EP0431050A1

EP0431050A1 - Light duty liquid detergent compositions

Info

Publication number: EP0431050A1
Application number: EP89909976A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Edward Paul Duliba; Cuong Nguyen; Gregory Donald Riska; Gregory William Hawrylak; Francis Joseph Bala, Jr.
Original assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Current assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
Priority date: 1988-08-19
Filing date: 1989-08-14
Publication date: 1991-06-12
Also published as: MY104167A; AU4197089A; KR920002113B1; KR900701991A; MX169917B; ZA896048B; PT91475B; GR890100505A; DK28491D0; NZ230239A; GR1000487B; EG18567A; FI910764A7; PT91475A; AU634489B2; FI910764A0; WO1990002164A1; BR8907611A; ES2016055A6

Abstract

Une composition aqueuse d'un détergent liquide de lavage à la main de vaisselle sale comprend du dodécylbenzènesulfonate linéaire de magnésium, du monoglucoside ou du polyglucoside alkyle C9-C13 (entre 1 et 3 unités glucosides), monoéthanolamide laurique/myristique, diéthanolamide laurique, hydrotope, éthanol et eau, dans certaines proportions. Ces compositions sont capables de former une mousse stable et enlèvent efficacement des salissures grasses dans de l'eau de lavage à température ambiante.An aqueous composition of a liquid handwashing detergent for dirty dishes includes linear magnesium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, monoglucoside or polyglucoside C9-C13 alkyl (between 1 and 3 glucoside units), lauric / myristic monoethanolamide, lauric diethanolamide, hydrotope , ethanol and water, in certain proportions. These compositions are capable of forming a stable foam and effectively remove greasy soiling in wash water at room temperature.

Description

LIGHT DUTY LIQUID DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS

This invention relates to light duty liquid detergents having particular utility in the hand washing of dishware, including dishes, pots, pans, glassware and silver/flatware. More particularly, it relates to a liquid dishwashing detergent composition which provides stable, persistent foaming characteristics combined with effectiveness in removing greasy soils from dishes under ambient, i.e. low water temperature, conditions.

Foam generation by detergent compositions is associated by the consumer with good detersive ability. However, it is apparent that long lasting foam, whether considered copious or medium to low-medium foam content is, by itself, not a sufficient measure of cleaning ability. Nevertheless, much effort has been extended to optimize foaming characteristics, without necessarily improving cleaning ability.

Greasy soils are generally considered to be one of the most difficult soil types to be removed by hand washing. Effective grease removal is nearly always associated with requiring high temperature water to help dissolve and remove the grease.

Clearly, there would be a great advantage to formulate a mild, foaming, liquid hand dishwashing composition, which is capable of and effective in removing greasy soils as well as other soil types from dishware using water at ambient temperature.

The present invention provides compositions which accomplish this objective. The compositions,- although prepared from otherwise known ingredients, but in unique combinations and proportions, is capable of achieving a new and beneficial result.

In accordance with the present invention, the liquid dishwashing detergent composition comprises, as essential ingredients: (A) from about 30 to 50% of a surfactant system comprising (1) from about 35 to 65% of a magnesium salt of a C₁₀-C₁₅ alkyl benzene sulfonate anionic surfactant; (2) from 0 to 15% of an alkali metal salt of a ₁₀-C₁₆ alkyl benzene sulfonate anionic surfactant; and (3) from about 35 to 65% of an alkyl mono- or polyglucoside having from 9 to 13 carbon atoms, on average, in the alkyl chain, and an average degree of polymerization in the range of from about 1 to 3; and (B) from about 0.5 to 6% of a foam stabilization system comprising at least one lower alkanolamide of higher alkanoic acid, the balance water. Optional, but often beneficial ingredients which can, and often are included in the composition include:

(C) a low irritant organic solvent, up to about 10%;

(D) hydrotrope, up to about 8%;

(E) other adjuvants, such as, chelating or sequestering agents, coloring agents, dyes, perfumes, bactericides, fungicides, preservatives, sunscreening agents, pH modifiers, pH buffering agents, opacifiers, antioxidants, thickeners, proteins, and the like, up to about 20%, in total, with a maximum of any individual component being about 10%.

Unless indicated otherwise all percents and percentages given herein are on a by weight basis.

The components of the invention compositions will now be described in greater detail. (A) The Surfactant System

(1) The first essential surfactant ingredient is the anionic magnesium salt of an alkyl benzene sulfonic acid, preferably a linear C₁₀ to C₁₆ alkyl benzene sulfonate. The linear alkyl group more preferably averages from 10 to 12 carbon atoms, and most preferably averages 12 carbon atoms. Thus, the most preferred Mg alkyl benzene sulfonate is the magnesium salt of linear dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid. Furthermore, the magnesium salt may be, for example, a magnesium oxide neutralized linear dodecyi benzene sulfonic acid, or alternatively, the magnesium salt may be formed by adding a magnesium salt, such as magnesium chloride, magnesium sulfate, etc. to sodium dodecyi benzene sulfonate. In the latter alternative, any excess of the magnesium salt electrolyte will raise the cloud/clear point of the composition. This undesirable effect can, however, be compensated for by addition of hydrotrope, as described below.

The Mg salt anionic surfactant (1) is present in an amount of from about 15% to about 25%, based on the total composition, or in an amount of from about 35 to 65%, based on the total surfactants (A) (1) , (2) and (3) . The more preferred range of amounts of the anionic magnesium salt surfactant is from about 15 to 22%, especially about 20 to 21%, based on the total composition, or about 37 to 58%, especially about 48 to 54%, based on the sum of the surfactants (A) (l) , (2) and (3).

At below the 15% (total) level the improvement in low temperature grease removal becomes insufficient, while at amounts above 25% (total) there is a tendency for the composition to be mildly irritating to the hands.

(2) The surfactant system may also include a small amount, up to about 5% of the total composition, or up to about 15% of the total surfactant component, of an alkali metal salt of a linear C_1Q-C₁₅ alkyl benzene sulfonic acid anionic surfactant. The preferred amounts are up to about 3% (total) or about 8% (surfactant) , respectively, such as about 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, or 3.0 percent, of the total composition. The alkali metal may be sodium or potassium, preferably sodium. The linear alkyl group preferably contains from 10 to 12 carbon atoms, especially 12 carbon atoms, on average, e.g. sodium linear dodecyi benzene sulfonate. The sodium salt anionic is generally considered to be a milder detergent than the magnesium salt but is less effective for greasy soil removal and is also less effective in generating foam, especially in the presence of soil and, therefore, its presence in the composition will be minimized or eliminated wherever possible.

However, where the magnesium salt anionic is obtained by reacting an electrolyte magnesium salt with sodium alkyl benzene sulfonate, it is not generally necessary to remove any remaining sodium ion and, in fact, this is a convenient means for introducing the magnesium salt into the composition when its presence is desired.

(3) Another essential surfactant in the invention composition is an alkyl glucoside, preferably an alkyl polyglucoside, although alkyl monoglucoside can also be used.

The alkyl mono- and polysaccharides have received much attention recently for their beneficial detergent, foaming and viscosity modifying properties. Examples of patent literature relating to light duty liquid compositions containing alkyl monosaccharides include U.S. Patents 4,732,704 and 4,732,696. The alkyl polysaccharides are used in the liquid detergent compositions disclosed in U.S. Patents 4,396,520, 4,536,318, 4,565,647, 4,599,177, 4,663,069, and 4,668,422 (including monoglucosides), as well as many of the patents and literature cited in these patents.

In the present invention, a narrow subgenus of the alkyl saccharides have been found to effectively enhance low temperature grease removal when used in combination with the magnesium salt surfactant.

The alkyl glycosides used in this invention are those having an alkyl group of from 9 to 13 carbon atoms, preferably 9 to 11 carbon atoms, on average, and a glucoside hydrophilic group containing from 1 to about 3, and most preferably from about 1.2 to about 3, glucoside units, such as 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 2.0 or 2.8 glucoside units. Of course, the number of glucoside units in any particular surfactant molecule will be a whole number (i.e. an integer) , however, for any actual physical sample of alkyl glucoside surfactants there will, in general, be a range of glucoside units, and it is the average value which characterizes a particular surfactant product, ^"

The alkyl group is preferably attached at the 1-position of the sugar molecule, but may be attached at the 1-, 3-, or 4-poεitions, thus giving a glucosyl rather than a glucoside. Furthermore, in the polyglucosides, the additional glucoside units are predominantly attached to the previous glucoside at the 2-position, but attachment at the 3-, 4- and 6-positions can also occur.

Optionally, and less desirably, there may be a polyalkylene oxide chain (e.g. polyethylene oxide) joining the alkyl moiety and the glucoside units) .

The preferred alkyl polyglucosides have the formula

R²0(C_nH_2nO)_t(Z)_χ

wherein Z is derived from glucose, R² is an alkyl group containing from about 9 to about 11 carbons, n is 2 or 3, preferably 2, t is from 0 to about 6, preferably 0, and x is from l to 3, preferably from 1.2 to 3, most preferably from 1.3 to 2.7. To prepare these compounds a long chain alcohol (R OH) can be reacted with glucose, in the presence of an acid catalyst to form the desired glucoside. Alternatively the alkyl polyglucosides can be prepared by a two step procedure in which a short chain alcohol (C-_j^-Cg) is reacted with glucose or a polyglucoside (x=2 to 4) to yield a short chain alkyl glucoside (x=l to 4) which can in turn be reacted with a longer chain alcohol (R²OH) to displace the short chain alcohol and obtain the desired alkyl polyglucoside. If this two step procedure is used, the short chain alkyl glucoside content of the final alkyl polyglucoside material should be less than 50%, preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5%, most preferably 0% of the alkyl polyglucoside.

The amount of unreacted alcohol (the free fatty alcohol content) in the desired alkyl polyglucoside surfactant is preferably less than about 2%, more preferably less than about 0.5% by weight of the total of the alkyl polyglucoside plus unreacted alcohol. The amount of alkyl monoglucoside is preferably about 20% to about 70%, more preferably 30% to 60%, most preferably 30% to 50% by weight of the total of the alkyl polyglucoside. For some uses it is desirable to have the alkyl monoglucoside content less than about 10%. The amount of the alkyl glycoside surfactant to achieve the desired foam and detersive properties is in the range of from about 15 to 25% of the total composition, or from about 35 to 65% of the sum of the surfactants (A) (1) , (2) and (3) . The preferred amounts range from 16 to 22%, especially from 18 to 20%, based on the total composition, or from about 40 to 60%, especially from 45 to 55%, based on the total surfactant content.

Within these ranges the relative amounts of the magnesium alkyl benzene sulfonate surfactant and alkyl mono- or polyglucoside surfactant is not particularly critical, but will generally be within the range of from about 1.3:1 to 1:1.3, more preferably from about 1.2:1 to 1:1.2.

In the invention compositions, the total amount of active surfactant components will be in the range of from about 30% to 50% of the total composition, preferably from about 33% to 42%, such as 35%, 36%, 38%,

39% or 40%.

(B) Foam Stabilization System

The foam stabilization system which may also itself contribute to the foaming capacity as well as foam stabilizing effect is comprised of the lower alkanolamide of higher alkanoic acid which is the reaction product of a lower alkanol of 2 to 3 carbon atoms and an alkanoic acid of 10 to 16 carbon atoms, preferably with 80% or more of the lower alkanol being ethanol and a similar proportion of the alkanoic acid being of 12 to 14 carbon atoms. Other lower alkanols that are also useful are n-propanol and isopropanol. The preferred alkanoic acid is a mixture of lauric and yristic acids, generally in proportions of 1:2 to 2:1, with about 50% of each being preferable. Alternatively, coconut oil or hydrogenated coconut oil may be used as a source of the alkanoic acids. Suitable alkanoic acid alkanolamides include the monoethanolamides, diethanolamides and the monoisopropanolamides.

Specific examples include mixed lauric/myristic diethanolamide, lauric/myristic monoethanolamide, lauric monoethanolamide, lauric diethanolamide, coco diethanolamide, coco monoethanolamide, and the like.

In place of a part of the alkanoic acid alkanolamide content of the present compositions, trialkyl amine oxides or lower alkoxylated alkanoic acid alkanolamides may be employed. The amine oxides are usually dilower alkyl higher alkyl amine oxides wherein the lower alkyls are of 1 to 3 carbon atoms and the higher alkyls contain from 10 to 16, preferably 12 to 14 carbon atoms. The alkoxylated alkanoic acid alkanolamide has from 1 to 10, preferably 2 to 4 ethoxy groups in the molecule. The alkanol and the fatty acid are the same as for the present alkanoic acid alkanolamides. Normally, the replacement of alkanolamide will be to the extent of only 5 to 40% by weight of the proportions thereof given above. While the alkanolamide may, for some uses, be completely replaced by the amine oxide, ethoxylated alkanolamide or mixture thereof, such complete replacement is not preferred. Most preferably, none of the alkanoic acid alkanolamide content is replaced by the amine oxides.

The amount of the alkanoic acid alkanolamide may be up to about 6% of the composition, such as 0.5 to 6%, preferably 1 to 6%, more preferably 1 to 5%, such as 2, 3 or 4%, of the composition.

The compositions of this invention which include the magnesium salt surfactant, alkyl polyglucoside and foam stabilization system, in the specified proportions, as essential ingredients are formulated in an aqueous carrier to provide mild, stable foaming liquid compositions especially effective in cleaning, by hand washing, dishware, such as dishes, glasses, flatware, pots, pans, etc., at ambient wash water temperature, as well, of course, at warm or hot wash water temperatures. The invention formulations are mild to the hands and are clear and homogeneous. Clarity and homogeneity may often, however, be improved by inclusion of, for example, organic solvents and/or hydrotropes, and these and other optional additives may also be included in the compositions in amounts which do not adversely influence the desirable properties. (C) Organic Solvent

Cosmetically acceptable organic solvents, usually lower alcohols, such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof, may be included in the composition for its thinning effect, lowering of clear point, and for 2 .- _ lubilizing effect for any components which may not be readily soluble in the main aqueous medium. The amount of solvent, when present, will usually be limited to about 10%, preferably 8%, especially about no more than 6% of the composition, such as from 2 to 5%. Ethanol is the preferred organic solvent.

(D) Hydrotrope

In order to assist in solubilizing various components of the composition, maintain a low clear point, and possibly modifying viscosity, it is customary to include a hydrotropic substance in the composition. Typical hydrotropes include primarily urea and the lower alkyl aryl sulfonate salts, such as sodium xylene sulfonate, potassium xylene sulfonate, sodium cumene sulfonate, ammonium xylene sulfonate, and the like. Mixtures of two or more hydrotropes may also be used. The hydrotrope, when used, is generally present in amounts below about 8%, preferably below about 6%, such as from 1 or 2 to 6%.

(E) Other Optional Functional and Aesthetic Additives Various other materials may also be included in the present compositions for their desirable functional or aesthetic effects. Among these, those material employed to increase the mildness of the detergent composition to the human hands, such as the water soluble proteins, are often very useful.

Although solvents, including water, tend to make the products clear liquids, it is sometimes desirable to opacify them or make them appear pearly. For such purpose there may be employed opacifying agents, e.g. behenic acid, or a pearlescent or pearlizing composition, such as an approximately equal mixture of high fatty acid ester of polyethoxy ethanol, coconut oil fatty acid alkanolamide and sodium lauryl ether sulfate. The higher fatty acid will usually be of 10 to 18 carbon atoms and the polyethoxy content will be of 1 to 20, preferably 1 to 10 ethoxy groups. The alkanolamide will preferably by ethanola ide, but can be mixed with isopropanola ide, too. Additional adjuvant components of the present compositions include perfumes; sequestrants, e.g. monohydrogen ethylene dia ine tetraacetate, tetrasodium ethylene diamine tetraacetate, trisodium nitrilotriacetate; bactericides, e.g. trichlorocarbanilide, tetrachlorosalicylanilide, hexachlorophene, chlorobromosalicylanilide; antioxidants; thickeners, e.g. sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, polyacrylamide, Irish moss; dyes; water dispersible pigments; salts, e.g. sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, as the heptahydrate or anhydrous, sodium chloride; preservatives, such as formaldehyde or hydrogen peroxide, pH modifiers, etc.

The total amount of the additional additives is usually no more than about 20% of the composition, preferably not exceeding 15%, while the amount of any individual ingredient will not generally exceed 10%, especially 5%, and usually no more than 2 or 3%.

In the above description of the compositions of this invention and the various adjuvants employable therein, and in the claims, although individual constituents are mentioned for various classes or types of components it is within the invention that mixtures thereof be employed, such as mixtures of two or three anionic detergents or mixtures with the nonionic detergents, both possibly with other anionic and nonionic detergents known in the art, mixtures of skin treating materials and mixtures of solvents, among others.

For example, the present inventors have found that under certain circumstances paraffin sulfonate surfactants, such as sodium or magnesium (C₁₂-C₁₈) paraffin sulfonate, usually together with minor amounts of ₁₀-C₁₈ alkyl ether ethyleneoxy sulfates of the formula R(OC₂H₄)_nOS0₃M wherein n is 1-10, preferably 1-5, such as 2 or 3, R is alkyl containing 10 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 15 carbon atoms, and M is a cation, preferably sodium, potassium or ammonium, or magnesium, together with an amine oxide nonionic foam stabilizer, preferably mono g-C₁₈ alkyl di-(C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₂ alkanolamine) oxides, can be used with the alkyl polyglucosides described above to also achieve good foam and grease removal characteristics. In particular, compositions containing from 13 to 18% paraffin sulfonate, 4 to 6% magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, 2 to 4% amine oxide, 9 to 13% of alkyl polyglucoside (Cg-C-^ alkyl polyglucoside with 1.2 to 3 glycoside units), and 0 to 8% of the alkyl ether sulfate are especially effective.

The viscosities of the detergent compositions may be further varied by the addition of thickening agents, such as gums and cellulose derivatives. The product viscosity and flow properties should be such as to make it pourable from a bottle and not so thin as to tend to splash or pour too readily, since usually only small quantities of the liquid detergent are to be utilized in use. Viscosities from 20 to 1000 centipoise (Brookfield Viscometer spindle no. 1, 12 r.p. .) are found useful with those from 100 to 500 cps. being preferred and a viscosity of about 200 centipoise being considered best by most consumers, although at somewhat lower viscosities, e.g. 100 cps., consumer acceptance is almost the same.

In manufacturing the described formulations, usually it is preferred to heat the detergent constituents to a somewhat elevated temperature, e.g. 40° to 50°C and then admix them with the water and, optionally, all or a portion of the ethanol. Thereafter, other anionic and nonionic detergents, urea, amide, protein and other adjuvants are added with the more volatile materials, such as perfumes, preferably being added last and after cooling of the composition to about room temperature. Normally when making opaque or pearly detergents, the pearlizing mixture will also be added near last at about room temperature. Although the described method of making the compositions is preferred, various other known techniques may also be employed, depending upon the particular detergent composition.

The pH of the formulation will generally be near neutral, e.g. about 6 to 8, preferably about 6.5 to 7.5.

The following representative non-limiting examples will help to further understand the present invention. Example 1

The following compositions are prepared: Component Run No.

Mg linear dodecyi benzene sulfonate [Mg(LDBS)₂]

Alkyl polyglycoside¹)

Na LDBS

Lauric/myristic monoethanolamide (LMMEA)

Lauric diethanolamide (LDEA)

Ethanol (3A)

Sodium cumene sulfonate (SCS)

Sodium xylene sulfonate (SXS)

Monohydrogen ethylene diamine tetraacetate, trisodium salt (HEDTA)

Perfume

Color

Water, deionized

1) APG 325 from Horizon Chemical, hydrophobe chain length of 9 to 11 carbon atoms, average of 1.52 glycoside units. Each of the compositions of Runs 1 and 2 are evaluated by the following criteria:

(1) Emulsification Stability

The emulsification stability of corn oil in a 1% surfactant solution at 50 ppm hardness (Ca:Mg = 2:1), 100 ppm HC0₃ -. For the test, 0.20 g of Mazola corn oil is added to 19.80 g of the diluted (1%) surfactant solution and placed in a vial. The vial is inverted 25 times by hand and allowed to stand 5.0 min. The turbidity is read both before and after the test on a Hach turbidimeter and the change in turbidity (NTU) is calculated. The higher the turbidity the better the emulsion stability.

(2) Miniplate Test

A diluted (0.1% test solution is titrated with Crisco (hydrogenated cotton seed) soil to a foam end point under constant agitation in 50 ppm hardness water. This test measures the total number of plates which can be washed with the detergent composition until the foam is killed, i.e., before there is no longer the appearance of foam on top of the wash water. (3) Tergoto eter Foam Test

A diluted (0.1%) test solution is agitated in a standard tergotometer while planchets filled with lard (Armour) are periodically added. The number of planchets required to reduce the foam height to 50 ml is measured.

In all of the above test procedures, water at ambient temperature (75 to 80°F, 25°C) is used for dilution and for washing. The results of the- testing for the compositions of Run Nos. 1 and 2 and the results for two different best selling commercial light duty liquid dishwasher compositions are shown in Table 1.

*Control No. 1: Leading commercial brand of hand dishwashing composition containing anionic surfactant; foam booster; hydrotropes; inorganic salts; ethanol; water.

**Control 2: A second leading commercial brand of hand dishwashing composition containing: anionic surfactants; foam booster; hydrotrope; inorganic salts; ethanol; water.

Example 2

The following composition is prepared: wt.

Mg (LDBS) ₂ 21.0

APG 325 18.0

LMMEA 1.0

LDEA 3.0

Ethanol (3A) 4.3

SCS 2.1

SXS 2.2

Urea 2.0

HEDTA 0.1

Perfume 0.2

Colorant 0.3

Water, deionized q.s to 100 and is subjected to the test procedures described above in Example 1 but using water at both 50 ppm and 150 ppm hardness. In addition, the composition is subjected to the following additional tests:

(4) Grease Removal (Cup) Test

This test measures amount of greasy soil (lard) removal from the surface of a plastic beaker. In this test 0.55 to 0.60 g of lard is spread on the walls of a 250 ml plastic beaker and the beaker is then filled with 250 grams of a 1% diluted solution of the test composition. The test composition is mechanically agitated with a stirrer at 200 rpm for 5 minutes. The percent trans ittance (%T) is measured by a fiber optic probe at 490 ran light using a Brinkman PC 800 colorimeter. The lower the value of %T as time progresses the better is the greasy soil removal capability of the test composition. This test, however, is only valid for compositions that are initially clear enough to be standardized at zero absorbance with the PC 800 colorimeter.

(5) Modified Grease Removal (Cup) Test

The procedure described for the grease removal test (5) is modified by using hamburger grease as the soil and tap water at 105°F for dilution.

(6) Bau gartner Soil Removal

This test also measures the ability of a diluted (1%) solution in 50 ppm or 150 ppm hardness water to remove a greasy soil (lard) from a test surface (a cleaned glass slide 2.5 cm x 0.1 cm) . The soil is applied by spreading about 0.2 to about 0.3 gram lard onto each cleaned glass slide. The soiled slides are cleaned in a 1% product solution by dipping the soiled slide into the solution 600 times. The solution is maintained at ambient temperature (75°F) . After washing, the slides are dried in a desiccator for two hours. The difference in weight of the lard before and after the cleaning process is taken as a measure of grease removal, the greater the difference the more effective is the detergent composition.

The results of the tests are shown in Table 2 together with the results obtained for the same two commercial products ^"(Control 1 and Control 2) used in Example 1.

Table 2

1) solution too cloudy for reading

2) solution too cloudy for accurate initial value

3) not measured

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A liquid dishwashing detergent composition providing stable foaming characterists and which is effective in removing greasy soils at ambient temperature, said composition comprising:

(A) from about 30 to 50% by weight of a surfactant system comprising

(1) from about 35 to 65% by weight of a magnesium salt of ^{a C}ιo"*^ci6 ^al^kyl benzene sulfonate anionic surfactant;

(2) from 0 to about 15% of an alkali metal salt of a C₁₀-C₁₆ alkyl benzene sulfonate anionic surfactant; and

(3) from about 35 to 65% by weight of an alkyl mono- or polyglucoside having from 9 to 13 carbon atoms, on average, in the alkyl chain, and an average degree of polymerization in the range of from about 1 to about 3 ;

(B) from about 0.5 to about 6% by weight of a foam stabilization system comprising at least one lower alkanolamide of higher alkanoic acid;

(C) up to about 10% by weight of a low irritant organic solvent;

(D) up to about 8% by weight of hydrotrope;

(E) up to about 20% by weight in total of one or more optional additives chosen from chelating or sequestering agents, coloring agents, dyes, perfumes, bactericides, fungicides, preservatives, sunscreening agents, pH modifiers, pH buffering agents, opacifiers, antioxidents, thickeners, proteins and the balance, water.

2. The composition of claim 1 which comprises

(A) from about 33 to 42%

(B) from about 1 to 5%;

(C) from about 2 to 5%;

(D) from about 1 to 6%;

(E) up to about 10%;

(F) balance, water.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the surfactant system (A) comprises (1) from about 45 to 58% of a magnesium salt of a C₁₀ to C₁₂ alkyl benzene sulfonate, (2) up to about 5% of sodium salt of C₁₀ to C ₁₂ alkyl benzene sulfonate, and (3) from about 40 to 60% of an alkyl polyglucoside having from about 9 to 11 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and from about 1.2 to 3 glucoside units.

4 The composition of claim 1 wherein the foam stabilization system (B) comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of lauric diethanolamide, lauric monoethanolamide, myristic diethanolamide, myristic monoethanolamide, coco diethanolamide, and coco monoethanolamide.

5 The composition of claim 4 wherein the foam stabilization system (B) comprises from about 1 to 5 % of the composition.