06.03.19
US Patent No. 10,233,407 B2 (Charles A. Hodge, Julio R. Panama, Amanda R. Blattner, Nicholas Popp, David W. Gohl); Ecolab USA has patented a method of conditioning fabrics. The method that entails contacting cotton fabric with a liquid composition that contains an amino-functional silicone (a linear or branched structured amino-functional silicone polymer), quaternary ammonium compound (methyl bis(hydr. tallow amidoethyl)-2-hydoxyethyl ammonium methyl sulfate), water, preservative, fragrance and optionally an anti-static agent, dye transfer inhibition/color protection agent, odor removal/odor capturing agent, soil shielding/soil releasing agent, ultraviolet light protection agents, sanitizing agent, disinfecting agent, water repellency agents, insect repellency agent, anti-pilling agents, scouring agent, mildew removing agent, enzyme, allergicide agent, starch agent, bleaching agent, optical brightness agent, colorant/hueing agent, and/or surfactant. Drying the fabric so the temperature is at least 200°F; wherein the delta b* of cotton fabric is greater (more negative) than the delta b* of a control when subjected to at least 15 cycles, a cycle is comprised of a wash step followed by a conditioning step according to step (a) and drying step according to step (b) and the softness of the fabric does not decrease.