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

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.sub.1-6 alkyl, CH.sub.2 CO(DECO).sub.r-1 OM;
• B=H, OH, C.sub.1-6 alkyl, COOM
• D=O, NH
• E=C.sub.1-6 alkyl
• F=a copolymerizable monomer;
• M=H, alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal, ammonium, substituted ammonium or --(CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O).sub.2-4 M.sup.1 wherein M.sup.1 is allowed to have the meaning of M except (CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O).sub.2-4 M.sup.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.