Abstract: The present invention relates to dryer-activated fabric softening compositions and articles, having improved antistatic and/or softening effects, for use in an automatic clothes dryer, especially those comprising, as essential ingredients: (A) fabric softener consisting essentially of: (1) from about 5% to about 95% of preferably biodegradable quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of the compounds of Formulas I, II, III, and mixtures thereof; (2) from 0% to about 95% highly ethoxylated and/or propoxylated, preferably at least 5 ethylene oxide (EO) and/or propylene oxide (PO) groups per molecule, sugar derivative containing at least one long hydrophobic moiety per molecule; and (3) from 0% to about 95% of carboxylic acid salt of tertiary amine; and (B) from about 1% to about 15%, unsaturated fatty acid having an IV of from about 3 to about 60. The amount of (A) present is at least sufficient to provide softening and/or antistatic effects.

Abstract: A method of softening fabrics where the consumer adds an effective amount of a particulate fabric softening composition comprising fabric softener agent to an automatic dosing dispenser with water, seals the dispenser, and places the automatic dosing dispenser into a washing machine at the beginning of the wash process. The mechanical agitation and/or heat of the wash cycle aids in forming a finely divided emulsion/dispersion of fabric softener agent which is then released from the dispenser during the rinse cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dryer-activated fabric softening compositions and articles, having improved antistatic and/or softening effects, for use in an automatic clothes dryer, especially those comprising, as essential ingredients: (A) fabric softener consisting essentially of: (1) from about 5% to about 95% of preferably biodegradable quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of the compounds of Formulas I, II, III, and mixtures thereof; (2) from 0% to about 95% highly ethoxylated and/or propoxylated, preferably at least 5 ethylene oxide (EO) and/or propylene oxide (PO) groups per molecule, sugar derivative containing at least one long hydrophobic moiety per molecule; and (3) from 0% to about 95% of carboxylic acid salt of tertiary amine; and (B) from about 1% to about 15%, unsaturated fatty acid having an IV of from about 3 to about 60.The amount of (A) present is at least sufficient to provide softening and/or antistatic effects.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dryer-activated fabric softening compositions comprising: (A) quaternary ammonium compounds; (B) a carboxylic acid salt of a tertiary amine and/or a tertiary amine ester; and (C) optionally, a nonionic softener; wherein the IV of the total number of fatty acyl groups present in (A), (B), and (C) is from about 3 to about 60. These compositions exhibit good antistatic properties as well as improved delivery from a substrate.

Abstract: A granular fabric softening composition, which can be added to water to form an aqueous concentrated emulsion, comprising nonionic fabric softener, preferably a fatty alkyl ester of a polyhydric alcohol, and a mono-long-chain alkyl cationic surfactant. In particular, the use of a sorbitan ester with a mono-long-chain alkyl cationic surfactant provides a granular softening agent which can be used to form a highly dispersed, concentrated, aqueous composition which, when added to, e.g., a rinse cycle of a typical washing process, effectively deposits onto fabric from the aqueous bath.