Rinse-added fabric conditioning composition for use where residual detergent is present

Abstract

There is provided a rinse added composition for the conditioning of fabric in a rinse, whereby the composition comprises a fabric softener active, a suds suppressing system and a surfactant scavenger, characterized in that the composition has a suds reduction value of at least about 90% and is free from visible flocs when used in the presence of residual detergent surfactant.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A rinse added fabric conditioning composition comprising: 
 a fabric softener active;    a suds suppressing system; and    a surfactant scavenger, characterized in that the composition has a suds reduction value of at least about 90% when the composition is dispensed in a rinse bath solution comprising residual detergent surfactant.    
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the composition has a suds reduction value of at least about 95%.  
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the suds reduction value is at least about 99%.  
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant scavenger is present in an effective amount to ensure the rinse solution is substantially free from visible flocs when the composition is dispensed in a rinse bath solution comprising residual detergent surfactant.  
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the surfactant scavenger is present in an effective amount to ensure the rinse solution is free from visible flocs when the composition is dispensed in a rinse bath solution comprising residual detergent surfactant.  
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant scavenger is present in an effective amount to ensure softness robustness when the composition is used in the presence of residual detergent surfactant.  
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said fabric softening active is selected from the group of: 
 (a) softener actives with the general formula:   {R 4-m —N + —[(CH 2 )—Y—R 1 ] m }X −   wherein each R substituent is either hydrogen, a short chain C 1 -C 6 , preferably C 1 -C 3  alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, hydroxyethyl, and the like, poly (C 2-3  alkoxy), preferably polyethoxy, benzyl, or mixtures thereof; each m is 2 or 3; each n is from 1 to about 4, preferably 2; each Y is —O—(O)C—, —C(O)—O—, —NR—C(O)—, or —C(O)—MR—; the sum of carbons in each R 1 , plus one when Y is —O—(O)C— or —NR—C(O)—, is C 12 -C 22 , preferably C 14 -C 20 , with each R 1  being a hydrocarbyl, or substituted hydrocarbyl group, and X −  can be any softener-compatible anion, preferably, chloride, bromide, methylsulfate, ethylsulfate, sulfate, and nitrate, more preferably chloride or methyl sulfate;      (b) softener actives with the general formula:   [R 3 N + CH 2 CH(YR 1 )(CH 2 YR 1 )]X −   wherein each Y, R, R 1 , and X −  have the same meanings as recited above; and      (c) softener actives having the formula:   [R 4-m —N + —R 1   m ]X −   wherein each R, R 1 , and X −  have the same meanings as recited above;      (d) condensation products of fatty acids and oligoamines, wherein the molar ratio fatty acid to oligoamine is about 2:1, and optionally wherein said condensation products are quaternized by addition of an alkylating agent; and    (e) mixtures thereof.    
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric softener active is between about 1% and about 90%, preferably between about 1% and about 70%, more preferably between about 1% and about 40% and even more preferably between about 2% and about 25% of the composition.  
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant scavenger is selected from: 
 (a) scavengers having the general formula:   {R 3 —N + —[(CH 2 ) n —Y—R 1 }X −   wherein each R substituent is either hydrogen, a short chain C 1 -C 6 , preferably C 1 -C 3  alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, hydroxyethyl, and the like, poly (C 2-3  alkoxy), preferably polyethoxy, benzyl, or mixtures thereof; each n is from 1 to about 4, preferably 2; each Y is —O—(O)C—, —C(O)—O—, —NR—C(O)—, or —C(O)—NR—; the sum of carbons in each R 1 , plus one when Y is —O—(O)C— or —NR—C(O)—, is C 8 -C 22 , preferably C 8 -C 20 , with each R 1  being a hydrocarbyl, or substituted hydrocarbyl group, and X −  can be any softener-compatible anion, preferably, chloride, bromide, methylsulfate, ethylsulfate, sulfate, and nitrate, more preferably chloride or methyl sulfate;      (b) scavengers having the general formula:   [R 3 N + CH 2 CH(YR 1 )(CH 2 YR 1 )]X −   wherein each Y, R, R 1 , and X −  have the same meanings as before and wherein one YR 1 ═OH. Such compounds include those having the formula:   [CH 3 ] 3 N (+) [CH 2 CH(CH 2 OH)O(O)CR 1 ]Cl (−)      or   [CH 3 ] 3  N (+) [CH 2 CH(CH 2 O(0)C R 1 )OH]Cl (−)     wherein each R is a methyl or ethyl group and preferably each R 1  is in the range of C 7  to C 19 .      (c) scavengers having the formula:   [R 3 —N + —R 1 ]X −   wherein each R, R 1 , and X have the same meanings as before.      (d) condensation products of fatty acids and oligoamines, wherein the molar ratio of fatty acid to oligoamine is between about 2:1 and about 1:1, preferably between about 1.6:1 and 0.8:1 and optionally, wherein said condensation products are quaternized by addition of an alkylating agent;    (e) scavengers having the formula:                        wherein y is from about 3 to about 10,000, preferably from about 10 to about 5,000, more preferably from about 20 to about 500; optionally, one or more of the polyvinyl amine backbone —NH 2  unit hydrogens can be substituted by an acyl group having the formula —C(O)—R)— where R is either hydrogen, a short chain C 1 -C 6 , preferably C 1 -C 3  alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, hydroxyethyl, and the like, poly (C 2-3  alkoxy), preferably polyethoxy, benzyl, or mixtures thereof; or where the hydrogens are substituted by an alkyleneoxy unit having the formula:   —(R 1 O) X R 2     wherein R 1  is C 2 -C 4  alkylene, R 2  is hydrogen, C 1 -C 4  alkyl, and mixtures thereof; x is from 1 to 50;      (f) scavengers having the formula:                        wherein R is substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 12  alkylene, or substituted or unsubstituted C 2 -C 12  hydroxyalkylene, and preferably, ethylene or propylene; each R 1  is independently C 1 -C 4  alkyl, C 1 -C 4  hydroxyalkyl or hydrogen, and preferably methyl or ethyl; each R 2  is independently C 1 -C 22  alkyl, C 3 -C 22  alkenyl, hydrogen, R 5 —Y—(CH 2 ) m —, wherein R 5  is C 1 -C 22  alkyl, C 3 -C 22  alkenyl, and mixtures thereof;      m is from 1 to about 6; each Y is —O—(O)C—, —C(O)—O—, —NR—C(O)—, or —C(O)—MR—; X is an anion; and optionally but preferably at least one R 2  is preferably C 1 -C 4  alkyl, more preferably methyl; and optionally, but preferably at least one R 2  is C 11 -C 22  alkyl, C 11 -C 22  alkenyl, and mixtures thereof; and    (g) mixtures thereof.    
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the surfactant scavenger is a monoalkyl variant of the fabric softener active.  
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said surfactant scavenger and fabric softener active are reaction products of a reaction of a fatty acid and a oligoamine wherein the molar ratio of fatty acid to amine is less than about 2:1.  
     
     
         12 . A composition according to  claim 11 , the molar ratio of fatty acid to amine is in the range of about 1.6:1 to about 1:1.  
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising a dispersing agent.  
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 13 , wherein said dispersing agent is a surfactant having a general formula selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) R 1 —Y—(C 2 H 4 O) z —C 2 H 4 OH 
 wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of primary, secondary and branched chain alkyl and/or acyl and/or acyl hydrocarbyl groups; primary, secondary and branched chain alkenyl hydrocarbyl groups, and primary, secondary and branched chain alkyl and alkenyl substituted phenolic hydrocarbyl groups; said hydrocarbyl groups having a hydrocarbyl chain length of from 8 to 20, preferably from 9 to 18 carbon atoms; wherein Y is —O— or —C(O)O—, and z is preferably at least 4, and more preferably 7-25.  
   b) R 1 O(CH(R 2 )CH 2 O) x (CH 2 CH 2 O) y R 3  or R 1 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) x (CH(R 2 )CH 2 O) y R 3  
 wherein R 1  is defined as above, R 2  is a C 1 -C 3  alkyl unit, R 3  is hydrogen or C 1 -C 3  alkyl; and  
   c) HO(CH 2 CH 2 O) x  (CH(CH 3 )CH 2 O) y  (CH 2 CH 2 O) z H.    
     
     
         15 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the suds suppressing system is a silicone antifoam compound, alcohol antifoam compound, fatty acid, and paraffin antifoam compound, poloxamer, polypropyleneglycol, dimethicone, tallow derivative, light petroleum hydrocarbons, fatty ester, fatty acid esters of monovalent alcohols, aliphatic C 18 -C 40  ketones, N-alkylated amino triazines, bis stearic acid amide, monostearyl phosphate, phosphate ester and nonionic polyhydroxyl derivatives, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a stabilizing agent.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the stabilizing agent is a xanthan gum or derivatives thereof, alginate or a derivative thereof, guar type polysaccharides or derivative thereof, polysaccharide polymers such as substituted cellulose materials like ethoxylated cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more adjuncts ingredients, said adjunct ingredients comprising pH control aids, metal ion control aids, colorants, brighteners, odor control agents, solvents, soil releasing agents, preservatives, antimicrobial agents and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A fabric softening composition comprising 
 a fabric softener active that is a dialkyl substituted quaternary ammonium compound; and    a surfactant scavenger that is a monoalkyl variant of the fabric softening active, wherein the fabric softening active and surfactant scavenger are prepared together from the same starting materials.    
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the fabric softening active is a reaction product of a fatty acid and an oligoamine or an aminopolyol, the molar ratio of fatty acid to oligoamine or aminopolyol is less than about 2:1 and is preferably between about 1.6:1 and about 0.8:1 to obtain a mixture of mono- and dialkyl substituted compounds.  
     
     
         21 . The fabric softening composition of  claim 19 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compounds are substituted with ester groups.  
     
     
         22 . A composition according to  claim 19 , that is free from visible flocs when dispensed in a laundry rinse solution comprising residual detergent surfactant.  
     
     
         23 . A composition according to  claim 19 , further comprising a suds suppressing system, characterized in that the composition has a suds reduction value of at least about 90% when dispensed in a laundry rinse solution comprising residual detergent surfactant.  
     
     
         24 . A method of rinsing fabrics and delivering softness and freshness to the fabrics in a single step, by contacting the fabrics, previously contacted with an aqueous detergent liquor, with a composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         25 . A method for reducing the formation of suds in a rinse solution and imparting softness to fabrics rinsed in that solution, the method comprising the step of contacting the fabrics, previously contacted with an aqueous detergent liquor, with a composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         26 . A method for reducing the formation of suds in a rinse solution and imparting softness to fabrics rinsed in that solution, the method comprising the step of: 
 contacting the fabrics, previously contacted with an aqueous detergent liquor, with a fabric softening composition comprising a fabric softener active, a suds suppressing system, and a surfactant scavenger.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fabrics are contacted with the composition in a first rinse cycle following the washing of the fabrics.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fabrics are contacted with the composition in a hand rinse.  
     
     
         29 . A method for reducing the volume of water consumed in a laundering operation in which a fabric conditioning composition is utilized, the method comprising the steps of: 
 washing the fabrics in an aqueous detergent solution;    removing a major portion of the aqueous detergent solution; and    rinsing the washed fabrics in a single rinse solution comprising water and a fabric conditioning composition of the present invention, wherein during this rinsing step residual detergent and soil are removed from the fabrics and the fabrics are conditioned.