Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing dye fading of a fabric comprising depositing on the fabric a soil release agent capable of substantially absorbing ultraviolet and/or visible light (in the 200-700 nanometer wavelength range). The soil release agent is preferably deposited on the fabric during a laundering or drying operation. Preferably the weight ratio of soil release agent to fabric is between about 1:10,000 and about 1:100. The soil release agent has light-absorbing chemical structure groups which can include carbonyls, carboxylates, conjugated double bonds, and/or aromatic rings. Suitable soil release agents for use in the invention include oliogomeric, substantially linear, sulfonated poly-ethoxy/propoxy end-capped esters, which comprise oxyethyleneoxy units and terephthaloyl units.

Abstract: A detergent composition comprising a gel wholly or predominantly in hexagonal liquid crystal form comprising: (a) 15% to 70% surfactant system, wherein at least 40% by weight of the surfactant system is an ethoxylated alkyl sulfate surfactant, wherein the alkyl group of the ethoxylated alkyl sulfate surfactant has an average of from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and wherein the ethoxylated alkyl sulfate surfactant has an average degree of ethoxylation of from 0.5 to 15; (b) 1% to 45% additive which is a water-soluble non-micelle-forming or weakly micelle-forming material capable of forcing the surfactant system into hexagonal phase, the additive being anionic or nonionic and having at most 6 aliphatic carbon atoms, and the additive being selected from the lower amides or mixtures thereof; and (c) 20% to 70% water. The detergent gel has excellent viscosity, overall consistency, foaming, stability and appearance, and provides good cleaning ability. Dishcare gels are preferred.