Abstract: A tablet of compacted particulate detergent composition including surfactant and detergency builder, suitable for fabric washing, is sub-divided into a plurality of discrete regions with differing compositions. At least one region of the tablet contains a water-swellable polymer serving to promote disintegration of this region. The polymer is present in this region in a concentration greater than in at least one other region of the tablet so as to cause disintegration of the region at a greater speed than disintegration of another region of the tablet.

Abstract: The invention relates to mild toilet soap bars, comprising blends of soap with one or more coactives. There is a need for mild bars which do not have the processing problems associated with the use of superfatting agents and co-actives, which can be made without difficulty on conventional soap production lines without substantial modification of the lines and yet provide a product with reduced harshness while maintaining lathering and structural properties. Moreover, it is desirable that soap bars should not suffer from the defect of grittiness and also have a composition which contains relatively low levels of the significantly more expensive lauric fats. We have determined that in soap bars which comprise at least 25% wt. on total actives of lauric acid soaps; as the balance of the soaps, non-lauric soaps having an iodine value of less than 45; at least 5% wt.

Abstract: A stable thixotropic liquid automatic dishwashing composition is disclosed. The composition may include swellable clays, synthetic water dispersible sulfonated polymers, optionally multivalent cations, builder salts, an alkaline source, a hypochlorite source, nonionic or anionic surfactants, and defoamers. The system, containing clay and sulfonated polymer, and optionally multivalent metal ions, thickens the composition to provide structure to aid in suspending finely divided solid components, while maintaining good salt tolerance, stability against hypochlorite and acceptable cup retention with shear-thinning rheological behavior.

Abstract: Peroxy compound bleaching is activated by a catalytic amount of a transition metal complex of a transition metal (Mn, Co, Fe or Cu) with a non-(macro)-cyclic ligand of the formula: ##STR1## preferably 2,2'-bispyridylamine. Bleaching agent and bleach detergent compositions are also disclosed comprising a peroxy compound bleach and said transition metal complex. The transition metal complex is an effective catalyst for activating hydrogen peroxide compounds, peroxyacids and peroxyacid bleach precursors on removing a wide class of stains from substrates, especially texiles and fabrics.