Abstract: Compositions are disclosed comprising a conventional surfactant, a cationic or amphoteric gemini surfactant and a polymeric soil release agent. The conventional surfactant comprises a hydrophilic group and a hydrophobic group. The gemini surfactant comprises two surfactant moieties attached to each other by a spacer moiety. Each surfactant moiety having at least one hydrophilic group and at least one hydrophobic group. Novel trimeric and tetrameric cationic gemini surfactants are also disclosed along with their use in combination with soil release polymer compositions that exhibit superior cleaning efficacies when incorporated in laundry and other cleaning detergent systems. Novel surfactant/soil release polymer compositions are also disclosed employing known cationic gemini surfactants. The polymeric soil release agent can be any conventional polymeric soil release agent, but preferably comprising PET—POET copolymer.

Abstract: An improved soil release polymer composition comprising a soil release polymer and a long chain nonionic alkoxylate surfactant and/or amphoteric that is able to generate very low critical micelle concentration values in water. Preferably, the soil release composition is incorporated in a detergent system such as a commercial laundry detergent which comprises a second anionic, nonionic or cationic surfactant and mixtures thereof. By lowering the cmc values of the detergent wash water to very low levels, the surfactant greatly enhances the performance of the soil release polymer.