Patent ID: 7695523

Claim:
A method of softening the water in the rinse cycle of a clothes washing machine by providing an acidic water-softening composition which is a liquid or a solid selected from a powder, granulate or tablet and consists of (a) 5 to 90% by weight of at least one water-softening agent, (b) 0 to 90% by weight water, and (c) up to 20% by weight of at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of perfume, pH adjusting agent, pH buffer and preservative and which is substantially free from a surfactant and a bleach to the water of the wash cycle and to the water of the rinse cycle of the clothes washing machine, wherein the water-softening composition is added into the fabric softening dispensing drawer of the clothes washing machine from where it is subsequently provided to the water of the rinse cycle of the clothes washing machine, and wherein incrustations and/or watermarks left on surfaces of the clothes washing machine and optionally fabrics is reduced.