Abstract: There is provided an aqueous hard surface cleaning composition comprising a) a water soluble organic solvent; b) a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of an alcohol alkoxylate, an alcohol block alkoxylate, a polyxyethylene polyoxypropylene block surfactant, and mixtures thereof; and c) an effective amount up to about 5% by weight of a cleaning auxiliary selected from the group consisting of methylglycine diacetic acid, hydroxyethyl ethylenediamine triacetic acid, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, nitilotriacetic acid, salts thereof, and mixtures thereof; and d) optionally, a thickening agent. The compositions are useful for cleaning hard surfaces with a minimum of wiping and scrubbing.

Abstract: There is provided according to the present invention an aqueous gel composition, comprising a) an ethoxylated polyhydric alcohol which comprises a reaction product of an alcohol having 3 to 6 hydroxy groups with ethylene oxide; and b) a gelling agent selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene triblock surfactant having a molecular weight of from 4,000 to 16,000, and wherein the weight of the polyoxyethylene blocks is from 55% to 90% of the weight of the triblock surfactant; a crosslinked polyacrylic thickener; cellulose derivatives; hydrated silicas; and mixtures thereof. When the gelling agent is the triblock surfactants, the ethoxylated polyhydric alcohol comprises the reaction product of the polyhydric alcohol and up to 5 mole equivalents of ethylene oxide per mole equivalent of hydroxyl group in the alcohol.

Abstract: Cleaning formulations and methods are provided by which solid deposition is inhibited on hydrophobic hard surfaces typically encountered in bathroom and outdoor environments without detrimentally affecting the appearance of such surfaces. The formulations most preferably include an aqueous mixture of an organically solvated nonionic copolymer, a polyacrylic acid homopolymer and a nonionic surfactant. Optionally, a hydrotrope may also be present in the formulation. Most preferably, the formulations of this invention have a pH between about 4.0 to about 7.0, most preferably around neutral (i.e., about 7.0).

Abstract: There is provided a hard surface cleaning composition comprising: (a) a water soluble organic solvent; (b) an anionic surfactant which comprises the reaction product of maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, or a mixture thereof and at least one selected poly(oxyalkylated) polyol or epoxy-capped poly(oxyalkylated) polyol in the presence of a peroxy-type free radical initiator to form a carboxylic group containing addition product,; and (c) a third component comprising a chelating agent or a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alcohol alkoxylates, alcohol block alkoxylates, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A stable non-aqueous carrier for personal care compositions comprising:a) about 80-98% by weight of a liquid polyoxyalkylene glycol of MW=3000-100000;b) about 2-20% by weight of a non-ionic solid triblock EO/PO/EO copolymer of MW=8500-25,000.

Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid polyoxyalkylene compounds having improved flowability characteristics useful in a variety of industrial and personal care applications.

Abstract: A laundry detergency boosting polymer blend additive is made up of:a) a graft copolymer of polyalkylene oxide with vinyl ester, the graft copolymer having a molecular weight within the range of about 5,000 to 50,000; andb) at least one polycarboxylate selected from the group consisting of acrylic/maleic acid copolymers having a molecular weight within the range of about 1,000 to 100,000, and polyacrylic acid having a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to 100,000. The polymer blend additive is effective in water with an ion hardness in the range of about 50 to 500 ppm. The detergency boosting performance of the polymer blend additive is maintained or increased as the concentration of the hardness ions in water is increased.

Abstract: A stable non-aqueous carrier for personal care compositions comprising:a) about 80-98% by weight of a non-ionic liquid triblock EO/PO/EO copolymer of MW=1000-5000;b) about 2-20% by weight of a non-ionic solid triblock EO/PO/EO copolymer of MW=4000-16,000.

Abstract: A method for the pretreatment of fabrics and textiles to impart soil release properties thereto involves contacting the fabrics with homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl ethers.

Abstract: A manually rotatable latch of a control unit has an oblong cross-section shalt extending through a keyhole slot in a slider, the wide dimension of the shaft being greater than the narrow portion of the slider, to block movement of the slider when the latch is extended to lock the unit to the cabinet or block insertion of the unit to the cabinet. A link from the slider extends into the path of movement of an operator to block movement of the operator to an ON position of switching apparatus of the control unit when the latch is extended. The link takes advantage of optimal latch location substantially centered in the control unit to minimize twisting of the unit within the cabinet when removal is attempted without releasing the latch.

Abstract: A plate pivotally mounted to a padlock hasp adjacent a reciprocally movable operator handle is pivotable from a stored position to one covering the opening of the hasp, the plate having a hole aligned with the opening and smaller than the opening to receive the shackle of a single, scissors-type safety lockout and maintain the shackle in position to block movement of the operator handle to an operated position. The hole is preferably rectangular to conform to the flat, thin shape of the safety lockout shackle to maintain the shackle properly oriented. An additional round hole for a smaller diameter padlock shackle may be provided in said plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antifreeze/coolant composition with polymeric polycarboxylates which prevents hard water precipitants and scale formation, is soluble in alcohol and alcohol/water mixtures, is compatible with other commonly used antifreeze/coolant components, does not corrode or damage automotive cooling systems and is effective at relatively low concentrations.

Abstract: The present invention provides an antifreeze/coolant additive comprising polymeric polycarboxylates which prevents hard water precipitants and scale formation, is soluble in alcohol and alcohol/water mixtures, is compatible with other commonly used antifreeze/coolant components, does not corrode or damage automotive cooling systems and is effective at relatively low concentrations.

Abstract: An aqueous laundry prewash stain remover composition has on a weight basis 0.1 to 20% of at least one chelating agent from the group of citric acid, tartaric acid, ethylene diamine tetracetic acid, isoserine diacetic acid and Beta-alanine diacetic acid; 0.1 to 40% of nonylphenol ethoxylate; 0.1 to 10% of propoxylated ethylenediamine known as N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-hydroxypropyl) ethylenediamine; 0.1 to 5% of alpha-olefin epoxide modified polyether thickener; with the remainder of the composition being water. The composition provides enhanced stain removal on both oil and water-borne stains on a variety of fabrics. These formulations are solvent free, freeze/thaw stable, and do not precipitate on standing at room temperature.

Abstract: An aqueous laundry prewash stain remover composition, has on a weight basis 0.1 to 20% of at least one chelating agent from the group of citric acid, tartaric acid, and ethylene diamine tetracetic acid; 0.1 to 40% of a mixture of nonionic surfactants from the group of ethoxylated alcohols and propoxylated alcohols; 0.1 to 10% of propoxylated ethylenediamine known as N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-hydroxypropyl) ethylenediamine; 0.1 to 5% of alpha-olefin epoxide modified polyether thickener; 0.1 to 19.9% of an additional chelant from the group of isoserine diacetate and Beta-alanine diacetate; with the remainder of the composition being water. The composition provides enhanced stain removal on both oil and water-borne stains on a variety of fabrics. These formulations are solvent free, freeze/thaw stable, and do not precipitate on standing at room temperature.

Abstract: Hydroxy terminated polyoxyethylene homopolymers or hydroxy terminated polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block copolymers mixed with polycarboxylates have been found to be effective dispersants for aqueous, high solids, pigment slurries. The blend provides a simple, efficient means of matching the requirements of a particular slurry, while lowering the anionic loading on a pigment particle.

Abstract: A method of pretreating fabrics and textiles to impart soil release properties involves contacting the fabrics with a graft copolymer of polyoxyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene terephthalate with vinyl acetate or vinyl propionate.

Abstract: Low levels (2-6 percent active) of ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers have been found to significantly enhance the oily and particular soil removal of detergents containing anionic surfactants and ethoxylated alcohols or other oxyalkylate surfactants.

Abstract: A stable liquid detergent composition having improved clay soil detergency, clay soil anti-redeposition, oily soil anti-redeposition and soil release properties is disclosed. The detergent composition is comprised of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a hydrotrope, a graft copolymer of polyalkylene oxide and an ester monomer, and a nonionic cellulosic anti-redeposition agent. The graft copolymer is comprised of (a) a polyalkylene oxide based upon an alkylene oxide having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms having a molecular weight of 300 to 100,000 and, (b) at least one vinyl ester derived from a saturated monocarboxylic acid containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and/or methyl or ethyl ester of acrylic or meth-acrylic acid in a weight ratio of (a):(b) of from 1:0.2 to 1:10. The nonionic cellulosic anti-redeposition agent is preferably hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

Abstract: Narrow range ethoxylate nonionic detergents, in combination with coil release promoting polyethylene terephthalate-polyoxyethylene terephthalate (PET-POET) copolymer (in place of broad range ethoxylate nonionic detergent and PET-POET copolymer) are of significantly and unexpectedly improved soil release promoting activity in built synthetic organic detergent compositions, of either the phosphate-built or non-phosphate-built types. Preferably, there will be present with the PET-POET copolymer a stabilizing proportion of polyacrylate, to stabilize the PET-POET copolymer against deterioration and loss of soil release promoting activity on storage at elevated temperature, especially when in contact with alkaline components of the detergent composition. The improved soil release promoting activity is most pronounced when the laundry to be washed and treated is subjected to repeated launderings with the invented compositions in cold water and when it includes polyester-containing fibrous materials.