Abstract: The invention relates to bleach catalysts for use in cleaning or detergent compositions. The bleach catalysts used are water-soluble complexes of (a) one or more cobalt ions and, as ligand, (b) one or more aminated and/or alkylated mono- or oligo-saccharides, optionally in reduced or oxidized form, and salts thereof. The complexes according to the invention are good bleach catalysts and have high hydrolytic stability.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bleaching composition. In particular the invention provides a bleaching composition which comprises: (i) a bleaching agent, and (ii) as bleach catalyst, a polyoxometalate of Keggin, Dawson or Finke structure and having the general formula (II) (A′)a′(Cox′Yy′Mm′Oo).cH2O  (II)  wherein the or each A′, which may be the same or different, is a cation; a′ has a value such that (A′)a, counters the anionic charge of (Cox′Yy′Mm′Oo); x′ has a value of 0.25 to 4; the or each Y, which may be the same or different, represents P, Si or Co; y′ is 1 or 2; o has a value of 34 to 68; the or each M, which may be the same or different, represents W, Mo, V, Nb or Ta; m′ has a value of between 9 and 18; c has a value of between 0 and 84. The bleaching compositions according to the invention have good bleaching performance and can be used without a bleach activator, e.g.

Abstract: Sequestrant compositions comprising combinations of an alkali metal or ammonium borate with an adduct formed by reaction of an .alpha., .beta. unsaturated polycarboxylic acid with a mono- or dicarboxylated sugar, in which the adduct has at least two hydroxy groups in a vicinal configuration. The sequestrants can be used to complex alkaline earth and transition metal ions and are especially useful for complexing calcium and magnesium in aqueous laundry solutions. They also are effective for soil dispersion and for inhibiting the deposition of soil on fabric.