Detergent composition and method of use with surfactant, silicate, and polycarboxylate

Claim 1

A detergent composition containing: ______________________________________ Surfactant 5-40% by weight Calcium-binding silicate 5-50% by weight Polycarboxylate 1-20% by weight Other silicate 0-30% by weight Carbonate 0-30% by weight Organic complexing agent 0-10% by weight Phosphate 0-30% by weight Hydroxycarboxylic acid 0-20% by weight Bleaching agent 0-30% by weight Bleaching-agent activator 0-10% by weight Optical brightener 0-5% by weight Enzyme 0-30% by weight Greying inhibiter 0-5% by weight Defoamer 0-8% by weight Fillers 0-40% by weight ______________________________________ with at least 1% by weight of the composition being a polycarboxylate having an average molecular weight of between 500 and 500,000 with the structure (X, Y, Z) in which X stands for ##STR5## Y stands for ##STR6## and Z for --(F).sub.q --, in which A=H, OH, C 1-6 alkyl, CH 2 CO(DECO) r-1 OM; B=H, OH, C 1-6 alkyl, COOM D=O, NH E=C 1-6 alkyl F=a copolymerizable monomer; M=H, alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal, ammonium, substituted ammonium or --(CH 2 --CH 2 --O) 2-4 M 1 wherein M 1 is allowed to have the meaning of M except (CH 2 --CH 2 --O) 2-4 M 1 ; r=1-5; and m=0"99.5 molar % n=0.5-100 molar % q=0-99.5 molar % where m+n+q=100 molar % and said Y is at least about 1% by weight of said polycarboxylate.