FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The technical field relates to unit dose packs that include a wash composition with reduced efflorescence, and more particularly relates to unit dose packs with reduced efflorescence and with high solvent loadings, and methods of producing the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Detergent in unit dose packs are available for a variety of washing activities, such as garment laundering and dish washing. The unit dose pack provides a pre-measured quantity of detergent that is easy to carry and convenient to use. The unit dose pack minimizes over-dosage of detergent and has proven popular with consumers.

Many unit dose packs include a wash composition that is encapsulated within a pouch made of a water soluble film, where the wash composition includes detergent, solvents, and other components useful for cleaning or other purposes. In many cases, the film is clear, so the contents are visible. Some consumers interested in reduced environmental impact prefer a product that is free of colorants and perfumes, so the product appears clear. Some consumers prefer to see the contents of the unit dose pack for aesthetic or other reasons. However, some components of the wash composition tend to effloresce in the film, where efflorescence is the migration of a salt or other solid to the surface of a solid. In the case of unit dose packs, materials tend to effloresce in the film such that the film of the unit dose packs appears and feels “grainy.” Increased solvent loadings in the wash composition encapsulated within the film tend to increase the propensity for efflorescence, but increased solvent loadings can reduce costs. The grainy appearance and feel of a film with efflorescence may be negatively perceived by consumers.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a unit dose pack with higher solvent loadings and with reduced efflorescence. In addition, it is desirable to provide unit dose packs that have favorable properties such as desirable haptics, viscosity, and water activity, and still provide reduced efflorescence in the film over time. Methods of producing the same are also desirable. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and the foregoing technical field and background.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Unit dose packs and methods for producing the same are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a unit dose pack includes a film and a wash composition encapsulated within the film. The wash composition includes a glycol ether in an amount of from about 2 to about 15 weight percent, glycerin in an amount of from about 15 to about 26 weight percent, and polyethylene glycol in an amount of from about 0 to about 12 weight percent, all based on a total weight of the wash composition. A sum of the amounts of the glycol ether, the glycerin, and the polyethylene glycol is from about 26 to about 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the wash composition.

A method of producing a unit dose pack is provided in another embodiment. The method includes forming a wash composition that includes a glycol ether in an amount of from about 2 to about 15 weight percent, glycerin in an amount of from about 15 to about 26 weight percent, and polyethylene glycol in an amount of from about 0 to about 12 weight percent, all based on a total weight of the wash composition. The sum of the amounts of the glycol ether, the glycerin, and the polyethylene glycol is from about 26 to about 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the wash composition. The wash composition is encapsulated within a film to produce the unit dose pack.

A unit dose pack is provided in yet another embodiment. The unit dose pack includes a film and a wash composition encapsulated within the film. The wash composition includes monoethanol amine in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent, a coconut fatty acid in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 8 weight percent, an anionic surfactant in an amount of from about 20 to about 35 weight percent, a nonionic ethoxylated surfactant in an amount of from about 15 to about 30 weight percent, an optical brightener in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 1 weight percent, a bittering agent in an amount of from about 0.001 to about 0.2 weight percent, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether in an amount of from about 3 to about 12 weight percent, glycerin in an amount of from about 16 to about 25 weight percent, and polyethylene glycol in an amount of from about 0 to about 10 weight percent, all based on a total weight of the wash composition.

