Abstract: A process for washing laundry in a washing machine employs a receptacle for dispensing a detergent tablet. The receptacle is substantially rigid and includes a number of apertures which have an average dimension equivalent to a mesh size of between 1 and 10 mm. A solid detergent in the form of a tablet is placed in the dispensing receptacle, the latter then being placed into a washing machine along with laundry to be washed and a washing operation is carried out. After the washing operation, the device is removed from the machine and stored for subsequent use. Moreover, the invention relates to a dispensing device for carrying out this process.

Abstract: Surfactant blends, processes for preparing them and particulate detergent compositions containing them. Mobile liquid surfactant blends consisting essentially of alkyl polyglycosides and ethoxylated nonionic surfactant are provided, the surfactant blend having a viscosity at 65° C. measured at 50s−1 not exceeding 1 Pas, the weight ratio of alkyl polyglycoside to ethoxylated nonionic surfactant being within the range of from 35.65 to 65.35, there being from 2-25% of water. Various processes for the preparation of such blends are provided. The mobile surfactant blends can be used in the preparation of particulate detergent compositions or components by mixing the blend with a particulate carrier material without requiring a drying step.

Abstract: A process for producing a detergent powder or a composition therefore involving partial granulation in a high or low shear granulator followed by granulation in a very low shear mixer, for example a fluid bed is disclosed. The process allows powders to be produced over a wide range of bulk densities without the use of a spray-drying step.

Abstract: A laundry detergent composition contains a surfactant system consisting wholly of anionic surfactant, or of anionic and nonionic surfactants in a ratio at least 0.9:1, a detergency builder, and a soil release polymer which is a defined water-soluble or water-dispersible sulphonated non-end-capped polyester, for example, of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, sulphoisophthalic acid and ethylene glycol.

Abstract: A method of protecting sensitive or reactive adjuncts, preferably of the type incorporated in detergent compositions, by dissolving said adjunct in a biopolymer, thereby forming a stable particulate adjunct product comprising a molecular solid solution of adjunct in a biopolymer. Preferred adjuncts to be protected include bleach catalysts, bleach catalyst precursors, bleach precursors, enzymes, fluorescers, germicides, perfumes, anti-dye transfer and anti-dye damage agents and effervescent agents. The protected adjunct is especially useful for incorporation in non-aqueous liquid detergent compositions.