Abstract: A compacted laundry detergent tablet which comprises (a) solid particulate detergent base powder comprising surfactant and optionally builder; (b) optionally other particulate detergent ingredients; and (c) a binder material between the detergent base powder particles and/or the optional particulate detergent ingredients wherein the binder comprises (c)(i) from 10 wt % to 90 wt % of a nonionic surfactant having a melting point of from 30 to 70° C.; and (c)(ii) from 10 wt % to 90 wt % of a water-soluble organic material having a melting point of from 30 to 70° C. Preferred nonionic surfactants are the primary and secondary aliphatic alcohol ethoxylates and preferred organic materials are the polyethylene glycols.

Abstract: In a process for making detergent tablets comprising spraying a coating of a water-soluble organic polymeric binder onto the exterior of particles of detergent composition containing detergent active and detergency builder and compacting the composition, the improvement comprises spraying an external coating of a film-forming water-soluble organic polymer onto the tablets. The coating on the tablet exterior reduces friability and abrasion and provides extra enhancement of strength while permitting disintegration/dissolution in a wash liquor.

Abstract: Detergent tablets, compacted from detergent powder containing detergent active and detergency builder, contain a polymer which acts as binder and as a disintegrant when the tablets are added to water. Preferably the binder is sprayed into the powder before compaction. The strength of such tablets is improved, without detriment to other properties, by tabletting at a temperature above ambient but below melting point of the polymeric binder. Preferably the temperature is only 5.degree. C. to 10.degree. C. below the melting point of the binder.

Abstract: A tablet of compacted particulate detergent composition in which the tablet, or a discrete region thereof, consists essentially of a matrix of particles substantially free of particles <200 .mu.m. Particles of detergent-active compound and detergent builder and optionally particles of detergent base powder are individually coated with binder/disintegrant capable, when the tablet is immersed in water, of disrupting the structure of the tablet.

Abstract: A tablet of compacted particulate detergent composition comprises a detergent-active compound, a detergency builder, and optionally other detergent ingredients. The tablet, or a discrete region thereof, consists essentially of a matrix of particles substantially all of which have a particle size within a range having upper and lower limits each lying within the range of from 200 to 2000 .mu.m and differing from each other by not more than 700 .mu.m.

Abstract: A tablet of compacted detergent powder comprises an anionic detergent-active compound, a detergency builder, and optionally other detergent ingredients. The tablet is the compaction product of a particulate mixture of:(a) from 2 to 40 wt % of a first particulate component comprising from 20 to 100 wt % of anionic detergent-active compound,(b) from 60 to 98 wt % of other ingredients, comprising from 0 to 3 wt % of anionic detergent-active compound.

Abstract: A fabric conditioning article is provided comprising a substrate and, applied to the substrate, a fabric-softening material and a bleach agent, wherein the substrate comprises at least two separate areas, the first area comprising softening material and being substantially free of peroxy bleach, and the second area comprising peroxy bleach and being substantially free of softening material.

Abstract: A container having at least one opening seal, which seal is mechanically strong in the dry state but disintegrates in water at temperature of 40.degree. C. or below under the influence of mechanical agitation. The seal is formed from a mixture of a water-labile adhesive and a heat-sealable component.

Abstract: An article suitable for conditioning fabrics in a tumble dryer, comprising a combination of a substrate and a fabric-conditioning composition, the substrate comprising a porous material having a void volume of more than 90% and a cell count of more than 250 cells per cm, the fabric-conditioning composition comprising a fabric-softening material. The claimed article can spontaneously and consistently be adhered to the tumble dryer wall for one or more drying cycles. The moment at which the substrate no longer adheres to the tumble dryer wall coincides with the moment whereupon the amount of conditioning material which is released per drying cycle is insufficient to effect a satisfactory conditioning benefit.

Abstract: A multicompartment sachet product for delivering treatment agents to the washing machine or dishwasher comprises a first compartment capable of releasing its contents (solid or liquid) within 3 minutes from the start of the wash process, and a second compartment of water-permeable material provided with a pore-occluding coating and/or in the form of a sachet within a sachet so that release of its contents (powder) is delayed for at least 5 minutes from the restart of the wash process and/or retarded.

Abstract: After washing fabrics can be treated with a conditioning agent, for example a fabric softener. In one method of treatment a substrate impregnated with a conditioning agent is contacted with the washed fabrics in tumble drier. The agent is transferred to the fabric during the repeated contacts between the substrate and fabric.The invention is the use of a substrate having a more dense structure at the outer surface. This more dense structure, which can be formed from laminated foam polymers, reduces the release of the agent so that the release is more even over a number of cycles.