Patent ID: 7786066

Claim:
An aqueous laundry detergent comprising: a) diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonic acid and/or the alkali metal salt thereof; b) an optical brightener of the formula: wherein R1 and M are hydrogen; c) an alkali metal hypochlorite; and d) a surfactant system comprising up to 20 wt. % of bleach-stable surfactant mixture comprising a betaine and an alkyl ether sulfate; wherein the diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonic acid and/or its alkali metal salt are not free-radical scavengers, the stability of the optical brightener according to formula (I) in the laundry detergent is greater than comparable detergents without the diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonic acid and/or its alkali metal salt, and wherein the hypochlorite degrades more slowly during storage of the laundry detergent versus comparable detergents without the diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonic acid and/or its alkali metal salt.