Method of formulating laundry detergent for low temperature detergency stability

A method of formulating a laundry detergent formulation to have detergency stability for cleaning water temperatures ranging from 10 to 30° C., comprising:

• (a) selecting an anionic surfactant, wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of alkyl sulfates, alkyl benzene sulfates, alkyl benzene sulfonic acids, alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl polyethoxy sulfates, paraffin sulfonic acids, paraffin sulfonates, olefin sulfonic acids, olefin sulfonates, alpha-sulfocarboxylates, esters of alpha-sulfocarboxylates, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonic acids, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, sulfates of fatty acids, sulfonates of fatty acids, sulfonates of fatty acid esters, alkyl phenol polyethoxy ether sulfates, 2-acryloxy-alkane-1-sulfonic acids, 2-acryloxy-alkane-1-sulfonates, beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonic acids, beta-alkyloxy alkane sulfonates, oleic acid and mixtures thereof;
• (b) selecting a nonionic surfactant, wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group of nonionic surfactants having formula (i)
• wherein R1 is a linear C8-18 alkyl group;
• wherein AO is an oxyalkylene group with 3 to 5 carbon atoms;
• wherein x is 2 to 4;
• wherein y is 6 to 25;
• wherein z is 1 to 50;
• and wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected based on its ability to impart detergency stability to the laundry detergent formulation for cleaning water temperatures ranging from 10 to 30° C.;
• (c) selecting a water miscible organic solvent, wherein the water miscible organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of a C1-4 alcohol with one hydroxyl group (e.g., ethanol);
• propylene glycol;
• glycerol;
• 1,3-butanediol;
• 1,3-hexanediol;
• dipropylene glycol and mixtures thereof;
• and
• combining the selected anionic surfactant, the selected nonionic surfactant, the selected water miscible organic solvent and water to provide the formulated laundry detergent formulation.