Synergistic Zn/phenolic solvent formulations for sanitization and odor control in laundry

A liquid antimicrobial laundry treatment composition consisting of:

• (a) an antimicrobial agent consisting of (i) and (ii):
• i. about 1% to about 10% by weight of an inorganic Zn salt;
• ii. about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a phenolic solvent, the phenolic solvent being selected from the group consisting of phenoxyethanol, chloroxylenol, cresylic acid, cresol, o-benzyl-chlorophenol, and combinations thereof,
• (b) about 2% to about 10% by weight of a surfactant package including an anionic surfactant;
• (c) an organic or inorganic acid pH adjusting agent, the pH adjusting agent being selected from the group consisting of citric acid, methane sulfonic acid, mandelic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and combinations thereof,
• (d) at least 75% by weight water;
• (e) wherein the composition has a pH of about 5 or less;
• (f) optionally, one or more of a thickener, an optical brightener, a polymeric suspension agent, an enzyme, a dye, colorant or pigment, a fragrance or perfume, a solvent, a co-surfactant, a hydrotrope, a stain and soil repellant, a lubricant, a solubilizing agent, a stabilizer, a defoamer, a preservative, or a buffer;
• (g) wherein the composition provides at least about a 2 log reduction against a Staphylococcus aureus bacterial population when used “through the wash” at a dilution factor that reduces a concentration of the inorganic Zn salt to a value from 50 ppm to less than 1000 ppm;
• and
• (h) wherein a molar ratio of the inorganic Zn salt and the phenolic solvent is from 5:1 to 8:1.