A surfactant composition comprising a sugar-based surfactant comprising a C8-C16 alkyl glucoside, a C8-C16 alkyl polyglucoside, or a combination of a C8-C16 alkyl glucoside and a C8-C16 alkyl polyglucoside; a C8-C18 amphodiacetate; a C8-C16 acyl sarcosinate, a C8-C16 acyl glutamate, a C8-C16 acyl glycinate, or a combination thereof; and optionally a C8-C14 acyl lactylate, wherein the composition is free of sulfated anionic surfactants.

The invention meets the needs above by providing a surfactant system, mixture or blend that can be used as a part of a soaking composition. The surfactant system is capable of forming emulsions with, and thus removing, oily and greasy stains. In a preferred embodiment the surfactant compositions of the invention can remove non-trans fat and fatty acid stains. The invention involves foaming soaking compositions that have some or part of the anionic surfactant present in the same replaced with an extended chain anionic surfactant.

The invention meets the needs above by providing a surfactant system, mixture or blend that can be used as a part of a soaking composition. The surfactant system is capable of forming emulsions with, and thus removing, oily and greasy stains. In a preferred embodiment the surfactant compositions of the invention can remove non-trans fat and fatty acid stains. The invention involves foaming soaking compositions that have some or part of the anionic surfactant present in the same replaced with an extended chain anionic surfactant.

Compositions including an alginate lyase enzyme and anionic surfactant. Methods of treating fabrics by contacting the fabric with an aqueous wash liquor having the detergent composition therein. The compositions and methods are particularly for improving whiteness of a fabric, improved soil removal from a fabric, for malodour removal from a fabric, for anti-wrinkle benefits, anti-redeposition benefits and/or for improved drying of a fabric.

A low-water cleansing composition is provided that includes 5.0 wt. % to less than 40 wt. % of one or more C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alcohol, at least 10.0 wt. % of a mixture of two or more surfactants, at least 0.05 wt. % of a pH adjuster; and water, the concentrations being based on a total weight of the low-water cleansing composition.

A non-antimicrobial cleansing composition is disclosed comprising from about 10.0 wt. % to less than about 40 wt. % of one or more C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alcohols; about 0.5 wt. % to about 10.0 wt. % of at least one primary surfactant; 0 wt. % to about 10.0 wt. % of at least one secondary surfactant, with the primary and secondary surfactants having an HLB value greater than 8; a pH adjusting agent; and water. The composition does not achieve a microbial kill level greater than 2.0 log.

A washing agent portion unit including a) at least one first receiving chamber, b) at least one water-soluble film surrounding this first receiving chamber, and c) at least one first flowable washing agent preparation located in the first receiving chamber, which preparation contains, based on the total weight thereof, i) 40 to 80 wt. % surfactant; ii) 2 to 15 wt. % fatty acid; iii) 0.3 to 8 wt. % of salt of a divalent cation; iv) 8 to 35 wt. % solvent; d) at least one second receiving chamber which is surrounded by a water-soluble film and is filled with a second washing agent preparation which differs from the first flowable washing agent preparation, wherein the first receiving chamber and the second receiving chamber are directly adjacent to one another and separated from one another by a water-soluble film, and washing methods using these washing agent portion units.

A flowable washing agent preparation containing, based on the total weight thereof, i) 20 to 80 wt. % surfactant; ii) 2 to 15 wt. % fatty acid; iii) 0.3 to 8 wt. % of the salt of a divalent cation; iv) 0.01 to 2 wt. % pigment; v) 8 to 35 wt. % solvent; and a washing method using same.

A flowable washing agent preparation containing, based on the total weight thereof, i) 20 to 80 wt. % surfactant; ii) 2 to 15 wt. % fatty acid; iii) 0.3 to 8 wt. % of the salt of a divalent cation; iv) 0.01 to 2 wt. % pigment; v) 8 to 35 wt. % solvent; and a washing method using same.

A method for producing a liquid, surfactant-containing washing agent containing: i) 20 to 80 wt. % surfactant; ii) 2 to 15 wt. % fatty acid; iii) 0.3 to 8 wt. % of salt of a divalent cation; iv) 8 to 35 wt. % solvent; the method including the steps of: a) providing a first flowable washing agent preparation containing a surfactant, fatty acid and solvent; b) introducing the salt of a divalent cation into the liquid composition so as to form a salt-containing composition; c) mixing the salt-containing composition.