners, opacifiers, freeze-thaw control agents, shrinkage control agents, and agents to provide ease of ironing. A typical stable rinse-added softening composition comprises: Fabric Softening Smectite Clay 1-25% (pref. 2-7%) Water 25-45% Polyol 0-5% Antisettling Agent 0.5-2% Monohydric Alcohol Carrier 10-55% Other Carrier Solvents 0-20% Co-Softeners 0-15% Static Control Agent 0-5% Polymeric Flocculant 0-1% (pref. 0.01-0.3%) Miscellaneous Balance to 100% Methods of Use Liquid Detergent - In a through-the-wash mode, the compositions are typically used at a concentration of at least 400 ppm, preferably 0.004% to 2%, and more preferably 0.05% to 1.5%, in an aqueous laundry bath at pH 7-11 to launder fabrics. The laundering can be carried out at temperatures ranging from about 5°C to the boil, with excellent results. Detergent compositions of the present invention require use in a specific step-wise operation in order to provide optimal performance. The detergent composition must be added to the aqueous wash bath simultaneously with or after the clothes are added. Then, agitation of the laundry bath must begin no more than about 5 minutes after the addition of the liquid detergent composition. This will enhance the clay's deposition thereby improving the effectiveness and homogeneity of softening. If the composition is added to the wash water before the laundry, the clay-flocculating agent will cause the clay to agglomerate and settle to the bottom of the laundry both within about 30 seconds; this reduces the clay's deposition ability. In contrast, when the composition is added to the aqueous laundry bath containing the laundry, and agitation commences immediately, the clay-flocculating agent will cause clay to agglomerate and settle much more homogeneously and effectively upon the fabric. Liquid Fabric Softener - The liquid fabric softening compositions of this invention are used by adding to the rinse cycle of conventional laundry operations. Generally, rinse water has a temperature of from 5°C to 60°C. The concentration of the fabric softener compositions of this invention is generally from 0.05% to 1.5%, preferably from 0.2% to 1%, by weight of the aqueous rinsing bath. In general, the present invention in its fabric softening method aspect comprises the steps of (1) washing fabrics in a conventional washing machine with a detergent composition; (2) rinsing the fabrics in a bath which contains the above-described amounts of the fabric softener compositions; and (3) drying the fabrics. When multiple rinses are used, the fabric softening composition is preferably added to the final rinse. Fabric drying can take place either in an automatic dryer or in the open air. Production Method In order to produce a stable liquid laundry detergent or fabric softener composition of the type described above, certain processing conditions should be met. First, the particle size of the fabric softening clay (longest dimension) must be reduced to less than about one micron; second, the antisettling agent and clay must be dispersed in the composition; and third, the antisettling agent's support matrix must be formed in the composition. This "activation" of the support matrix is accomplished when the composition exhibits plastic rheology. These criteria are met by preparing a slurry of the clay, antisettling agent, water and polyol (and optional components, if so desired). The slurry is then passed through a colloid mill or other mixer which produces a shear rate greater than 10,000 sec⁻¹. This high shear mixing is repeated for 4 to 10 passes or until the composition is homogeneous and the antisettling agent is activated. An alternative procedure for making the liquid laundry-care compositions comprises preparing a concentrated aqueous slurry of the Smectite-type clay and subjecting it to a shear rate greater than 10,000 sec⁻¹ for from 4 to 10 passes or until the composition is homogeneous and the antisettling agent is activated. Separately a solution containing the antisettling additive and other components (e.g., water, caustic, ethanol and alkyl aryl sulfonate) are subjected to a shear rate greater than 10,000 sec⁻¹ for from 4 to 10 passes. The two portions are then combined with the remaining ingredients using conventional agitation. EXAMPLES 1-5 Liquid Detergent Compositions Examples 1-5 are prepared in 3.785 · 10⁻³ m³ (1 gallon) quantities by the following procedure: The detersive ingredients and adjuncts, except the clay, antisettling additive and the clay-flocculating agent (if used), are mixed in a vessel equipped with a propeller mixer providing a shear rate of from 100 sec⁻¹ to 1,000 sec⁻¹. This mixing continues until this base formula appears clear and phase-stable; usually from 15 to 60 minutes. The antisettling agent and softening clay are added to the base formula and the entire mixture is stirred again using the propeller mixer described above for 30 minutes. The resulting slurry is then passed through a colloid mill (model SD-40, distributed by Tekmar Co.) which provides a shear of from 10,000 sec⁻¹ to 40,000 sec⁻¹, 4 to 10 times, while maintaining a liquid temperature of from 21.1 to 37.8°C (70°F to 100°F.) This results in a suspension of clay particles having a longest particle dimension less than about 1 µm. Finally, the clay-flocculating agent (if used) is added slowly to the resulting mixture under gentle mixing conditions produced by a propeller mixer (i.e., a shear of from 100 sec⁻¹ to 1,000 sec⁻¹, for a period of at least 5 minutes). Finished compositions are stored under ambient conditions, where they remain homogeneous for months. These compositions provide effective cleaning and thru-the-wash softening when used in the manner described above ( see Methods of Use). EXAMPLES 6 and 7 Rinse-Added Fabric Softener Compositions Examples 6 and 7 are prepared in 3,785 10⁻³ m³ (1 gallon) quantities by the following procedure. The fabric softener ingredients and adjuncts, except the clay, antisettling additive and the clay-flocculating agent (if used), are mixed in a vessel equipped with a propeller mixer providing a shear rate of from 100 sec⁻¹ to 1,000 sec⁻¹. This mixing continues until this base formula appears clear and phase-stable; usually from 15 to 60 minutes. The antisettling agent and softening clay are added to the base formula and the entire mixture is stirred again using the propeller mixer described above for 30 minutes. The resulting slurry is then passed through a colloid mill (model SD-40, manufactured by Tekmar Co.) which provides a shear of from 10,000 sec⁻¹ to 40,000 sec⁻¹, 4 to 10 times, while maintaining a liquid temperature of from 21.1°C to 37.8°C (70°F to 100°F). This results in a suspension of clay particles having a longest particle dimension less than 1 µm. Finally, the clay-flocculating agent (if used) is added slowly to the resulting mixture under gentle mixing conditions produced by a propeller mixer (i.e., a shear of from 100 sec⁻¹ to 1,000 sec⁻¹, for a period of at least 5 minutes). Finished compositions are stored under ambient conditions, where they remain homogeneous for months. 6 7 Water 40% 30% Glycerol 5% -- Stearyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride 2% -- Ditallow Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride -- 5% Dimethicone -- 15% Ethanol 20% 30% Isoamyl Alcohol 10% -- Olive Oil -- 10% Sodium Bentonite (Cation Exchange Capacity = 100 meq/100g) -- 5% Sodium Hectorite (Cation Exchange Capacity = 100 meq/100g) 7% -- Cabosil M-5 ® (Fumed Silica) 1% -- Bentone SD-2 ® (Organoclay) -- 2.5% Polyethylene Oxide (MW=1,000,000) -- 0.1% Miscellaneous --- Balance to 100 --- These compositions provide effective softening when used in the manner described above ( see Methods of Use). Suspension Stability Test Finished product suspensions are deaerated and transferred to transparent or translucent jars made of glass or plastic. Jars which are calibrated with a linear scale are preferred. The jars are placed in static storage inside a constant temperature room. Both 21.1°C and 32.2°C (70°F and 90°F) environments are employed to reflect normal ambient and stressed conditions. The height of liquids in each jar is measured at the time of storage and recorded. Samples are periodically monitored, and the amount of clay sedimentation in each product is measured by noting the height of clear liquid in the upper portion of the system. The size of this clear layer is expressed as a percentage of the height of the total product in the jar. After at least 8 weeks of storage under these conditions, compositions 1-7 described above, exhibit less than 10% separation.

Claims: A stable liquid laundry care composition comprising: (a) from 1% to 25%, by weight, of a Smectite-type clay having a longest individual particle dimension of less than one micron and an ion exchange capacity of at least 50 meq/100g; (b) from 0.25% to 5%, by weight, of an antisettling agent selected from the group consisting of organophillic organo-clays, fumed silicas or mixtures thereof, preferably an organophillic organo-clay comprising the reaction product of an organic cation containing at least one alkyl group containing at least 10 carbon atoms and a montmorillonite clay; (c) from 5% to 45% of water; and (d) from 0% to 5%, by weight, of a polyol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 6 hydroxy groups, such that the combined water and polyol content of the composition does not exceed 45%, by weight, said polyol preferably being 1,2-propanediol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, or a mixture thereof, more preferably 1,2-propanediol; wherein said antisettling agent is sufficiently activated by high shear mixing such that said composition has a Brookfield Yield Value of at least 1.5 dynes/cm². A composition according to Claim 1 characterized in that it comprises an effective softness enhancing amount of a polymeric clay-flocculating agent, said flocculating agent preferably being derived from monomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, acryl amide, acrylic acid, dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate, vinyl alcohol, vinyl pyrrolidone, ethylene imine, and mixtures thereof, said flocculating agent more preferably being polyethylene oxide with a molecular weight between 300,000 and 5,000,000, and said composition preferably comprising from 0.0001% to 10%, by weight, of said polyethylene oxide. A composition according to Claim 1 or 2 characterized In that the Smectite-type clay is selected from the group consisting of montmorillonites, volchonskoites, nontronites, hectorites, saponites, sauconites, vermiculites, and mixtures thereof, said Smectite-type clay preferably being montmorillonite. A composition according to Claim 1, 2, or 3 characterized in that the organic cation reagent is a quaternized ammonium cation. A composition according to Claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 characterized in that it comprises (a) from 2% to 7%, by weight, of a montmorillonite clay, (b) from 0.01% to 0.3%, by weight, of polyethylene oxide with a molecular weight between 300,000 and 5,000,000, (c) from 0.5% to 2%, by weight, of an organophillic quaternized organo-montmorillonite antisettling agent and (d) a combined water and 1,2-propanediol content from 5% to 45%, by weight, and optionally comprises from 1% to 40%, by weight, of a detersive surfactant selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, semi-polar, ampholytic, zwitterionic, and cationic surfactants, and mixtures thereof, and wherein the detersive surfactant preferably comprises linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl polyethoxylated alcohols, alkyl sulfates, and mixtures thereof. A composition according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 characterized in that it further comprises from 10% to 55%, by weight, of liquid carrier selected from the group consisting of monohydric alcohols containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof. A method for producing a stable liquid laundry care composition characterized in that said method comprises high shear mixing, at a shear rate of greater than about 10,000 sec⁻¹, at a liquid temperature from 21.1°C to 37.8°C (70°F to 100°F), for 4 to 10 passes, a mixture comprising: (a) from 1% to 25%, by weight, of a Smectite-type clay having an ion exchange capacity of at least 50 meq/100g, preferably from 2% to 7% of a montmorillonite clay; (b) from 0.5% to 2%, by weight, of an antisettling agent selected from the group consisting of organophillic quaternized organo-clays, fumed silicas, and mixtures thereof, preferably an organophillic quaternized organo-montmorillonite antisettling agent; (c) from 5% to 45%, by weight, of water; (d) from 0% to 5%, by weight, of a polyol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 6 hydroxy groups, preferably 1, 2-propanediol, such that the combined water and polyol content of the composition does not exceed 45%, by weight; and (e) optionally, an effective softness enhancing amount of a polymeric clay-flocculating agent; such that the longest individual particle dimension of the Smectite-type clay is less than one micron and the antisettling agent is fully dispersed and activated such that the composition has a Brookfield Yield Value of at least 1.5 dynes/cm². A method according to Claim 7 characterized in that wherein the mixture comprises from 2% to 7%, by weight, of a montmorillonite clay, from 0.01% to 0.3%, by weight, of polyethylene oxide with a molecular weight between 300,000 and 5,000,000, from 0.5% to 2%, by weight, of an organophillic quaternized organo-montmorillonite antisettling agent, and a combined water and 1,2-propanediol content from 5% to 45, by weight. A method of softening fabrics characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (a) placing the fabrics in an aqueous solution; (b) adding to the solution the composition according to Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 at a concentration from 0.004% to 2%, by weight; and (c) commencing agitation of the solution within 5 minutes after step (b).

Inventors: HARTMAN FREDERICK ANTHONY, MERMELSTEIN ROBERT, HARTMAN, FREDERICK ANTHONY, MERMELSTEIN, ROBERT
Applicants: PROCTER & GAMBLE, THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C11D3
IPC codes: C11D3, C11D10, C11D17