Thickened aqueous abrasive cleanser with improved colloidal stability

An aqueous hard surface abrasive cleanser, comprising

• (a) a colloidal alumina thickener having average particle size, in dispersion of no greater than about one micron;
• (b) a mixed surfactant system which comprises a cleaning-effective and abrasive-suspending amount of at least one anionic surfactant and one bleach-stable nonionic surfactant;
• (c) an electrolyte/buffer to promote the environment in which the colloidal alumina and surfactant can associate to provide proper rheology;
• (d) a halogen bleach;
• (e) a fatty acid soap;
• (f) a particulate calcium carbonate abrasive having an average particle size of about 40 to 800 microns;
• and
• (g) a viscosity stabilizing amount of a multivalent ionic metal salt, the metal selected from the group consisting of, magnesium, aluminum, zinc and gallium;
• and an anion of said salt selected from the group consisting of halides, sulfate, nitrate and borate, and mixtures thereof;
• and wherein the composition has an alkaline pH and is resistant to increases in viscosity or yield value over time.

A method for cleaning a hard surface comprising:

• contacting the hard surface having a stain thereon with a hard surface abrasive scouring cleanser which comprises:
• (a) a colloidal aluminum oxide thickener having average particle size in dispersion of no greater than about one micron;
• (b) at least one surfactant which can associate with the aluminum oxide, to provide proper rheology and cleaning;
• (c) an electrolyte/buffer to promote the environment in which the aluminum oxide and surfactant can associate to provide proper rheology;
• (d) halogen bleach;
• (e) a fatty acid soap;
• (f) a calcium carbonate abrasive having average particle size of about 40 to 800 microns to provide scouring action;
• (g) a viscosity stabilizing amount of a multivalent ionic metal salt, the metal selected from the group consisting of, magnesium, aluminum, zinc and gallium;
• and an anion of said salt selected from the group consisting of halides, sulfate, nitrate and borate, and mixtures thereof;
• and wherein the composition has an alkaline pH and is resistant to increases in viscosity or yield value over time.

A method for preparing a hard surface abrasive scouring cleanser comprising combining

• (a) a colloidal aluminum oxide thickener having average particle size in dispersion of no greater than about one micron;
• (b) at least one surfactant which can associate with the aluminum oxide to provide proper rheology and cleaning;
• (c) an electrolyte/buffer to promote the environment in which the aluminum oxide and surfactant can associate to provide proper rheology;
• (d) a halogen bleach;
• (e) a fatty acid soap;
• (f) a calcium carbonate abrasive having average particle size of about 40 to 800 microns to provide scouring action;
• (g) a viscosity stabilizing amount of a multivalent ionic metal salt, the metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, zinc and gallium;
• and an anion of said salt selected from the group consisting of halides, sulfate, nitrate and borate, and mixtures thereof;
• and wherein the composition has an alkaline pH and is resistant to increases in viscosity or yield value over time.