Fabric softening composition

• US 20060217287A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Zhu, Yun Peng, Ashley, Jeanette
• Application Number:
  US11/086,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217287A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 510/515
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 10/042 based on anionic surface-active compounds and soap
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/0015 liquid
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/227 with nitrogen-containing groups

Abstract

An aqueous fabric softening composition suitable for use in a wash and/or rinse cycle of automatic laundry machine, the composition comprising: (a) from about 0.5% to about 4%, by weight of the composition, of a synthetic anionic surfactant; (b) a fatty acid soap, wherein the weight ratio of the synthetic anionic surfactant to the fatty acid soap is below about 1; (c) from about 0.05% to about 2%, by weight of the composition, of a cationic quaternary cellulose ether polymer.

Claims

1. An aqueous fabric softening composition suitable for use in a wash and/or rinse cycle of automatic laundry machine, the composition comprising:

(a) from about 0.5% to about 4%, by weight of the composition, of a synthetic anionic surfactant;

(b) a fatty acid soap, wherein the weight ratio of the synthetic anionic surfactant to the fatty acid soap is below about 1;

(c) from about 0.05% to about 2%, by weight of the composition, of a cationic quaternary cellulose ether polymer.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is substantially free of amines.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio is in the range of from 0.2 to 1.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the synthetic anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, and mixtures thereof.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the fatty acid soap is present in an amount of at least about 2% and the soap is a mixture of sodium and potassium salts.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises from 1 to 10% of nonionic surfactant.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.5.

9. A method of softening and conditioning fabrics by adding the composition of claim 1 to the wash cycle and/or rinse cycle of the automatic laundry machine.

8. An aqueous concentrated fabric softening composition suitable for use in a wash and/or rinse cycle of automatic laundry machine, the composition comprising:

(a) from about 1% to about 6%, by weight of the composition, of a synthetic anionic surfactant;

(b) from about 14 to about 22% of a fatty acid soap, wherein the weight ratio of the synthetic anionic surfactant to the fatty acid soap is below about 1;

(c) from about 0.5% to about 2%, by weight of the composition, of a cationic quaternary cellulose ether polymer.