Thickened aqueous compositions

1. A method of softening water in a fabric washing machine which method comprises the addition of an aqueous thickened water softening composition which consists essentially of:

a) 2-10% wt. of a water-softening agent which is a partly neutralized water-soluble acrylic/maleic copolymer;

b) 0-1% wt of a surfactant;

c) water; and

d) xanthan gum present in an amount of from 0.1% wt. to less than 1.0% wt. to the water of the washing machine,

10-20% wt. of sodium citrate,

wherein the aqueous thickened water softening composition comprises 100% wt.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous thickened water softening composition comprises 0.1 to 70% wt of the water-softening agent.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the aqueous thickened water softening composition comprises 3 to 50% wt of the water-softening agent.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous thickened water softening composition comprises citric acid or a salt thereof.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous thickened water softening composition has a pH of from 3 to 7, measured at 20° C.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous thickened water softening composition comprises xanthan gum present in an amount of from 0.1% wt. and up to but excluding 0.4% wt.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous thickened water softening composition comprises a surfactant.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous thickened water softening composition comprises an organic solvent.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the aqueous thickened water softening composition comprises an organic solvent selected from C3-C12 all glycol ethers, and C1-C4 alcohols.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the aqueous thickened waters softening composition comprises an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of: ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol hexyl ether, and mixtures thereof.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous thickened water softening, composition comprises a phosphonate.

12. A thickened liquid water softening composition comprising

a) 2-10% wt. of a water-softening agent which is a water-soluble polymer;

b) less than 1% wt of a surfactant;

c) water; and

d) 0.1% wt. to less than 1.0% wt of a xanthan gum,

10-20% wt. of sodium citrate,

wherein the thickened aqueous composition comprises 100% wt.

13. A thickened liquid water softening composition according to claim 10 comprising 0.1 to 70% wt of a water-softening polyacrylate polymer.

14. A thickened liquid water softening composition according to claim 11 comprising 3 to 50% wt of a water-softening polycarboxylate polymer.

15. A thickened liquid water softening composition according to claim 10 , wherein the water-softening polycarboxylate polymer is a polymer based on acrylic acid combined with or without other moieties.

16. A thickened liquid water softening composition according to claim 13 wherein the water-softening polycarboxylate polymer is an acrylic/maleic copolymer.

17. A thickened liquid water softening composition according to claim 10 which additionally comprises citric acid or a salt thereof.

18. A thickened liquid water softening composition according to claim 10 which additionally comprises a phosphonate.

19. A thickened liquid water softening composition according to claim 10 wherein the pH of the composition is from 3 to 7, measured at 20° C.

20. A thickened liquid water softening composition according to claim 10 comprising from 0.1% wt. to less than 0.4% wt of a xanthan gum.

21. A method of softening water in a fabric washing machine which method comprises the addition of a thickened liquid water softening composition according to claim 10 .

22. A thickened liquid water softening composition according to claim 10 consisting essentially of:

a) 2-10% wt. water-softening agent which is a water-soluble polymer;

b) less than 1% wt of a surfactant;

c) water; and

d) 0.1% wt. to 1.0% wt of a xanthan gum.