Liquid detergents

1. A method for improving the cleaning performance of an aqueous, liquid, laundry detergent composition, the detergent composition comprising: water, anionic co-surfactants, auxiliaries and additives, whereby, the cleaning performance is improved by adding to the detergent composition from about 1 to 35% by weight of a hydroxy mixed ether of the formula:

wherein R 1 is a linear or branched alkyl group containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms, R 2 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, R 3 is hydrogen or methyl, R 4 is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, n is a number from 1 to 50 and, wherein, the total number of carbon atoms in R 1 and R 2 is at least 6 and, wherein, the percent by weight is based on the total weight of the detergent composition and the hydroxy mixed ether.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydroxy mixed ether comprises a compound of the formula:

wherein R 1 is a linear or branched alkyl group containing from about 2 to 18 carbon atoms, R 2 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing from about 2 to 18 carbon atoms, R 3 is hydrogen or methyl, R 4 is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms and n is a number from 2 to 25, and wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the substituents R 1 and R 2 is at least 6.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydroxy mixed ether is present in the composition in an amount of from 5 to 15% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydroxy mixed ether is present in the composition in an amount of from about 10 to 15% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one co-surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and zwitterionic surfactants.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the co-surfactant comprises nonlonic surfactants and anionic surfactants in an amount of from about 1 to 40% by combined weight, based on the weight of the composition.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid detergent composition comprises: at least one member selected from the group consisting of builders, polymers, redeposition inhibitors, optical brighteners, hyd rotropes, perfumes and bleaching agents.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydroxy mixed ether comprises a hydroxy mixed ether of the formula:

wherein R 1 is a linear or branched alkyl group containing from 10 to 16 carbon atoms, R 2 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, R 3 is hydrogen or methyl, R 4 is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and n is a number from 1 to 50, and wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the substituents R 1 and R 2 is at least 12.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydroxy mixed ether (I) comprises from 1–10 propoxy groups.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the hydroxy mixed ether is present in the composition in an amount of from 1 to 15% by weight based on the weight of the composition.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the composition further comprises at least one co-surtactant component selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and zwitterionic surfactants.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the co-surfactant component is present in the composition in an amount of from about 1 to 40% by weight, based on the weight of the composition.

13. A process for cleaning textiles comprising contacting the textiles with an aqueous, liquid, laundry detergent composition containing: a hydroxy mixed ether of the formula:

wherein R 1 is a linear or branched alkyl group containing from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, R 2 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing from 2 to 18 carbon atoms, R 3 is hydrogen or methyl, R 4 is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 1 to 22 carbon atoms and n is a number from 1 to 50, and wherein the total number of carbon atoms in the substituents R 1 and R 2 is at least 6, an anionic co-surfactant, additives and auxiliaries.