An encapsulated active substance for a manual detergent for hard surfaces comprises an essentially anhydrous active substance with at least one surfactant and at least one liquid polymer carrier encapsulated in a water-soluble or water-dispersible capsule, the active substance containing: less than 25 wt. % of carrier; at least one unbranched or branched, acryclic or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated alcohol with 1 to 10 carbon atoms and one or two primary, secondary or tertiary hydroxy groups an...

A built particulate laundry detergent composition containing anionic sulphonate or sulphate surfactant and conventional ethoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant also contains a low level of a highly ethoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 15 to 40. The composition exhibits increased mildness to the skin without loss of detergency performance.

A fabric care composition comprising a thermoplastic elastomer and a terpene.

A detergent composition of the low temperature bleaching type comprises an inorganic persalt, for example sodium perborate, an inorganic peracid precursor, for example N,N,N',N-tetraacetyl ethylene diamine, a cotton substantive fluorescent agent of the 4,4'-di(sym-triazinylamino)-stilbene-2,2'-disulphonate type and not more than 0.001 per cent of a triazine derivative of specified formula. The compositions have a decreased tendency to discolor and form molodours during storage.

Detergent compositions which contain compounds bearing one or more sulfhydryl radicals as activators for enzymes which themselves do not contain sulfhydryl groups or disulfide bonds.

To obviate eutrophication of water, nonphosphorus detergent builders are provided. These are the water-soluble salts of 2-[N,N-di-(carboxymethyl)]amino-3-sulfopropionic acid (e.g., the tetrasodium salt thereof). Conventional detergent actives may be used with these builders. Synthesis of the builders is described.

To obviate eutrophication of water, nonphosphorus detergent builders are provided. These are the water-soluble salts of N,N,-di(carboxymethyl)-aspartic acid (e.g., the tetrasodium salt thereof). Conventional detergent actives may be used with these builders. Synthesis of the builders is described.

Detergent compositions are disclosed which incorporate as a builder a water-soluble salt of a copolymer consisting of ethyl benzene and succinic acid groups in a 1:1 ratio and having a molecular weight of at least 3,000 and, optionally, a poly-phosphate.

Detergent additives for lubricating oils which are highly basic are prepared by reacting a carboxylic acid (e.g. formic acid) with a metal alcoholate in the presence of a surfactant (e.g. a sulphonate) dissolved in an oil.

Novel sulfoxides having the general formula wherein X is O when R is a monovalent radical selected from the group consisting of glyceryl, acetonyl, 2-chloroethyl, 2-iodoethyl, 2-mercaptomethyl ethyl, 2-methoxyethyl, 2-ethoxy-ethyl, and 2-allyloxyethyl, and X is an integer from 1 to 2 when R is methyl. These sulfoxides are useful as suds-stabilizing additives. As intermediates for the preparation of sulfoxides that are useful as suds-stabilizing additives, there are also disclosed the compound do...