Abstract: A method of treating soiled textiles, wherein the soiled textiles are immersed in an aqueous liquor which contains at least two compounds inhibiting alkaline earth metal ion precipitation on said soiled textiles comprising using (1) from 0.2 to 10 gm of anhydrous active substance per liter of at least one finely-dispersed, water-insoluble silicate compound having a calcium-binding power of at least 50 mg CaO/gm of anhydrous active substance and having the formula, combined water not shown(M.sub.2/n O).sub.x . Me.sub.2 O.sub.3 . (SiO.sub.2).sub.ywhere M is a cation of the valence n, exchangeable with calcium, x is a number of from 0.7 to 1.5, Me is aluminum or boron, and y is a number from 0.8 to 6, and (2) from 0.05 to 2gm/l of at least one of certain polyphosphonates; as well as washing compositions containing said at least two compounds.

Abstract: A method for the mechanical washing of dishes, wherein the soiled dishes are treated with an aqueous alkaline liquor having a pH of from 8 to 13 which contains at least one compound inhibiting alkaline earth metal ion precipitation, rinsing and recovering cleaned dishes comprising using finely-dispersed, water-insoluble silicate compounds having a calcium-binding power of at least 50 mg CaO/gm of anhydrous substance and having the formula, combined water not shown, of(M.sub.2/n O).sub.x .multidot. Me.sub.2 O.sub.3 .multidot. (SiO.sub.2).sub.ywhere M is a cation of the valence n, exchangeable with calcium, x is a number of from 0.7 to 1.5, Me is a member selected from aluminum and boron and y is a number of from 0.8 to 6, as said compound inhibiting alkaline earth metal ion precipitation as well as alkaline-reacting mechanical dish washing compositions containing said silicate compounds.