WASHING MACHINE AND WASHING METHOD

Abstract

Washing machine comprising a detergent reservoir, said reservoir comprising from 80 ml to 3000 ml liquid detergent comprising methyl ester ethoxylate.

Claims

1. Washing machine comprising a detergent reservoir, said reservoir comprising from 80 ml to 3000 ml liquid detergent comprising methyl ester ethoxylate.

2. A washing machine according to claim 1 comprising from 250 to 2500 ml liquid detergent.

3. A washing machine according to claim 1 comprising from 400 to 2000 ml liquid detergent.

4. Washing machine according to claim 1 wherein the liquid detergent comprises from 0.01 to 2% wt. benzoic acid or salt thereof.

5. Washing machine according to claim 1 wherein the liquid detergent comprises from 0.1 to 3% wt. ethanol.

6. Washing machine according to claim 1 wherein the liquid detergent comprises from 0.1 to 5% wt. phenoxyethanol.

7. Washing machine according to claim 1 wherein the liquid detergent comprises from 5 to 30% wt. methyl ester ethoxylate.

8. A method for cleaning fabric comprising filling a reservoir of a washing machine with from 80 to 3000 ml of a liquid laundry detergent composition comprising methyl ester ethoxylate and conducting a washing cycle which draws a portion of the liquid detergent from the reservoir but leaves at least 20 ml in the reservoir.

9. A method for cleaning fabric comprising filling a reservoir of a washing machine with from 80 to 3000 ml of a liquid laundry detergent composition comprising methyl ester ethoxylate and conducting at least two washing cycles before adding a further liquid detergent to the reservoir.

10. A method for cleaning a first fabric comprising filling a reservoir of a washing machine with from 80 ml to 3000 ml of a liquid detergent composition comprising methyl ester ethoxylate and conducting a first washing cycle by forming a first wash liquor in the washing machine by drawing a portion of the liquid detergent from the reservoir and combining with water to form a first wash liquor and washing said first fabric; optionally rinsing; and removing said first fabric from the washing machine; and conducting a further wash cycle to clean a further fabric by drawing a portion of the liquid detergent from the reservoir and combining with water to form a further wash liquor and washing said further fabric; optionally rinsing; and removing said further fabric from the washing machine; optionally repeating the further wash cycle; and adding a further liquid detergent to the reservoir.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0373] Liquid detergent formulation of the following composition was made:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 A Ingredient Wt % LAS 9.9 MEE C18 9EO 7.5 Lauryl ether sulfate 3EO 7.5 Triethanolamine 13.9 Polyester soil release polymer 0.5 Monopropylene glycol 3.2 Polyamine cleaning polymer 1.0/2.2 HASE thickened polymer 0.5 Fatty acid 1.4 Citric acid 1.6 Dequest 2010 2.2 Perfume 1.2 Total enzymes 1.5 Remainder water& minors To 100%

Example 2

[0374] Table 2 shows the results for a stability study of different compositions comprising various surfactant. The study involved exposing different formulations to the ambient conditions for prolonged periods of time similar to what is experienced when a formulation is stored in a reservoir of an auto-dosing washing machine in between wash cycles.

[0375] The Table shows the stability data for a formulation comprising C12 AE (1) and a formulation comprising MEE (2). All other ingredients in the compositions were identical.

TABLE-US-00002 T = 0 days 4 8 11 19 1 s s s x x 2 s s s s x S = stable X = unstable