Liquid Detergent Composition Containing a Smeltite Clay Softening Agent

EXAMPLE 1

A liquid detergent composition was prepared according to the following formulation:

This composition was made by the following method:

The water is heated to 60.degree. C. and maintained at that temperature. 2% STP is added, followed by the clay, SCMC, fluorescer, sodium hydroxide, silicate, glycerol, borax, fatty acid and sulphonic acid (which with the sodium hydroxide generate the soap and the anionic detergent active respectively) and nonionic active while stirring is continued. After 10 minutes agitation the remaining 20.8% STP was added and the mixture was then cooled with further stirring. When cool, the silicone, perfume and enzymes were added.

A number of such compositions were prepared containing different clay materials. In each case the product viscosity was measured at 20.degree. C. and 21 sec-.sup.-1. Each composition was used to wash cotton test cloths using the following wash method:

Cotton terry towelling test cloths which have been preharshened by 10 washes in a commercially available fabric washing powder product SKIP (ex Lever, France), are washed in the test product for 20 minutes at 40.degree. C. using tap water with a hardness of 48.degree. FH. A laboratory scale apparatus having a capacity of 1 liter is used, and three test cloths of size 15cm x 15cm are washed together. After washing, the cloths are rinsed twice in tap water, wrung out and line dried for 24 hours.

After drying, the cotton test cloths were assessed for softness by a panel of 12 experts, each clay being compared against White bentonite, ex Steetley. The results were as follows:

It will be seen from these results that a number of clay materials provide a softening benefit which is not significantly different to WHITE BENTONITE. However, in most cases the viscosity of the products is higher than desirable. Two clay materials, MKIC and CLARSOL STF provide product vicosities equal or less than WHITE BENTONITE. However, in both cases the softening benefit is less preferred.

The only clay material which is comparable to WHITE BENTONITE both in terms of softening and viscosity is the bentonite from MARMORA.

EXAMPLE 2

A mixture of fabric test cloths were washed with detergent compositions as set out below at 40.degree. C. in water having a hardness of 30.degree. FH (3.times.10.sup.-3 molar free calcium ions). Some test cloths consisted of new terry towelling, some consisted of new acrylic fibres and a third group consisted of terry towelling pieces which had been pre-harshened by washing 30 times in a commercially available softener-free powder product SKIP (ex Lever, France) in 45.degree. FH water. After the mixed test cloths were washed 10 times, rinsed and dried in a conventional manner (without the use of a post-wash fabric softening agent) they were divided into fabric types and assessed for softness by a panel of expert assessors (lower softness scores indicate better softness).

The formulations tested and the results obtained were as follows:

Formulation 2WB is substantially identical to Example 1, utilises STEETLEY NO 1 White Bentonite as the clay component. Formulation 2W is identical except that the clay component has been omitted. Formulations 2P and 2L are intended to represent commercially available fabric washing products used as recommended dosages for those products.

As will be seen from the softening results, formulation 2WB is preferred to all other formulations tested.