Compositions for cleaning with softened water

Abstract

A composition for cleaning with a washing system comprising from about 15% to about 75% of at least one surfactant; from about 0.01% to about 10% of at least one enzyme; less than about 1% builder, and less than about 1% chelant.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of EP Patent Application No. 04252837.2, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252849.7, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252846.3, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252838.0, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252853.9, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252851.3, filed May 17, 2004, EP Patent Application No. 04252845.5 and U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 967,757, filed Oct. 18, 2004. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Compositions for cleaning laundry as well as other substrates are well known in the art. There are cleaning compositions for cleaning items ranging from dishes to laundry and around the home use. While such cleaning compositions have nearly become ubiquitous, cleaning compositions still suffer from inadequacies, particularly toward stubborn stains and / or soils. [0003] Hard water, or water containing high concentrations of mi...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While such cleaning compositions have nearly become ubiquitous, cleaning compositions still suffer from inadequacies, particularly toward stubborn stains and / or soils.

Hard water, or water containing high concentrations of minerals such as calcium, has been a problem for consumers.

Problems associated with having hard water include decreased cleaning efficiency, hard water staining of materials, and poor water taste.

While the problems associated with hard water are well known, solutions to these problems have been elusive.

While ion exchange devices are capable of softening water, they do not do so without imparting their own unique problems.

Ion exchange devices require large amounts of salts.

Also these salts are delivered to wastewater plants, where these salts can be difficult to remove.

Although there have been attempts at providing a softened water for use by a consumer, cleaning compositions for use in the softened water are lacking.

While these compositions are useful for cleaning in hard water environments, they prove to be inadequately designed for soft water environments.

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