Product for pre-treatment and laundering of stained fabric

Abstract

A product for pre-treatment and laundering of fabric having a stained portion. The product comprising a pourable aqueous detergent composition and a dispensing cap. The cap can have a pour volume sized and dimensioned to provide for a unit dose of the detergent composition. A portion of the cap can be provided with surface irregularities for scrubbing a stain.

1 . A product for pre-treatment and laundering of fabric having a stained portion, said product comprising a pourable aqueous detergent composition and a cap for dispensing said pourable aqueous detergent composition:
 A. said pourable aqueous detergent composition comprising:
 a) a hydrophilic surfactant system having a Hydrophilic Index of from about HI 9-15, wherein said hydrophilic surfactant system comprises a cationic surfactant; 
   B. said cap comprising:
 a) a base having a base interior and a base exterior opposing said base interior, said base interior having a periphery; and 
 b) a vessel wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface opposing said interior surface, said vessel wall extending from said periphery to a rim, said interior surface and said base interior defining a pour volume, said base interior forming a closed end of said pour volume; 
   wherein:
 i. said cap is sealingly engaged to a container containing said detergent composition by a connector disposed on said cap and a corresponding receiver disposed on an opening of said container; 
 ii. said pour volume is sized and dimensioned to provide for a unit dose of said detergent composition; and 
 iii. said cap further comprises a plurality of first surface irregularities at a location selected from the group consisting of: on said rim, on said base exterior, between said connector disposed on said cap and said rim, and combinations thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises by weight percentage less than about 4.5% citric acid. 
     
     
         3 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises by weight percentage less than about 3% citric acid. 
     
     
         4 . The product according to  claim 2 , wherein said composition further comprises a hueing dye. 
     
     
         5 . The product according to  claim 4 , wherein said composition further comprises a pearlescent agent. 
     
     
         6 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a structurant. 
     
     
         7 . The product according to  claim 6 , wherein said structurant is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogenated castor oil; derivatives of hydrogenated castor oil; microfibrillar cellulose; hydroxyfunctional crystalline materials, long-chain fatty alcohols, 12-hydroxystearic acid; clays; and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises by weight percentage less than about 60% water. 
     
     
         9 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises an enzyme selected from the group consisting of: protease; amylase; lipase; cellulase; and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic surfactant system comprises surfactants selected from the group consisting of: AES, LAS, nonionic, amine oxide and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The product according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said rim has the shape of a spout. 
     
     
         12 . A method of pre-treating and laundering of fabric having at least one stained portion, said method employing the cap and pourable aqueous detergent composition of  claim 1  and comprising the steps of:
 a. removing said cap from said container containing said detergent composition; 
 b. pouring a volume of said detergent composition in neat form from said container into said cap; 
 c. applying at least a portion of said volume to said stained portion; 
 d. scrubbing said stained portion with a portion of said cap; 
 e. adding at least a portion of said detergent in neat form to an aqueous bath to form a wash liquor in which the detergent is in diluted form; and 
 f. washing said fabric in said wash liquor after scrubbing said stained portion with a portion of said cap. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of reengaging said cap with said container containing said detergent composition. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of placing said cap in said aqueous bath. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said hydrophobic surfactant system is present in said neat form of said detergent composition at a level of at least about 80,000 parts per million and in said diluted form of said detergent composition at a level of at least about 80 parts per million. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one stained portion comprises at least one type of stain selected from greasy; grass; particulate; beverage; tomato based; chocolate; blood; mustard; ink; or mixtures thereof.