Encapsulated hard surface cleaning concentrates

1. A water soluble container containing a composition comprising:

(a) 1-40% wt. of at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties according to the general structural formula:

where at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl substituent of from 6 to 26 carbon atoms, the remaining substituents on the nitrogen atoms are hydrocarbons containing no more than 12 carbon atoms and optionally the R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 substituents may include one or more amide, ester or ether linkages, with the entire cation portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of at least 165, and X is salt-forming anion which permits water solubility of the quaternary ammonium complex;

(b) at least one non-ionic surfactant having from six to eleven carbon atoms in the non-polar hydrophobic portion of the surfactant;

(c) 39-about 87% wt. of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight from about 100 to about 1000;

(d) optionally, up to about 10% wt. of one or more conventional additives selected from coloring agents, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents, other non-short chain non-ionic surfactants, other antimicrobial/germicidal agents, pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic and inorganic salts, non-aqueous solvents, optical brighteners, opacifying agents, hydrotropes, antifoaming agents, enzymes, anti-spotting agents, anti-oxidants, and anti-corrosion agents;

wherein said composition contains at least 2.6 percent by weight of water, and less than 25 percent by weight of water.

2. The container according to claim 1 which comprises a thermoformed or injection molded water-soluble polymer.

3. The container according to claim 2 wherein the water-soluble polymer is a poly(vinyl alcohol).

4. The container according to claim 1 wherein:

(b) at least one non-ionic surfactant having from six to eleven carbon atoms in the non-polar hydrophobic portion of the surfactant is present in an amount of from about 10 to 55 percent by weight.

5. The container according to claim 2 which contains from about 2.6 to about 20 percent water.

6. The container according to claim 5 which contains from about 2.6 to about 10 percent water.

7. The container according to claim 3 which contains about 2.6 to about 20 percent water.

8. The container according to claim 7 which contains about 2.6 to about 10 percent water.

9. A water soluble container containing a composition consisting essentially of:

(a) 1-40% wt. of at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties according to the general structural formula:

where at least one of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl substituent of from 6 to 26 carbon atoms, the remaining substituents on the nitrogen atoms are hydrocarbons containing no more than 12 carbon atoms and optionally the R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 substituents may include one or more amide, ester or ether linkages, with the entire cation portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of at least 165, and X is salt-forming anion which permits water solubility of the quaternary ammonium complex,

(b) 10-55% wt. of at least one non-ionic surfactant having from six to eleven carbon atoms in the non-polar hydrophobic portion of the surfactant;

(c) 39% wt. to about 87% wt. of a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight from about 100 to about 1000;

(d) 0% wt. to about 10% wt. of one or more conventional additives selected from coloring agents, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents, other non-short chain non-ionic surfactants, other antimicrobial/germicidal agents, pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic and inorganic salts, non-aqueous solvents, optical brighteners, opacifying agents, hydrotropes, antifoaming agents, enzymes, anti-spotting agents, anti-oxidants, and anti-corrosion agents; wherein,

said composition contains less than 25 percent by weight of water.

10. The container according to claim 9 which comprises a thermoformed or injection molded water-soluble polymer.

11. The container according to claim 9 wherein the water-soluble polymer is a poly(vinyl alcohol).

12. The container according to claim 9 which contains from about 2 to about 20 percent water.

13. The container according to claim 12 which contains from about 2 to about 10 percent water.

14. The container according to claim 13 which contains from about 2 to about 5 percent water.

15. A water soluble container containing a composition comprising:

(a) 1-40% wt. of at least one cationic surfactant having germicidal properties according to the general structural formula:

where at least one R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl substituent of from 6 to 26 carbon atoms, the remaining substituents on the nitrogen atoms are hydrocarbons containing no more than 12 carbon atoms and optionally the R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 substituents may include one or more amide, ester or ether linkages, with the entire cation portion of the molecule has a molecular weight of at least 165, and X is salt-forming anion which permits water solubility of the quaternary ammonium complex;

(b) at least one non-ionic surfactant having from six to eleven carbon atoms in the non-polar hydrophobic portion of the surfactant;

(c) 39-about 87% wt. of polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight from about 100 to about 1000;

(d) optionally, up to about 10% wt. of one or more conventional additives selected from coloring agents, fragrances and fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents, other non-short chain non-ionic surfactants, other antimicrobial/germicidal agents, pH adjusting agents and pH buffers including organic and inorganic salts, non-aqueous solvents, optical brighteners, opacifying agents, hydrotropes, antifoaming agents, enzymes, anti-spotting agents, anti-oxidant; and anti-corrosion agents;

wherein said composition contains less than 25 percent by weight of water.