Fabric softener and soil-release composition and method

Abstract

Liquid fabric softener and anti-soiling composition containing a cationic fabric softener and an hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose or alkyl cellulose anti-soiling agent in an aqueous vehicle; and a method of simultaneously imparting softening and anti-soiling properties to textile materials which comprises rinsing laundered textiles in an aqueous bath of said composition.

Parent Case Text

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 344,389, filed Mar. 23, 1973, now abandoned entitled "Fabric Softener and Soil-release Composition and Method", inventors: Robert Dwight Temple; Vincent Paul Heuring; and James Bruce Prentice.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to fabric conditioning compositions and to a method of conditioning textile materials. More particularly, it relates to compositions adapted to the provision of fabric softening and anti-soiling properties and useful in the repetitious but generally discontinuous laundering process which involves soiling, laundering, rinsing, soiling, etc.

The use of various chemical agents to provide textile materials with a variety of fabric surface modifications has been known in the art. A fabric modification of universal preference and of widespread practice in home laundering operations has been the improvement of the softness or "hand" of laundered textiles. Fabric softening compositions useful for this purpose have for the most part been liquid fabric softener compositions containing in a water vehicle a quaternary ammonium salt component having an affinity for negatively-charged fibers and having at least one long chain alkyl moiety of from 16 to 20 carbon atoms. These compositions have been largely adapted for use in the final rinsing bath of the home laundering process. It has been found that the treatment of textile materials in such manner improves the softness or feel of the treated fabrics, prolongs the useful life of the textile materials and reduces the tendency of the fabrics to accumulate electrical charges.

While the inclusion of other fabric conditioning agents, such as anti-soiling agents, into known softener compositions for the simultaneous provision of additional fabric conditioning effects is frequently desirable, such inclusion is often at the expense of one or more of the desirable attributes of these softener compositions. For example, certain polymeric materials useful in providing treated textiles with improved anti-soiling properties are incompatible with liquid fabric softening compositions to the extent that their inclusion contributes to undesirable thickening or viscosity increases. High viscosity in such compositions tends to make the compositions difficultly pourable and decreases ready solubility of the compositions in a fabric rinsing bath.

It is an object of this invention to provide compositions useful for imparting softness and anti-soiling properties to treated fabrics.

It is another object of this invention to provide fabric softener compositions which contain an anti-soiling agent and which are characterized by desirable viscosity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method whereby fabrics can be effectively softened and rendered anti-soiling by treatment in a laundry rinsing operation.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the description appearing hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based in part upon the discovery that fabrics can be improved in feel by treating the fabrics in an aqueous rinsing bath containing a cationic fabric softening agent and a minor amount of an hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose or alkyl cellulose anti-soiling agent. In its composition aspect, the present invention provides an aqueous fabric softener composition consisting essentially of

A. from 2% to 15% of a cation-active fabric softening compound having from one to two straight chain organic groups of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms;

B. from 0.1% to 10% of an anti-soiling agent selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose and alkyl cellulose where each alkyl has from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, said anti-soiling agent having a viscosity of less than about 400 centipoises as determined at a 2% by weight concentration in water and at 20.degree.C;

C. from 0 to about 2% of an emulsifier selected from the group consisting of (1) the condensation product of one mole of alkylphenol wherein the alkyl chain contains from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms with from about one to about 100 moles of ethylene oxide, (2) the condensation product of one mole of an aliphatic alcohol wherein the alkyl chain contains from about 10 to about 24 carbon atoms with from about one to about 100 moles of ethylene oxide, (3) polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of from about 1400 to about 30,000, and (4) mixtures thereof; and

D. the balance water.

In its method aspect, the present invention provides a method of simultaneously imparting softening and anti-soiling properties to washed textiles which comprises treating previously-washed textiles in an aqueous rinsing bath containing minor but effective amounts of a cation-active fabric softening agent having from one to two straight chain organic groups of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms and an anti-soiling agent as hereinbefore defined.

The compositions of this invention provide fabric-softening properties to treated textiles and anti-soiling effects by the application of anti-soiling agent, e.g., hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, onto the treated fabrics from an aqueous rinsing bath of a laundering process. The compositions are sufficiently fluid as to permit ready measurement, pouring and dispersibility in water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The cation-active organic fabric-softener compounds, which are the principal fabric-softening components of the compositions of the invention, are known fabric-softening compounds. Generally, these comprise cationic nitrogen-containing compounds such as quaternary ammonium compounds and amines and have one or two straight-chain organic groups of at least eight carbon atoms. Preferably, they have one or two such groups of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms. Preferred cation-active softener compounds include the quaternary ammonium softener compounds corresponding to the formula ##EQU1## wherein R is hydrogen or an aliphatic group of from 1 to 22 carbons; R.sub.1 is an aliphatic group having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms; and X is an anion selected from halogen, acetate phosphate, nitrate and methyl sulfate radicals.

Because of their excellent softening efficacy and ready availability, preferred cationic softener compounds of the invention are the dialkyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides, wherein the alkyl groups have from 12 to 22 carbon atoms and are derived from long-chain fatty acids, such as hydrogenated tallow. As employed herein, alkyl is intended as including unsaturated compounds such as are present in alkyl groups derived from naturally occurring fatty oils. The term "tallow" refers to fatty alkyl groups derived from tallow fatty acids. Such fatty acids give rise to quaternary softener compounds wherein R and R.sub.1 have predominantly from 16 to 18 carbon atoms. The term "coconut" refers to fatty acid groups from coconut oil fatty acids. The coconut-alkyl R and R.sub.1 groups have from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms and predominate in C.sub.12 to C.sub.14 alkyl groups. Representative examples of quaternary softeners of the invention include tallow trimethyl ammonium chloride; ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride; ditallow dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate; dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium chloride; dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; dieicosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; didocosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate; dihexadecyl diethyl ammonium chloride; dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium acetate; ditallow dipropyl ammonium phosphate; ditallow dimethyl ammonium nitrate; di(coconutalkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride.

An especially preferred class of quaternary ammonium softeners of the invention corresponds to the formula ##EQU2## wherein R and R.sub.1 are each straight chain aliphatic groups of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms and X is halogen, e.g., chloride. Especially preferred are ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, di(hydrogenated tallow-alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride and di(coconut-alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride, these compounds being preferred from the standpoint of excellent softening properties and ready availability.

Suitable cation-active amine softener compounds are the primary, secondary and tertiary amine compounds having at least one straight-chain organic group of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms and 1,3-propylene diamine compounds having a straight-chain organic group of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms. Examples of such softener actives include primary tallow amine; primary hydrogenated-tallow amine; tallow 1,3-propylene diamine; oleyl 1,3-propylene diamine; coconut 1,3-propylene diamine; soya 1,3-propylene diamine and the like.

Other suitable cation-active softener compounds herein are the quaternary imidazolinium salts. Preferred salts are those conforming to the formula ##EQU3## wherein R.sub.6 is an alkyl containing from 1 to 4, preferably from 1 to 2, carbon atoms, R.sub.5 is an alkyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a hydrogen radical, R.sub.7 is an alkyl containing from 8 to 22, preferably at least 15, carbon atoms, R.sub.8 is hydrogen or an alkyl containing from 1 to 22, preferably at least 15, carbon atoms, and X is an anion, preferably methyl sulfate or chloride ions. Other suitable anions include those disclosed with reference to the cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softeners described hereinbefore. Particularly preferred are those imidazolinium compounds in which both R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 are alkyls of from 12 to 22 carbon atoms, e.g., 1-methyl-1-[(stearoylamide)ethyl]-2-heptadecyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium methyl sulfate; 1-methyl-1-[(palmitoylamide)ethyl]-2-octadecyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolinium chloride.

Other cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softeners, which are useful herein include, for example, alkyl (C.sub.12 to C.sub.22)-pyridinium chlorides, alkyl (C.sub.12 to C.sub.22)-alkyl (C.sub.1 to C.sub.3)-morpholinium chlorides, and quaternary derivatives of amino acids and amino esters.

The cationic fabric softeners mentioned above can be used singly or in combination in the practice of the present invention. The cationic fabric softener comprises from about 2% to about 15% by weight of the total composition. If more than about 15% is used, product stability problems may occur, e.g., thickening and the possible formation of an undesired gel and if less than about 2% is used, the softener will be too dilute and desired softening of the fabrics will not be achieved when conventional amounts of the composition are added to the wash water. Within the above range, the actual amount of fabric softener which is contained in the composition depends upon the desired usage concentration of the composition in a laundering process. A desired concentration of the fabric softener in the rinsing solution is from about 25 ppm to about 100 ppm. To achieve the desired results of the present invention the preferred range of cationic fabric softener in the rinsing solution is from about 35 ppm to about 80 ppm. To achieve the desired results of the present invention the preferred range of cationic fabric softener is from about 2.5% to about 6% by weight of the total composition.

The anti-soiling agents suitable for use in the compositions of the present invention include hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose and alkyl cellulose where the alkyl in each instance has from 1 to 3 carbon atoms. These anti-soiling agents are derived from cellulose and can be described as cellulose having substituent groups on the hydroxyls of the anhydroglucose units. The basic structure of cellulose which forms the backbone of the antisoiling agents of the invention may be depicted as follows, wherein n is a finite number: ##SPC1##

The number of substituent groups of the hydroxyls of the anhydroglucose units of cellulose can affect a number of properties, such as solubility and gel point. Substituent groups can be designated by weight percent or by the number of points where groups are attached to the hydroxyls, otherwise termed "degree of substitution" (D.S.). If all three available positions on each unit are substituted, the D.S. is designated as (3) three; if an average of two on each ring are reacted, the D.S. is designated (2) two, etc.

In the manufacture of suitable anti-soiling agents of the invention having methoxyl substitution, cellulose fibers, from cotton linters or wood pulp, are swelled by caustic soda solution to produce alkali cellulose which is then treated with alkyl chloride, e.g., methyl chloride, yielding the alkyl ether of cellulose, e.g., methyl cellulose. A preferred anti-soiling agent of the invention is an hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose which is prepared by swelling cotton linters or wood pulp with a caustic soda solution to produce alkali cellulose which is treated with an alkyl chloride, e.g., methyl chloride, and an alkylene oxide, e.g., propylene oxide which leads to a substituent group having a secondary hydroxyl on the number two carbon

The basic structure for a preferred anti-soiling agent of the invention, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, may be shown according to the following formula wherein n is a finite number: ##SPC2##

Especially suitable is such a material wherein the methoxyl substitution corresponds to from 27% to 30% by weight and propylene glycol ether substitution amounts to 7% to 12% by weight.

Another preferred anti-soiling agent is methyl cellulose. These preferred materials are commercially available under the name Methocel (The Dow Chemical Company).

The anti-soiling agents of the invention are characterized by molecular weights which can be expressed in terms of their viscosity grades measured with a Ubbelohde tube as a 2% by weight aqueous solution at 20.degree.C. It will be appreciated that the viscosity that such materials will produce in solution depends on the length of the polymer chain. Suitable anti-soiling agents herein are those which provide a viscosity grade as defined hereinbefore of less than about 400 centipoises. Preferably, they have a viscosity grade of less than about 100 centipoises.

The amount of anti-soiling agent employed to provide effective soil- and stain-release properties will depend on such factors as the particular softening agent employed, the nature of the anti-soiling agent and its molecular weight or viscosity and the desired viscosity or physical appearance of the finished composition. As little as 0.1% of the anti-soiling agent based on the weight of composition may be enough in some instances, whereas up to about 10% may be required in others. Preferably, the anti-soiling agent comprises from about 0.25% to about 5% of the composition. In practice, an amount of a composition of the invention is added to the rinsing cycle of a laundering operation as to provide a concentration of the anti-soiling agent of from 2 to 100 ppm. Preferably, the concentration is from 5 to 50 ppm.

The compositions of the invention can be formulated in a convenient manner to provide uniform and homogeneous compositions of viscosity below about 250 centipoises. Preferably, the viscosity is in a range of from 30 to 180 centipoises. In practice, a solution of the anti-soiling agent is prepared by adding the agent to water at an elevated temperature. The temperature is then lowered sufficiently as to cause the anti-soiling agent, having inverse temperature solubility characteristics, to go into solution. The remaining ingredients, fabric softening agent, emulsifying agent and minor optional ingredients are added. Alternatively, the anti-soiling agent can be admixed with all the organic constituents of the finished composition and the resulting mixture be added with stirring to water to provide a finished composition.

It has been discovered that the anti-soiling agents of the invention retain their desirable soil- and stain-release properties at relatively low molecular weights, corresponding to viscosities of less than 400 centipoises in a 2% aqueous solution. Accordingly, they can be effectively employed in fabric softening compositions where the viscosity of the finished composition is less than about 250 centipoises. While other cellulose-derived anti-soiling agents of the prior art, e.g., hydroxypropyl cellulose, can provide desirable anti-soiling properties in a fabric softener composition, the molecular weight of such anti-soiling agents is frequently so high as to provide the finished composition with an unacceptable viscosity, i.e., above about 250 centipoises. If the molecular weight of such polymers is reduced in an attempt to mitigate the undesirable effect on the viscosity of the finished composition, the reduced viscosity is obtained at the expense of anti-soiling properties. In contrast to these prior art materials, the anti-soiling agents of the invention, as characterized hereinbefore, can be employed in fabric softener compositions to provide a desirable level of anti-soiling performance without at the same time causing the viscosity of the finished composition to be unacceptably high.

The compositions of the invention will preferably contain an emulsifying agent. Suitable emulsifiers which can be utilized in the compositions of the present invention include those selected from the group consisting of (1) the condensation product of one mole of alkylphenol wherein the alkyl chain contains from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms with from about one to about 100 moles of ethylene oxide. Specific examples of these nonionics are the condensation product of one mole of nonylphenol with 9.5 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of decylphenol with 40 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of dodecylphenol with 35 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of nonylphenol with 1.5 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of tetradecylphenol with 35 moles of ethylene oxide; and the condensation product of one mole of hexadecylphenol with 30 moles of ethylene oxide; (2) the condensation product of one mole of an aliphatic alcohol wherein the alkyl chain contains from 10 to about 24 carbon atoms with from about one to about 100 moles of ethylene oxide. Specific examples are the condensation product of one mole of coconut alkyl alcohol with 45 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of tallowalkyl alcohol with 30 moles of ethylene oxide; the product sold by Union Carbide under the tradename "Tergitol 15-S-9" which is the condensation product of one mole of secondary alkyl alcohol with alkyl chain lengths of from 11 to 15 with 9 moles of ethylene oxide; and the product sold by Union Carbide under the tradename "Tergitol 15-S-3" which is the condensation product of one mole of secondary alkyl alcohol with alkyl chain lengths of from 11 to 15 with 3 moles of ethylene oxide; (3) polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of from about 1400 to about 30,000. For example, Dow Chemical Company manufactures these nonionics in molecular weights of 20,000, 9,500, 7,500, 4,500, 3,400 and 1,450. All of these nonionics are wax-like solids which melt between 100.degree.F and 200.degree.F, and (4) mixtures thereof.

These emulsifiers function as solubilizing agents to prevent precipitation and maintain excellent freeze-thaw characteristics of the liquid compositions. These emulsifiers further act as stabilizers to promote shelf stability and maintain the desired viscosity. The emulsifiers are present in the composition of the present invention from about 0 to about 2% by weight, preferably from about 0.25% to about 1%. If more than about 2% by weight is used no advantages are achieved and product stability problems can arise. Small amounts of emulsifier are usually necessary to achieve the desired stability and freeze-thaw characteristics while maintaining the desired viscosity of the composition.

Miscellaneous materials such as optical brighteners such as the anionic stilbenes, coloring agents, and other materials which are well known as constituents in fabric softener compositions and which are compatible in the compositions of the present invention can also be present in minor amounts.

The following example illustrates the manner and the formulations with which the present invention can be practiced. However, the invention is not confined to the specific limitations set forth in the example, but rather, to the scope of the appended claims.

TEST METHOD

EXAMPLE I

Fabric swatches were laundered in a washing machine known as a Tergotometer. The detergent composition used contained 8% sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, 9% sodium tallow alkyl sulfate, 50% sodium tripolyphosphate, 6% sodium silicate having a SiO.sub.2 :Na.sub.2 O ratio of 1.6, 13% sodium sulfate, 0.6% of a condensation reaction product of coconut alcohol and an average of 6 moles of ethylene oxide, and 1.5% ammonium coconut fatty acid amide and the balance water to 100%. The detergent composition was used at a product concentration of 0.1%, the wash water was at a temperature of 130.degree.F and contained water hardness of 7 grains. The washing process lasted 10 minutes followed by a 5 minute rinse cycle with water at a temperature of 100.degree.F and containing water hardness of 7 grains.

A fabric softener/soil release composition embodying the present invention (identified below as COMPOSITION B) was tested and results compared to those obtained with a similar composition but one which did not contain a soil release agent as required by the present invention (identified as COMPOSITION A, below).

COMPOSITION A and COMPOSITION B were each added to the rinse cycle of the laundering procedures described above in order to expose the washed fabric to the fabric softener/soil release composition on the one hand (COMPOSITION B) and to the softening composition on the other (COMPOSITION A). In the rinse cycle, in the case of COMPOSITIONS A and B, the concentration of fabric softener agent was 75 ppm. In the case of COMPOSITION B, the concentration of anti-soiling agent in the rinse was 7.1 ppm.

TABLE I ______________________________________ FORMULATIONS Composition Composition A B ______________________________________ Ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride 7.9% 7.9% Emulsifier (mixture of secondary C.sub.11.sub.-15 alcohol ethoxylates) 0.50% 0.50% Methocel 60HG15* 0.00% 0.75% Miscellaneous minors and water to 100% to 100% ______________________________________ *Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose having 28-30 weight percent methoxyl substitution; 7-12 weight % propylene glycol ether substitution; viscosit of 15 cp; measured in Ubbelohde tube at 2% by weight concentration in water at 20.degree.C.

A washing/rinsing treatment cycle was repeated three times. Thereafter, the fabric swatches were stained with a controlled amount of an oily soil as identified below in Table II.

Following the staining treatment, the fabric swatches were allowed to stand overnight for a period of 18 hours to permit the oily soil to age on the fabrics. The aged swatches were then weighed, washed, and then dried. The fabrics were then reweighed and this permitted calculation of the weight percentage of oily soil which was removed during the washing step.

Using this test method, the following results were obtained.

TABLE II __________________________________________________________________________ WEIGHT % OIL REMOVED Used Crank *OHT Case Oil Oil Mixture Triglyceride Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. Comp. FABRIC A B A B A B __________________________________________________________________________ Nylon 33 89 42 95 36 85 Blend Fabric Containing 65% Polyester and 35% Cotton 25 60 44 82 63 72 Polyester 3 62 12 59 3 51 Durable Press Blend Fabric of 65% Polyester and 35% Cotton Treated with a Permanent Press Resin 16 67 42 83 68 72 __________________________________________________________________________ *OHT oil is a blend of equal parts of oleic acid, hexadecane, and triglyceride

In the results presented in the preceding Table, it is readily apparent that the fabrics which have been treated by a composition embodying the present invention (Composition B) provided very substantially increased weight percentages of removed oily soil as compared to Composition A which did not contain the soil releasing agent required by the present invention. A difference of 5% is statistically significant in this test procedure.

EXAMPLE II

A fabric softener having a viscosity of about 60 centipoises and effective in the final rinse cycle of a home laundering operation to provide treated fabrics with improved softness and anti-soiling properties has the following compositions:

Component Parts by Weight ______________________________________ Distearyl dimethyl 5.2 ammonium chloride Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (Methocel 60 HG 15) 0.8 Emulsifier (mixture of secondary C.sub.11.sub.-15 alcohol ethoxylates) 0.5 Isopropanol, ethanol, optical brighteners, dye, misc. 1.6 Water Balance to 100 ______________________________________

Substantially the same results in softening are obtained with the composition of Example II when any of the following cationic fabric softeners is substituted on an equal weight basis for the distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride in Example II, ("coconut" as used below has the following chain length distribution: 2% C.sub.10, 66% C.sub.12, 23% C.sub.14, and 9% C.sub.16):

ditallowalkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride,

dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride,

tallowalkyl dimethyl (3-tallowalkoxy-2-hydroxypropyl) ammonium chloride,

2-heptadecyl-1-methyl-1-[(2-stearoylamido)ethyl]imidazolinium methyl sulfate,

eicosyl dimethyl benzylammonium chloride,

eicosyl trimethyl ammonium chloride,

tetradecyl-tri(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium methyl sulfate,

octadecyl-tri(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium methyl sulfate,

di(2-benzyloctadecyl)dimethyl ammonium ethyl sulfate,

di-(3-oxa-heptadecyl)di(3-hydroxypropyl)ammonium bromide,

di(2-dodecoxyethyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride,

di(2-stearoyloxyethyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride,

2-stearoyloxyethyl triethyl ammonium chloride,

di(4-hydroxyoctadecyl)dimethyl ammonium ethyl sulfate,

2,4-dihydroxyoctadecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride,

di(2-stearamidopropyl)dimethyl ammonium chloride,

ditallowalkyl dimethyl ammonium bromide,

ditallowalkyl dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate,

ditetradecyl diethyl ammonium chloride,

ditetradecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride,

coconutalkyl triethyl ammonium chloride, and

dicoconut alkyl diethyl ammonium chloride.

EXAMPLE III

A fabric softener having a viscosity of about 60 centipoises and effective in the final rinse cycle of a home laundering operation to provide treated fabrics with improved softness and anti-soiling properties has the following composition:

Component Parts by Weight ______________________________________ Distearyl dimethyl ammonium 5.5 chloride Methyl Cellulose (viscosity of 50 cp at 2% in water and 20.degree.C Emulsifier (mixture of nonyl- phenol ethoxylates) 0.4 Isopropanol, ethanol, optical brighteners, dye, miscellaneous 1.6 Water Balance to 100 ______________________________________

Substantially the same results in softening are obtained with the compositions of Example III when any of the following emulsifiers are substituted on an equal weight basis for the nonyl phenol ethoxylate of Example III. ("Coconut" as used below has the following chain length distribution: 2% C.sub.10, 66% C.sub.12, 23% C.sub.14, and 9% C.sub.16).

The condensation product of one mole of decylphenol with 40 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of dodecylphenol with 35 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of tetradecylphenol with 35 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of heptadecylphenol with 30 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of coconut-alkyl alcohol with 45 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of tallow-alkyl alcohol with 30 moles of ethylene oxide; the condensation product of one mole of secondary alkyl alcohol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide, the alkyl group containing alkyl chain lengths from 11 to 15 (Tergitol 15-S-9); the condensation product of one mole secondary alkyl alcohol with 3 moles of ethylene oxide, the alkyl group containing alkyl chain lengths from 11 to 15 (Tergitol 15-S-3); polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 20,000; polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 9,500; polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 7,500; polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 4,500; polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 3,400; polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 1,450; and mixtures thereof.

In addition to the preferred embodiments described herein, other arrangements and variations within the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims will occur to those skilled in the art.

As used herein the terms anti-soiling and soil-release are used interchangeably notwithstanding that there may be mechanistic differences involved.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid fabric softener composition having a viscosity of less than about 250 centipoises and effective to provide fabrics with softening and anti-soiling properties consisting essentially of:

A. from about 2% to about 15% by weight of a cation-active fabric softener compound having from one to two straight-chain organic groups of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms;

B. from about 0.1% to about 10% of a soil release agent selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose and alkyl cellulose where each alkyl has from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, said soil release agent providing a viscosity of less than about 400 centipoises determined at a two percent by weight concentration in water at 20.degree.C;

C. from 0 to about 2% of an emulsifier selected from the group consisting of

1. the condensation product of one mole of alkylphenol wherein the alkyl chain contains from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms with from about one to about 100 moles of ethylene oxide,

2. the condensation product of one mole of an aliphatic alcohol wherein the alkyl chain contains from about 10 to about 24 carbon atoms with from about 1 to about 100 moles of ethylene oxide,

3. polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 1400 to about 30,000,

4. mixtures thereof; and

D. the balance water.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the cation-active fabric softener compound is a quaternary ammonium softener compound having the formula ##EQU4## wherein R is hydrogen or an aliphatic group of from 1 to 22 carbons; R.sub.1 is an aliphatic group having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each alkyl groups of from one to 3 carbon atoms; and X is an anion selected from the group consisting of halogen, acetate, phosphate, nitrate and methyl sulfate.

3. The composition of claim 2 wherein R and R.sub.1 are each stearyl, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each methyl and X is chloride.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the soil release agent is hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.

5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose has a methoxyl substitution of from 27% to 30% by weight and a propylene glycol ether substitution of from 7% to 12% by weight.

6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose is employed in an amount of from 0.25% to 5% by weight of the composition.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the emulsifier ranges from 0.25% to 1% and is a mixture of secondary C.sub.11.sub.-15 alcohol ethoxylates.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the cationic fabric softener ranges from 2.5% to about 6%.

9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the soil release agent is methyl cellulose.

10. A method of imparting softening and anti-soiling properties to washed textiles which comprises treating previously-washed textiles in an aqueous rinsing bath containing minor but effective amounts of a cation-active fabric softening agent having from one to two straight chain organic groups of from 8 to 22 carbon atoms and a soil release agent selected from the group consisting of hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose and alkyl cellulose where each alkyl has from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, said soil release agent providing a viscosity of less than about 400 centipoises determined at a two percent by weight concentration in water at 20.degree.C.