Bleach catalyst detergent compositions are provided. The compositions are suitable for use with additional detergent and/or bleaching compositions while providing bleach catalysts within a detergent composition. The detergent compositions are free of anionic surfactant, are highly aqueous and have a pH of less than 6. Methods of use for cleaning are disclosed.

An automatic dishwashing composition is provided including a builder selected from the group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate, citrate, silicate and mixtures thereof; a nonionic surfactant; and a dispersant polymer comprising: (a) 5 to 75 wt % of structural units of itaconic acid; (b) 10 to 85 wt % of structural units having formula I ##STR00001##
wherein each R.sup.3 is independently selected from a hydrogen and a —C(O)CH.sub.3 group; and (c) 10 to 65 wt % of structural units of (meth)acrylic acid; wherein the dispersant polymer has a lactone end group and wherein the dispersant polymer has a weight average molecular weight of 1,500 to 6,000.

An automatic dishwashing cleaning composition and method of use is described. The automatic dishwashing cleaning composition can include a terpolymer including (meth)acrylic acid, linear or branched C1-C20 alkyl (meth)acrylate and vinylpyrrolidone; and a non-ionic surfactant.

Disclosed are microwave assisted methods and systems for decontaminating a variety of contaminated surfaces. The systems and methods comprise treating the surfaces with benign chemical formulations followed by exposing to microwave irradiation for short periods of time to achieve at least 6-log reduction in biological contaminants including spores of B. anthracis, B. thuringiensis, and P. roqueforti. Chemical formulations may comprise copper (II) chloride in water. The formulations may include a surfactant such as a polyethylene sorbitol ester surfactant.

The present invention provides granules containing one or more bleaching catalysts selected from the group of manganese salts or manganese complexes and at least one binder selected from the group of acid organic compounds coated with 0.1 to 3% by weight, referring to the total amount of the granules, with a polyvinyl alcohol-containing coating, wherein the coating comprises at least 80% of polyvinyl alcohol or mixtures thereof, in relation to the total weight of the coating.

A description is given of compositions comprising a) one or more substances selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen peroxide donor substances, b) water, c) one or more polymers having thickening properties and d) one or more substances selected from the group consisting of hydroxypyridones and salts thereof. The compositions are notable more particularly for their advantageous shelf lives.

The present invention relates to a method of washing textile articles that can be carried out, for example, in a continuous batch tunnel washer. Embodiments of the present method can include treating the textile with an aqueous composition including cleaning agent and halogen-containing bleaching agent for a time sufficient to remove soil from the textile and contacting the halogen-treated textile with an aqueous composition including a peroxycarboxylic acid. The concentration of halogen after the sufficient time can be at a level that does not result in adverse interaction between the halogen-containing bleaching agent and the peroxycarboxylic acid.

Embodiments of the present method can clean textiles with the results of more effective stain removal and less waste through destruction of the textile article. Further, the present invention can clean a textile contacted soiled by a composition including chlorhexidine gluconate without resulting staining of the textile, which staining could have been permanent.

The invention provides to a powdered composition of additives and a method of use thereof for increasing the visibility, potency and coverage of disinfectant solutions, such as bleach.

A stabilized solid bleaching agent which has good solubility in water without undergoing the occurrence of foaming and without generating residues has been demanded. The present invention provides a stabilized solid-bleaching-agent-containing material having a coating layer formed therein, wherein the coating layer contains at least one component selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid, an alkali metal salt of a non-cyclic dicarboxylic acid, an alkali metal salt of a non-cyclic monocarboxylic acid having 1 to 7 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof.

An anhydrous mixed powder or mixed granule is provided including 1 to 10 wt % of oxidized maltodextrin; 10 to 60 wt % of an amino acid based builder; 1 to 87.7 wt % of an additional builder selected from the group consisting of carbonate builders, citrate builders, silicate builders, amino acid derived builders and mixtures thereof; a bleach activator; a surfactant; 0.1 to 7 wt % of a phosphonate; enzyme; 0 to 75 wt % of a filler; and <1 wt % water.