Abstract: This invention relates to a tampon applicator.

Abstract: The machine washing of solid textiles or dishes is improved when the wash water is passed through a cation exchange agent of the formula:(M.sub.2/n O).sub.x.Me.sub.2 O.sub.3.(SiO.sub.2).sub.y,wherein M is a cation of valence n interchangeable with calcium, Me is a member selected from aluminum and boron, x is a number from 0.7 to 1.5 and y is a number from 0.8 to 6, said agent having a calcium binding power of at least 50 mg. of CaO per gram, said agent being maintained during said washing out of contact with the objects being washed within a filter apparatus. Apparatus for carrying out the process includes means for circulating the wash water through a vessel containing the cation exchange agent in porous solid or in fluidized bed form within a filter means.

Abstract: An improvement in the machine washing of solid soiled materials comprising withdrawing and recycling the wash liquor in contact with said solid soiled materials through a silicate cation exchange compound having some combined water and a particle size of at least 10.mu. of the formula:(M.sub.2/n O).sub.x.Me.sub.2 O.sub.3.(SiO.sub.2).sub.ywherein M is a cation of valence n exchangeable with calcium, Me is a member selected from aluminum and boron, x is a number from 0.7 to 1.5 and y is a number from 0.8 to 6, said silicate compound having a calcium binding power of at least 50 mg of CaO per gram, said silicate compound being maintained out of contact with said solid soiled materials, for such time that the recycling wash liquor has passed through said silicate compound at least twice, in the presence of other soluble washing and cleaning compounds, while reversing the direction of flow of said wash liquor through said silicate compound repeatedly.

Abstract: Solid soiled materials are machine washed by withdrawing and recycling the wash liquor in contact with said solid soiled materials through a water-insoluble cation exchange polymer in particulate state having a calcium binding power of at least 2 mVal per gram, said polymer in particulate state being maintained out of contact with said solid soiled materials, for such time that the recycling wash liquor has passed through said polymer at least twice, in the presence of other soluble washing and cleaning compounds, while reversing the direction of flow of said wash liquor through said polymer repeatedly.

Abstract: The machine washing of solid material (e.g. dishes and clothes) in hard water areas is enhanced when the washing solution has a dissolved content of a sequestering agent for calcium ions and is contacted with an insoluble cation exchange resin in particulate state, the washing solution being passed through a filter containing the resin during the course of the washing operation. The filter is maintained separate and spaced from the washing area. The cation exchange resin may be contained in a filter of the whirlpool type, so that the particles are maintained in aqueous suspension without coming into contact with the materials being washed, or it may be contained as a unitary porous lining of a filter.

Abstract: This invention relates to cation-exchanging, water-insoluble aluminosilicates containing bound water and an ionic surface-active compound resistant to water hardness formers and having, for every mol of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, from 0.7 to 1.5 mols Cat.sub.2/n O, where Cat is a cation having the valence n, and from 0.8 to 6 mols SiO.sub.2, and being produced by the precipitation of said aluminosilicate in an aqueous solution, wherein said reaction is conducted in the presence of an aqueous solution of said ionic surface-active compound, and optional subsequent crystallization; as well as a process for its preparation and a process for the sequestration of water hardness cations employing said aluminosilicates.

Abstract: An improved method for washing textiles comprising contacting soiled textiles with a foamed detergent solution, said solution containing from 10 to 5o gm per liter of a cleaning composition containing at least some non-ionic surface-active compounds, and being employed in a liquor ratio of 1:1 to 1:5, said detergent solution being foamed by air to a liter weight of 5 to 30 gm before contacting said soiled textiles, agitating said soiled textiles in the presence of said foamed detergent solution for at least 30 seconds, spinning off said foamed detergent solution under sufficient force to break said foam, and to extract said detergent solution, repeating the above steps at least five times, then rinsing said textiles and recovering cleaned textiles.