Stable liquid detergents

Abstract

A liquid surfactant-containing agent for cleaning and / or caring for textiles, which contains 1,2-octanediol, is germ-resistant even without the addition of conventional preservatives and has a textile softening effect.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a liquid surfactant-containing agent for cleaning and / or caring for textiles, containing 1,2-octanediol, its use as a softening, antimicrobial detergent, a method for cleaning and / or caring for textiles in which this agent is used, and the use of 1,2-octanediol in liquid detergents to prevent or reduce microbial contamination and as a softening component.

[0002] Liquid detergents are widely used and popular among consumers due to their convenient dosage and handling. However, they are prone to bacterial growth. To prevent this, preservatives are added to liquid detergents, which have a stabilizing effect through their antimicrobial properties. Consumers, especially those with sensitive skin or allergies, prefer products with low or no sensitizing potential. Since some common preservatives can be sensitizing, there has been a desire to remove such preservatives from formulations or replace them with less risky substances.

[0003] Furthermore, consumers desire that their washed laundry feels as soft as possible. However, many consumers, especially those with sensitive skin, avoid using conventional fabric softeners. A detergent that would give laundry greater softness even without the usual fabric softener ingredients was therefore desirable.

[0004] The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a microbiologically stable liquid textile detergent in which no conventional preservatives are required and which simultaneously meets the requirements for cleanliness and softness of the washed laundry.

[0005] Surprisingly, it was found that by adding 1,2-octanediol, the microbiological resistance of a liquid textile detergent is improved to such an extent that the use of conventional preservatives can be dispensed with, and at the same time the washed laundry becomes significantly softer.

[0006] The present problem was therefore solved by a liquid surfactant-containing agent for cleaning and / or caring for textiles, characterized in that it contains 1,2-octanediol.

[0007] The product can be used for washing textiles. Therefore, a further subject of this application is a method for cleaning and / or caring for textiles using this product.

[0008] Other subjects of this application include the use of 1,2-octanediol in detergents to reduce or prevent bacterial growth and to improve the softness of laundry.

[0009] These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the person skilled in the art upon studying the following detailed description and claims. Each feature from one aspect of the invention can be incorporated into any other aspect of the invention. Furthermore, it is understood that the examples contained herein are intended to describe and illustrate the invention, but do not limit it, and in particular, the invention is not limited to these examples.

[0010] Unless otherwise stated, all percentages are weight percentages based on the total weight of the agent / composition.

[0011] Numeric ranges specified in the format "from x to y" include the stated values. If multiple preferred numeric ranges are specified in this format, it is understood that all ranges resulting from the combination of the different endpoints are also included.

[0012] "At least one," as used herein, refers to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more. In the context of components of the compositions described herein, this term refers not to the absolute quantity of molecules but to the type of component. "At least one anionic surfactant," for example, means one or more different anionic surfactants, i.e., one or more different types of anionic surfactants. When used in conjunction with quantity specifications, these quantities refer to the total amount of the appropriately designated type of component.

[0013] The composition according to the invention contains 1,2-octanediol. This diol is also known by the trivial name caprylyl glycol and is commercially available, among other things, under the trade name Yesteem 85. The composition according to the invention contains 1,2-octanediol in an amount of 0.1 to 3% by weight, preferably in an amount of 0.5 to 2% by weight, and particularly preferably in an amount of 1.5% by weight, based on the composition.

[0014] Furthermore, the agent according to the invention preferably contains one or more surfactants, preferably selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, non-ionic surfactants, amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.

[0015] Examples of anionic surfactants that can be used in accordance with this application include linear or branched alkylbenzenesulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, ether carboxylates, secondary alkanesulfonates, sulfosuccinates, taurides, isethionates or rhamnolipids.

[0016] Sulfonate-type surfactants are particularly preferred as anionic surfactants. Suitable examples include C9-13 alkylbenzenesulfonates, olefinsulfonates (i.e., mixtures of alkene and hydroxyalkanesulfonates), and disulfonates, such as those obtained from C12-18 monoolefins with terminal or internal double bonds by sulfonation with gaseous sulfur trioxide and subsequent alkaline or acidic hydrolysis of the sulfonation products. Also suitable are C12-18 alkanesulfonates and the esters of α-sulfofetic acids (estersulfonates), for example, the α-sulfonated methyl esters of hydrogenated coconut, palm kernel, or tallow fatty acids.

[0017] Other preferred anionic surfactants include fatty alcohol sulfates (also known as alk(en)yl sulfates). These include the alkali and, in particular, the sodium salts of the sulfuric acid half-esters of C12-C18 fatty alcohols, for example, coconut fatty alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, or stearyl alcohol, or C10-C20 oxo alcohols, and those half-esters of secondary alcohols of these chain lengths. For detergent applications, C12-C16 alkyl sulfates, C12-C15 alkyl sulfates, and C14-C15 alkyl sulfates are preferred. 2,3-Alkyl sulfates are also suitable anionic surfactants.

[0018] Suitable anionic surfactants also include alkyl ether sulfates of the formula R 1< -O-(AO) n -SO 3 -< X +<

[0019] In this formula, R< represents a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, preferably a fatty alcohol group. Preferred R< groups are selected from decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl, and eicosyl groups and mixtures thereof, with those having an even number of carbon atoms being preferred. Particularly preferred R< groups are derived from C<8-C<18 fatty alcohols, for example, coconut fatty alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, or stearyl alcohol, with C12-14 fatty alcohols being particularly preferred. AO represents an ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide (PO) group, preferably an ethylene oxide group. The index n represents an integer from 1 to 50, preferably from 1 to 20 and particularly from 2 to 10. Most preferably, n represents the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.X represents a monovalent cation or the nth part of an n-valent cation, preferably the alkali metal ions, including Na⁺ or K⁺, with Na⁺ being most preferred. A C₁₂-₁₄ alkyl ether sulfate with 2 EO is particularly preferred.

[0020] Preferably, the composition according to the invention also contains soaps. Soaps are salts of linear or branched, saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated C8-22 carboxylic acids. In a preferred embodiment, these are linear, saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated C8-22 carboxylic acids, particularly preferably linear, saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated C8-18 carboxylic acids, and especially linear, saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated C12-18 carboxylic acids. Examples of suitable saturated and unsaturated fatty acid soaps are the salts of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, (hydrogenated) erucic acid, and behenic acid, as well as, in particular, soap mixtures derived from natural fatty acids, for example, coconut, palm kernel, olive oil, or tallow fatty acids.

[0021] Anionic surfactants can exist in the form of their sodium, potassium, magnesium, or ammonium salts. Protonated forms of choline, triethylamine, monoethanolamine, or methylethylamine are also suitable as counterions for anionic surfactants.

[0022] Preferably, the liquid textile detergent contains anionic surfactants in an amount of 5 to 50 wt.%, preferably 5 to 30 wt.%, based on the product.

[0023] Suitable non-ionic surfactants include, for example, fatty alcohol alkoxylates, alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, fatty acid amides, alkoxylated fatty acid amides, polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, amine oxides, alkyl polyglycosides, sophorolipids, mannosyl erythritol lipids and mixtures thereof.

[0024] Preferably, alkoxylated, advantageously ethoxylated and / or propoxylated, and preferably ethoxylated, primary alcohols with preferably 8 to 22 carbon atoms and an average of 1 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide (EO) per mole of alcohol are used as nonionic surfactants. The alcohol residue may be linear or, preferably, methyl-branched at the 2-position, or the mixture may contain both linear and methyl-branched residues, as is commonly found in oxo alcohol residues. However, alcohol ethoxylates with linear residues derived from native alcohols with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, for example, from coconut, palm, tallow, or oleyl alcohol, and an average of 2 to 8 moles of EO per mole of alcohol are particularly preferred.Preferred ethoxylated alcohols include, for example, C 12-14 alcohols with 3 EO or 4 EO, C 8-11 alcohol with 7 EO, C 13-15 alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO, 7 EO or 8 EO, C 12-18 alcohols with 3 EO, 5 EO or 7 EO and mixtures of these, such as mixtures of C 12-14 alcohol with 3 EO and C 12-18 alcohol with 5 EO.

[0025] The fatty alcohol alkoxylates preferably conform to the following formula, R'-O-(EO)m-H, where R' represents a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted C8-C22 alkyl group, EO is an ethylene oxide group, and m is an integer from 1 to 50, preferably 2 to 20, and preferably 2 to 10. In particular, m is 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.

[0026] Preferred residues R' are selected from decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, and nonadecyl residues and mixtures thereof, with those having an even number of carbon atoms being preferred. Particularly preferred residues R' are derived from fatty alcohols with 12 to 19 carbon atoms, for example, coconut fatty alcohol, tallow fatty alcohol, lauryl, myristyl, cetyl, or stearyl alcohol, or from oxo alcohols with 10 to 19 carbon atoms.

[0027] Mixtures of fatty alcohol ethoxylates with different alkyl chain lengths and degrees of ethoxylation can also be used. Particularly preferred are fatty alcohols with 10 to 18 carbon atoms and 7 EO. Such fatty alcohol ethoxylates are available under the trade names Dehydol®< LT7 (BASF), Lutensol®< AO7 (BASF), Lutensol®< M7 (BASF), and Neodol®< 45-7 (Shell Chemicals).

[0028] Furthermore, the liquid textile detergent can contain amine oxide as a nonionic surfactant. In principle, all amine oxides established in the prior art for this purpose can be used, i.e., compounds having the formula R1, R2, R3, NO, where each R1, R2, and R3 is, independently of the others, an optionally substituted hydrocarbon chain with 1 to 30 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred are amine oxides in which R1 is an alkyl chain with 12 to 18 carbon atoms and R2 and R3 are each independently alkyl chains with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, especially alkyldimethylamine oxides with 12 to 18 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable amine oxides are N-cocosalkyl-N,N-dimethylamine oxide, N-tallowalkyl-N,N-dihydroxyethylamine oxide, myristyl / cetyldimethylamine oxide, and lauryldimethylamine oxide.

[0029] Suitable nonionic surfactants include, for example, alkyl glycosides of the general formula RO(G) x, where R corresponds to a primary straight-chain or methyl-branched, particularly 2-position methyl-branched, aliphatic residue with 8 to 22, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, and G is the symbol representing a glucose unit with 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. The degree of oligomerization x, which indicates the distribution of monoglycosides and oligoglycosides, is any number between 1 and 10; preferably, x is between 1.2 and 1.4.

[0030] Other suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylated, preferably ethoxylated or ethoxylated and propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, preferably with 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, polyol fatty acid esters, alkoxylated triglycerides, hydroxy mixed ethers, sorbitan fatty acid esters and adsorption products of ethylene oxide to sorbitan fatty acid esters such as polysorbates, sugar fatty acid esters and adsorption products of ethylene oxide to sugar fatty acid esters, adsorption products of ethylene oxide to fatty acid alkanolamides and fatty amines, fatty acid N-alkylglucamides, as well as biosurfactants such as sophorolipids or mannosyl erythritol lipids (MEL) can also be used as nonionic surfactants.

[0031] Preferably, the liquid textile detergent contains non-ionic surfactants in an amount of 5 to 50 wt.%, preferably 5 to 30 wt.%, based on the product.

[0032] Zwitterionic or amphoteric surfactants can also be used, for example betaines, sulfobetaines or amphoacetates.

[0033] Cationic surfactants can also be used, such as quaternary ammonium compounds, in particular esterquats. In a preferred embodiment, however, the liquid textile detergent is free of cationic surfactants.

[0034] The liquid product preferably contains water. Non-aqueous, organic solvents may also be added. Suitable non-aqueous solvents include mono- or polyhydric alcohols, alkanolamines, or glycol ethers, provided they are miscible with water within the specified concentration range.Preferably, the solvents are selected from ethanol, n-propanol, i-propanol, butanols, glycol, propanediol, butanediol, methylpropanediol, glycerin, diglycyl, propyldiglycol, butyldiglycyl, hexylene glycol, ethylene glycol methyl ether, ethylene glycol ethyl ether, ethylene glycol propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethyl ether, propylene glycol propyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, methoxytriglycol, ethoxytriglycol, butoxytriglycol, 1-butoxyethoxy-2-propanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, propylene glycol t-butyl ether, di-n-octyl ether, and mixtures of these solvents. An alcohol, especially ethanol and / or glycerin, is particularly preferred.

[0035] To further improve the stability of the composition, solubilizers, also known as hydrotropes, can be used. The term "hydrotrope," as used in connection with the present invention, refers to additives or solvents that increase the water solubility of sparingly soluble (hydrophobic) organic compounds. A second component (i.e., the hydrotrope) is added to the sparingly soluble substance, but this hydrotrope is not itself a solvent. Such hydrotropes have hydrophilic and hydrophobic structural units (like surfactants), but (unlike surfactants) do not tend to form aggregates in water. In various embodiments, these hydrotropes have no micelle-forming activity, or the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is greater than 10⁻⁴ mol / L, preferably greater than 10⁻³ mol / L, and even more preferably 10⁻² mol / L.The "critical micelle formation concentration," in accordance with the general understanding in the prior art, is the concentration of the substance above which it begins to form micelles and any further molecule added to the system is converted into micelles. The hydrotropes used typically have a molecular weight < 10,000 g / mol, preferably < 2,500 g / mol, more preferably < 1,000 g / mol, and most preferably < 500 g / mol. They can be selected, for example, from short-chain mono-, di-, tri-, tetra- or penta-alkylbenzenesulfonates, in particular C 1-6 alkylbenzenesulfonates, wherein the alkyl groups may be linear or branched, including but not limited to cumenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate and / or xylenesulfonate, as well as butyl glycol, propylene glycol, 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol, 2,2-dimethyl-4-hydroxymethyl-1,2-dioxolane, propylene carbonate, butyl lactate, 2-isobutyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol or mixtures thereof.

[0036] To adjust the desired pH value, system- and environmentally compatible acids, in particular citric acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, amino acids such as glycine, glutamic acid, arginine and / or aspartic acid, glycolic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, salicylic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid and / or adipic acid, but optionally also mineral acids, in particular sulfuric acid, or bases, in particular ammonium or alkali hydroxides, can be added to the agent according to the invention, provided that this pH value does not result from the mixture of the other components.

[0037] It is further preferred that the liquid textile detergent contains only a limited amount of conventional ingredients that act as preservatives and is preferably free of preservatives. Conventional preservatives include, in particular, 2H-isothiazol-3-one derivatives (isothiazoles and their derivatives). Other preservatives commonly used in liquid textile detergents are antimicrobial agents from the group consisting of antimicrobial peptides, benzyl alcohol, formaldehyde-containing preservatives, phthalimides, benzalkonium chloride, benzoic acid, phenoxyethanol, or mixtures thereof. According to the invention, it is preferred that these ingredients acting as preservatives are present in an amount of less than 0.5% by weight, and particularly preferably less than 0.1% by weight, in the composition according to the invention. It is especially preferred that the liquid textile detergent is free of these ingredients.Within the scope of this invention, this means that ingredients other than preservatives are neither added as a separate ingredient nor introduced into the claimed composition via preparations of further ingredients, such as in quantities of up to 0.01 or up to 0.001 wt.% based on the total mass of the composition.

[0038] A preferred subject matter is therefore a liquid textile detergent as described in this application, which does not contain an antimicrobial active ingredient from the group consisting of antimicrobial peptides, benzyl alcohol, formaldehyde-containing preservatives, isothiazoles and their derivatives, phthalimides, benzalkonium chloride, benzoic acid, phenoxyethanol or mixtures thereof.

[0039] According to the invention, it is preferred that the liquid textile detergent contains at least one further active ingredient, preferably selected from the group comprising enzymes, builders, bleaching agents, bleach activators, electrolytes, pH adjusters, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescent agents, dyes, foam inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents, graying inhibitors, shrinkage inhibitors, anti-crease agents, color transfer inhibitors, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, antistatic agents, bittering agents, ironing aids, phobic and impregnating agents, skin conditioning agents, swelling and slip-resistant agents, softening components and UV absorbers.

[0040] The liquid textile detergent may contain one or more enzymes. In principle, all enzymes established in the prior art for this purpose can be used. Preferably, the enzymes are one or more that can exert catalytic activity in a detergent, in particular a protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, hemicellulase, mannanase, pectin-splitting enzyme, tannase, xylanase, xanthanase, β-glucosidase, carrageenase, perhydrolase, oxidase, oxidoreductase, hexosaminidase, and mixtures thereof. Preferred hydrolytic enzymes include, in particular, proteases, amylases (especially α-amylases), cellulases, lipases, hemicellulases (especially pectinases), mannanases, β-glucanases, and mixtures thereof. Enzymes selected from the group comprising amylases, proteases, cellulases, mannanases and lipases, as well as mixtures thereof, are particularly preferred.These enzymes are essentially of natural origin; based on the natural molecules, improved versions are available for use in detergents and are therefore preferred. The enzymes can be adsorbed onto carrier substances and / or embedded in coating materials to protect them against premature inactivation. The enzymes used can also be combined with accompanying substances, such as those from fermentation, or with stabilizers.

[0041] According to the invention, it is preferred that the liquid textile detergent has at least one enzyme, particularly preferably one or more enzymes preferably selected from the group comprising amylases, proteases, cellulases, mannanases, lipases and mixtures thereof.

[0042] A textile detergent according to the invention preferably contains at least one water-soluble and / or water-insoluble, organic and / or inorganic builder. Water-soluble organic building blocks include polycarboxylic acids, especially citric acid and sugar acids; monomeric and polymeric aminopolycarboxylic acids and their salts, especially glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA); iminodisuccinates such as ethylenediamine N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) and hydroxyiminodisuccinates (HIDS); ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); polyaspartic acid; polyphosphonic acids, especially aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid), ethylenediaminetetrakis(methylenephosphonic acid), lysinetetra(methylenephosphonic acid), and 1-hydroxyethane 1,1-diphosphonic acid; polymeric hydroxy compounds such as dextrin; and polymeric (poly)carboxylic acids, especially polycarboxylates accessible through the oxidation of polysaccharides, and polymeric acrylic acids.Methacrylic acids, maleic acids, and copolymers thereof, which may also contain small amounts of polymerizable substances without carboxylic acid functionality. The relative mean molecular weight of the homopolymers of unsaturated carboxylic acids is generally between 5,000 g / mol and 200,000 g / mol, and that of the copolymers between 2,000 g / mol and 200,000 g / mol, preferably 50,000 g / mol to 120,000 g / mol, in each case based on free acid. A particularly preferred acrylic acid-maleic acid copolymer has a relative mean molecular weight of 50,000 to 100,000. Suitable, though less preferred, compounds of this class are copolymers of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with vinyl ethers, such as vinyl methyl ethers, vinyl esters, ethylene, propylene, and styrene, in which the acid content is at least 50% by weight. Terpolymers can also be used as water-soluble organic builder substances.which contain as monomers two unsaturated acids and / or their salts, and as a third monomer vinyl alcohol and / or a vinyl alcohol derivative or a carbohydrate.

[0043] Suitable water-soluble inorganic builder materials include polyphosphates, preferably sodium triphosphate, as well as water-soluble crystalline and / or amorphous alkali silicate builders. In a preferred embodiment, however, the textile detergents according to the invention are phosphate-free.

[0044] Water-insoluble inorganic builder materials, particularly crystalline or amorphous, water-dispersible alkali aluminosilicates, are used. Among these, crystalline sodium aluminosilicates of detergent quality, especially zeolite A, zeolite P, zeolite MAP, and optionally zeolite X, are preferred.

[0045] Bleaching agents can be any substance that destroys or absorbs dyes through oxidation, reduction, or adsorption, thereby decolorizing materials. These include, among others, hypohalite-containing bleaching agents, hydrogen peroxide, perborate, percarbonate, peroxoacetic acid, diperoxoazelic acid, diperoxododecanedioic acid, and oxidative enzyme systems.

[0046] Anti-graying agents serve to keep the dirt detached from textile fibers suspended in the cleaning solution. Water-soluble colloids, mostly of organic origin, are suitable for this purpose, such as starch, glue, gelatin, salts of ethercarboxylic or ethersulfonic acids of starch or cellulose, or salts of acidic sulfuric acid esters of cellulose or starch. Water-soluble polyamides containing acidic groups are also suitable. Furthermore, starch derivatives other than those mentioned above can be used, for example, aldehyde starches. Cellulose ethers, such as carboxymethylcellulose (sodium salt), methylcellulose, hydroxyalkylcellulose, and mixed ethers, such as methylhydroxyethylcellulose, methylhydroxypropylcellulose, methylcarboxymethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof, are preferred.

[0047] Furthermore, the product may contain dirt-removing polymers or soil release polymers (SRPs). SRPs available in particular include oligoesters of preferably terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, sulfoisophthalic acid and / or their methyl esters, aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (saturated and / or unsaturated), for example, adipic acid, and / or their anhydrides, aliphatic substituted dicarboxylic acids, for example, nonyl succinic acid, alkylene glycols (ethylene, 1,2-propylene, 1,2-butylene glycol), polyethylene glycols, alkyl polyethylene glycols, polyethylene glycol sulfobenzoic acid esters, polyethylene glycol sulfobenzoic acid esters, and optionally alkanolamines. Terephthalate-PEG-based polymers, such as those commercially available under the trade name Texcare®, are preferred. Alternatively, (co)polymers based on polyethyleneimine, polyvinyl acetate and polyethylene glycol can also be used.

[0048] Suitable dirt-removing polymers are generally already sufficiently known from the prior art. In particular, all polymers known from the prior art for this purpose can therefore be used.

[0049] To effectively suppress dye transfer and / or dye transfer to other textiles during washing and / or cleaning of dyed textiles, the composition according to the invention can contain a dye transfer inhibitor (DTI). It is preferred that the dye transfer inhibitor is a polymer or copolymer of cyclic amines such as vinylpyrrolidone and / or vinylimidazole. Suitable polymers include polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinylimidazole (PVI), copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and vinylimidazole (PVP / PVI), polyvinylpyridine N-oxide, poly-N-carboxymethyl-4-vinylpyridium chloride, and mixtures thereof. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinylimidazole (PVI), or copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone and vinylimidazole (PVP / PVI) are particularly preferred as the dye transfer inhibitor.

[0050] Polycarboxylates are particularly suitable as anti-reposition agents. Appropriate materials can be prepared by the polymerization or copolymerization of unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers, such as acrylic acid, maleic acid (or anhydride), fumaric acid, itaconic acid, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, citraconic acid, and methylmalonic acid. Acrylate polymers and acrylic / maleic acid copolymers are especially preferred.

[0051] Textile detergents can contain optical brighteners such as derivatives of diaminostilbene disulfonic acid or its alkali metal salts. However, color detergents are preferably free of optical brighteners. Suitable examples include salts of 4,4'-bis(2-anilino-4-morpholino-1,3,5-triazinyl-6-amino)stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid or similarly structured compounds that, instead of the morpholino group, bear a diethanolamino group, a methylamino group, an anilino group, or a 2-methoxyethylamino group. Furthermore, optical brighteners of the substituted diphenylstyryl type may be present, for example, the alkali salts of 4,4'-bis(2-sulfostyryl)diphenyl, 4,4'-bis(4-chloro-3-sulfostyryl)diphenyl, or 4-(4-chlorostyryl)-4'-(2-sulfostyryl)diphenyl. Mixtures of the aforementioned optical brighteners may also be used.

[0052] Particularly when used in automated processes, it can be advantageous to add common foam inhibitors to textile detergents. Suitable foam inhibitors include, for example, soaps of natural or synthetic origin that have a high proportion of C18-C24 fatty acids. Suitable non-surfactant foam inhibitors include, for example, organopolysiloxanes and their mixtures with microfine, optionally silanized silica, as well as paraffins, waxes, microcrystalline waxes, and their mixtures with silanized silica or bis-fatty acid alkylenediamides. Mixtures of different foam inhibitors, such as those of silicones, paraffins, or waxes, are also advantageously used. Preferably, the foam inhibitors, especially silicone- and / or paraffin-containing foam inhibitors, are bound to a granular, water-soluble or dispersible carrier substance.In particular, mixtures of paraffins and bistearylethylenediamide are preferred.

[0053] Another subject of the invention is a method for cleaning and / or caring for textiles, comprising the following process steps: a) Providing a washing solution comprising a liquid surfactant-containing agent according to the invention, b) Bringing a textile into contact with the washing solution according to a).

[0054] Another aspect of the invention is the use of 1,2-octanediol in liquid detergents to reduce or prevent microbial contamination.

[0055] Another subject of the invention is the use of caprylic acid in liquid detergents as a softening component.

[0056] Another object of the invention is the use of a liquid surfactant-containing agent according to the invention as a softening, antimicrobial detergent. Examples

[0057] Two liquid detergent formulations were produced, the compositions of which can be found in the following table; all quantities are given in wt.% active ingredient. A B Fatty alcohol ether sulfate 4,459 4,459 Alkylbenzenesulfonic acid 4,015 4,015 Fatty alcohol ethoxylate 4,958 4,958 C12-18 fatty acid 0,234 0,234 Sodium cumenesulfonate 0,74 0,74 1,2-Octanediol 1,5 0,5 citric acid 1,258 1,258 Sodium hydroxide 1,269 1,269 Optical brightener + + Perfume + + dye + + Enzymes + + Water ad 100% ad 100%

[0058] The enzymes used were protease, amylase, mannanase and cellulase. Testing of antimicrobial efficacy:

[0059] A preservative challenge test was performed on the preparations. For this purpose, samples of each preparation were inoculated with various microorganisms, and the decrease in microbial count was determined at defined time intervals. The microorganisms used were essentially the standard microorganisms required by the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) and other international standards. The cultivation conditions, testing intervals, and evaluation intervals were also based on the Ph. Eur.

[0060] The results are shown in the following two tables: a) Bacteria: The samples were each treated with a bacterial suspension containing 2,000,000 cfu / g (cfu = colony-forming units), and the bacterial counts in the samples were determined after 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. Time interval A B 7 days 670 cfu / g >1000 cfu / g 14 days <50 cfu / g >1000 cfu / g 21 days <50 cfu / g >1000 cfu / g 28 days <50 cfu / g - 35 days <50 cfu / g - b) Fungi: The samples were each treated with a fungal suspension containing 450,000 cfu / g, and the bacterial counts in the samples were determined after 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. Time interval A B 7 days <50 cfu / g <50 cfu / g 14 days <50 cfu / g <50 cfu / g 21 days <50 cfu / g <50 cfu / g 28 days <50 cfu / g - 35 days <50 cfu / g -

[0061] In principle, a test is considered passed if the bacterial count is reduced by 4 to 5 log units and the fungal count by 2 to 3 log units after 28 days. The lower the bacterial count, the better the effectiveness of a preservative.

[0062] It was found that formulation B, containing only 0.5 wt% 1,2-octanediol, already exhibited very good efficacy against fungi, while its performance against bacteria was unsatisfactory. In contrast, formulation A, with a 1.5 wt% 1,2-octanediol content, showed very good antimicrobial efficacy against both fungi and bacteria.

[0063] In a further experiment, compositions containing 0.5, 1.5, and 2.0 wt% 1,2-octanediol were compared in pairs with regard to their efficacy. The best results were achieved with 1.5 wt%.

[0064] In washing tests, it was also found that textiles washed with the liquid surfactant-containing agent according to the invention had a softer feel than those washed with a corresponding agent without 1,2-octanediol.

Claims

1. Liquid surfactant-containing agent for cleaning and / or caring for textiles, characterized by the fact that It contains 1,2-octanediol.

2. Liquid surfactant-containing agent according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it contains 1-2 octanediol in an amount of 0.1 to 3 wt.%, preferably in an amount of 0.5 to 2 wt.%, particularly preferably in an amount of 1.5 wt.%, based on the agent.

3. Liquid surfactant-containing agent according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that It contains 5 to 50 wt.%, preferably 5 to 30 wt.% anionic surfactants, based on the product.

4. Liquid surfactant-containing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that It contains 2.5 to 25 wt.%, preferably 2.5 to 15 wt.% non-ionic surfactants, based on the product.

5. Liquid surfactant-containing agent according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that It is free of preservatives.

6. Liquid surfactant-containing agent according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it contains at least one further active ingredient, preferably selected from the group comprising enzymes, builders, bleaching agents, bleach activators, electrolytes, pH adjusters, perfumes, perfume carriers, fluorescent agents, dyes, foam inhibitors, anti-redeposition agents, anti-graying inhibitors, shrinkage inhibitors, anti-crease agents, color transfer inhibitors, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, antistatic agents, bittering agents, ironing aids, phobic and impregnating agents, skin conditioning agents, swelling and sliding agents, plasticizing components and UV absorbers.

7. A method for cleaning and / or caring for textiles comprising the process steps of: a) providing a washing solution comprising a liquid surfactant-containing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 6, b) bringing a textile into contact with the washing solution according to a).

8. Use of 1,2-octanediol in liquid detergents to reduce or prevent microbial contamination.

9. Use of 1,2-octanediol in liquid detergents as a softening component.

10. Use of a liquid surfactant-containing agent according to any one of claims 1 to 6 as a softening, antimicrobial detergent.

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