Fabric care method

A process which inhibits the re-absorption of migrating dyes in a wash liquor, comprising introducing into a wash liquor containing a peroxide-containing detergent, from 0.5 to 150 mg, per litre of wash liquor, one or more symmetrical compounds having the formula:

• in which n is 1, 2 or 3;
• A is an anion;
• R1 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl,
• Y is linear or branched alkylene of the formula —[C(R1)2]m in which m is an integer ranging from 1 to 8 and each R1 independently from the others has its previous significance;
• —CX═CX— in which X is cyano, linear or branched C1-C8-alkyl or di(linear or branched C1-C8-alkyl-amino;
• —(CH2)q—NR1—(CH2)q— in which R1 has its previous significance and q is 1, 2, 3 or 4;
• or a 1,2-cyclohexylene or phenylene residue having the formula:
• in which R7 is hydrogen, CH2OH or CH2NH2 or SO3M, where M is hydrogen, an alkali metal atom, ammonium or a cation formed from an amine,
• R and R′ are each cyano;
• halogen;
• hydroxy;
• OR1 or COOR1 in which R1 has its previous significance;
• nitro;
• linear or branched partially or completely fluorinated C1-C8-alkyl;
• NR3R4 in which R3 and R4 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or linear or branched C1-C12-alkyl;
• —N⊕R1R3R4 in which R1, R3 and R4 HAVE their previous significance or linear or branched C1-C8-alkylene-R2 in which R2 is OR1, COOR1 or NR3R4,
• R5 and R6 are each independently from the other hydrogen;
• linear or branched C1-C4-alkyl;
• unsubstituted aryl or aryl which is substituted by cyano, halogen, OR1 or COOR1, nitro, linear or branched C1-C8-alkyl, NR3R4 in which R3 and R4 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or linear or branched C1-C12-alkyl;
• —N⊕R1R3R4 in which R1, R3 and R4 HAVE their previous significance or linear or branched C1-C8-alkylene-R2 in which R2 is OR1, COOR1 or NR3R4, with the proviso that each n is 1, if R and R′ are both C1-C4-alkyl.