WO2018007199A1

WO2018007199A1 - Acceleration of the drying of laundry

Info

Publication number: WO2018007199A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/065815
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arnd Kessler; Slavoljub Barackov; Christian Nitsch
Original assignee: Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa
Priority date: 2016-07-06
Filing date: 2017-06-27
Publication date: 2018-01-11
Also published as: DE102016212309A1

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to reduce the drying time of laundered and optionally spin-dried textiles. This aim is essentially achieved by the use of ethylene glycol polymers or propylene glycol polymers or copolymers thereof in the rinsing step of machine washing processes.

Description

Acceleration of laundry drying

The present invention relates to a method for shortening the drying time of machine-washed textiles.

For washed textiles, after washing, the water used for them must be removed. Part of the adhering water can be removed by the action of mechanical forces, the so-called spin. However, it is not all textiles that can be thrown, and also thrown items of laundry are usually not so dry that they can be easily stored or re-worn. For further drying, the wet, optionally spun textiles are usually hung on a clothesline or treated in a tumble dryer. In the second variant, it is readily apparent that the length of time required for a desired drying result is directly related to energy consumption. But even when drying on a leash, it is desirable to keep the necessary time as short as possible.

With growing environmental awareness, many consumers want to reduce their environmental footprint and consume as little water and energy as possible. This is accompanied by financial savings through reduced electricity and water consumption. The EU Regulation on Energy Labeling for Domestic Washing Machines (EU 1061/2010) specifies classes for the centrifugal efficiency, ie the residual moisture remaining in the laundry (efficiency classes A to G). Laundry that contains less residual moisture dries faster and consumes less energy when drying in an electric clothes dryer, making the use of tumble dryers more attractive. The last spin in a washing machine is used to finalize the drying of the laundry to prepare for drying, either on a leash or in a tumble dryer. For this purpose, the laundry is centrifugally dewatered at spin speeds of 600 to 1600 revolutions per minute. Decisive for the degree of drainage is in addition to the speed and the nature of the textile. Fabrics made of synthetic fibers dehydrate when spinning fast and strong, while in conventional cotton fabrics high water retention is just under spin conditions. To characterize the centrifugal efficiency (energy labeling according to EU 1061/2010) is therefore the after the spinning process remaining moisture used as a criterion. The top grade A is awarded if the residual moisture content is less than 45%.

From the international patent application WO 2013/033508 A1 is a method for reducing the textile drying time by applying linear polyethers with terminal

N (CH 2 CH (OH) CH 2 Cl) 2 groups on textiles during the wash known.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that the presence of certain polyglycol ethers in the rinsing step of mechanical washing processes has an influence on the drying time of the laundry.

The invention relates to the use of at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer of these in the rinse step mechanical washing process to reduce the drying time of the washed and optionally spun textiles.

The shortening of the drying time is achieved by reducing the residual moisture content of the washed textiles. Another object of the invention is therefore the use of at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer thereof for the reduction of the residual moisture content of machine-washed and in particular flung textiles.

Further objects of the invention are a method for shortening the drying time of machine-washed textiles, comprising washing soiled textiles in an aqueous wash-containing wash liquor, rinsing the textiles one or more times with water, and rinsing at least once with an aqueous aftertreatment liquor containing at least one polymer from ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer thereof containing laundry aftertreatment agent, and a method for lowering the residual moisture content of machine washed and in particular spun textiles by rinsing at least once with an aqueous aftertreatment liquor containing at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer thereof Laundry aftertreatment contains.

According to the invention, it is important that in the rinsing step, preferably in the last rinsing step, if there is more than one, said polymer is present in the aqueous liquor in which the textiles are located. Between washing and rinsing step, the aqueous wash liquor, usually by pumping out of the washing machine out. As a result of the rinsing step, the part of the aqueous liquor still adhering to the textile, which had previously come into contact with the textile in the washing step, is removed from the textile. This is done by single or multiple rinsing of the textiles. with water, wherein the aqueous Nachspülflotte used in the rinsing step or in one of the rinsing steps, an aftertreatment agent, for example a fabric softener, can be added. Such fabric softeners usually contain cationic compounds that attract the textiles and give them a soft feel. Laundry aftertreatment means according to the invention may consist solely of polymers essential to the invention, in particular if these polymers are liquid at room temperature; they may have polymer essential to the invention in the form of an aqueous solution, and / or they may, if desired, contain other conventional constituents of such agents which do not undesirably interact with a polymer essential to the invention. Preferred laundry aftertreatment agents used in the invention contain from 50% to 95%, in particular from 80% to 95%, by weight of polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer thereof; Also preferred wash aftertreatment agents are water-containing and liquid and contain 1% by weight to 90% by weight, in particular 10% by weight to 50% by weight, of polymer essential to the invention. Preferably, the time during which the aqueous post-treatment liquor containing the polymer essential to the invention remains in contact with the laundering textiles is in the range from 1 minute to 60 minutes, in particular from 5 minutes to 20 minutes.

It is noteworthy that the effect of lowering the residual moisture caused by the use according to the invention of the polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or of the copolymer is retained if the use of the polymer essential to the invention is dispensed with in the washing operations of the textile material treated with the invention. Without wishing to be bound by this theory, it is conceivable that the polymer essential to the invention rests on the textile in the rinsing process, is not or at least not completely removed from the textile in the next wash cycle and can still develop its positive effect in the subsequent rinse cycle. However, if the said next wash cycle is carried out at elevated temperatures, the residual moisture-reducing effect of the previously applied polymer essential to the invention is less pronounced. Further objects of the invention are therefore the use of at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer thereof to reduce the residual moisture content then mechanically washed at temperatures below 45 ° C and in particular spun textiles, a method for machine washing at temperatures below 45 ° C moisture-reducing equipment of textiles by rinsing at least once with an aqueous aftertreatment liquor containing a laundry aftertreatment agent containing at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer thereof, and a process for removing a machine-wash washing temperature at temperatures below 45 ° C; which has been achieved by rinsing at least once with an aqueous aftertreatment liquor comprising at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer of laundering agent containing the same by washing at a temperature above 45 ° C.

A polymer essential to the invention or a rinse aid containing it can be introduced into a washing machine with the aid of a customary flushing device provided for dispensing fabric softeners. In a preferred embodiment, however, it is in a connected via a supply line with the water-bearing units of the washing machine reservoir, which may be located inside or outside the machine, before, and is dosed programmatically in Nachspülschritt. Another object of the invention is therefore a washing machine with a tub, a washing drum for receiving the laundry to be washed, a water supply system and a program control, characterized in that the washing machine is a storage container for a polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer has this, from which said active ingredient can be programmatically introduced into the washing process. Polymer essential to the invention can be supplied directly to the suds container or, alternatively, be supplied to other locations of the liquid circuit of the machine, for example the circulation pump. In the reservoir, sufficient quantities of polymer essential to the invention may be present for a plurality of applications, preferably 2 to 50 applications. In the reservoir, a Wasschenachbehandlungsmittel containing inventive polymer may be included. Preferably, the polymer essential to the invention is present in the storage container in the form of an aqueous solution containing from 10% by weight to 50% by weight, in particular from 20% by weight to 40% by weight, of the polymer.

According to the invention, a polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer of these is used; preferred propylene glycol is 1,2-propylene glycol. Preferably, polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight in the range from 300 g / mol to 35000 gmol, in particular 4000 g / mol to 6000 g / mol, and / or polypropylene glycol having a number average molecular weight in the range from 250 g / mol to 5000 g mol, in particular 1500 g / mol to 2500 g / mol used. In the copolymers, the weight ratio of propylene glycol to ethylene glycol in the copolymers is preferably in the range of 10:90 to 90:10, especially 60:40 to 80:20. In the copolymers, said monomers may be randomized or present as blocks. Preference is given to copolymers in which polyethylene glycol blocks are fused to a central polypropylene glycol block. In these, the molecular weight of the central polypropylene glycol block is preferably in the range of 1000 g / mol to 5000 g / mol, more preferably 1500 g / mol to 2700 g / mol, and the molecular weight of each polyethylene glycol block bonded thereto is in the range of 100 g / mol to 6000 g / mol, in particular from 500 g / mol to 3500 g / mol. Such block copolymers are commercially available, for example, under the names Pluronic® PE. The content of polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or copolymer from these in the inventively used after-treatment agent may optionally be up to 50 wt .-%, preferably 1 wt .-% to 15 wt .-%, and in particular 2 wt .-% to 10 wt .-% amount.

Preferably, to reduce the residual moisture from 0, 1 g to 10 g, in particular 0.5 g to 2.5 g of essential to the invention polymer per 1 kg of textile.

Preferred textiles to which the use according to the invention refers or which are used in the process according to the invention are those of cellulose-containing material. Cellulosic materials from which preferred textiles to be treated are made include cotton, regenerated cellulosic fibers such as modal or lyocel, and blended fabrics of cotton or regenerated cellulose with other apparel-grade materials such as polyester and polyamide.

All percentages given in connection with the compositions described herein, unless explicitly stated otherwise, relate to% by weight, in each case based on the composition in question.

The use of the invention achieves a reduced residual moisture content of the laundry after the washing process, in particular after a spin-drying operation following the washing, and thus an overall faster drying of the laundry. When using a tumble dryer with detection of the residual moisture of the laundry results in a lower energy consumption due to the reduced humidity of the introduced into the dryer laundry. The use of the invention thus has financial as well as time advantages.

Laundry aftertreatment compositions which contain or are used together with the polymer to be used according to the invention or are used in the process according to the invention are solid or preferably liquid and may for example be present as a single dose (for example packaged in bags of water-soluble or water-dispersible material). Examples of concrete laundry aftertreatment agents are laundry care products such as fabric softeners. Laundry aftertreatment means according to the invention may consist solely of polymers essential to the invention, in particular if they are liquid at room temperature, have polymer essential to the invention in the form of an aqueous solution, or, if desired, contain conventional other constituents of such agents which do not interact undesirably with polymer essential to the invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, the preparations used as aftertreatment agent may be designed as a laundry care product and then additional plasticized cherr components, preferably betaines and / or cationic surfactants. Examples of fabric softening components are quaternary ammonium compounds, cationic polymers and emulsifiers, such as those used in hair care products and also in textile saliva.

Suitable examples are quaternary ammonium compounds of the formulas (I) and (II),

wherein in (I) R and R is an acyclic alkyl radical having 12 to 24 carbon atoms, R ^{2 is} a saturated C ¹ -C ⁴ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl radical, R ^{3 is} either R, R or R ² or is an aromatic radical. X ^" is either a halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion and mixtures of these Examples of cationic compounds of the formula (I) are didecyldimethylammonium chloride, ditallowdimethylammonium chloride or dihexadecylammonium chloride.

Compounds of formula (II) are so-called ester quats. Esterquats are characterized by their good biodegradability and are preferred in the context of the present invention. Here, R ^{4 is} an aliphatic alkyl radical having 12 to 22 carbon atoms with 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds; R ⁵ is H, OH or 0 (CO) R ⁷ , R ⁶ is independently of R ^{5 is} H, OH or 0 (CO) R ⁸ , wherein R ⁷ and R ⁸ are each independently an aliphatic alkyl radical having 12 to 22 carbon atoms having 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds, m, n and p may each independently have the value 1, 2 or 3 have. X ^" can be either a halide, methosulfate, methophosphate or phosphate ion and mixtures thereof Preferred compounds are those for R ^5, the group 0 (CO) R ⁷ and for R ⁴ and R ^{7 are} alkyl radicals having 16 to 18 carbon atoms Particular preference is given to compounds in which R ⁶ additionally represents OH. Examples of compounds of the formula (III) are methyl N- (2-hydroxyethyl) -N, N-di (tallowacyl oxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate, bis - (palmitoyl) -ethyl-hydroxyethyl-methyl-ammonium methosulfate or methyl-N, N-bis (acyloxyethyl) -N- (2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium methosulfate.

In a preferred embodiment, the agents contain the plasticizer components in amounts of up to 35% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 25% by weight, more preferably from 0.5 to 15% by weight and in particular from 1 to 10% by weight .-%, in each case based on the total agent. Solvents that can be used in particular for liquid agents are, in addition to water, preferably those nonaqueous solvents which are water-miscible. These include the lower alcohols, for example, ethanol, propanol, iso-propanol, and the isomeric butanols, glycerol, lower glycols, such as ethylene and propylene glycol, and the ether derivable from said lower alcohols. In a preferred embodiment, the agents contain up to 95 wt .-%, in particular 25 wt .-% to 90 wt .-% water, and up to 50 wt .-%, in particular 0, 1 wt .-% to 15 wt. % non-aqueous solvent.

In addition to the aforementioned components, the agents may contain pearlescing agents. Pearlescent agents give the textiles an extra shine. Examples of suitable pearlescing agents are: alkylene glycol esters; fatty acid; partial glycerides; Esters of polybasic, optionally hydroxy-substituted carboxylic acids with fatty alcohols having 6 to 22 carbon atoms; Fatty substances, such as, for example, fatty alcohols, fatty ketones, fatty aldehydes, fatty ethers and fatty carbonates, which in total have at least 24 carbon atoms; Ring opening products of olefin epoxides having 12 to 22 carbon atoms with fatty alcohols having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, fatty acids and / or polyols having 2 to 15 carbon atoms and 2 to 10 hydroxyl groups and mixtures thereof.

Furthermore, liquid agents may additionally contain thickeners. In order to increase consumer acceptance, the use of thickening agents has proved particularly useful in the case of gel-like compositions. Naturally derived polymers which can be used as thickening agents are, for example, agar-agar, carrageenan, tragacanth, gum arabic, alginates, pectins, polyoses, guar flour, locust bean gum, starch, dextrins, gelatin and casein, cellulose derivatives such as Carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl and propyl cellulose, and polymeric polysaccharide thickeners such as xanthan; In addition, fully synthetic polymers such as polyacrylic and polymethacrylic compounds, vinyl polymers, polycarboxylic acids, polyethers, polyimines, polyamides and polyurethanes are also suitable. In a preferred embodiment, the agents used according to the invention comprise thickeners, preferably in amounts of up to 10% by weight, more preferably up to 5% by weight, in particular from 0.1% by weight to 1% by weight, in each case based on the total mean.

Furthermore, the agents may additionally contain odor absorbers and / or color transfer inhibitors. In a preferred embodiment, the agents optionally contain from 0.1% to 2% by weight, preferably from 0.2% by weight to 1% by weight, of a color transfer inhibitor which, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, comprises a polymer of vinylpyrrolidone, Vinyl imidazole, vinyl pyridine N oxide or a copolymer of these. Polyvinylpyrrolidones having molecular weights of from 15,000 to 50,000 and also polyvinylpyrrolidones having molecular weights of more than 1,000,000, in particular from 1,500,000 to 4,000,000, N-vinylimidazole / N-vinyl can be used, for example. pyrrolidone copolymers, polyvinyl oxazolidones, copolymers based on vinyl monomers and carboxamides, pyrrolidone-containing polyesters and polyamides, grafted polyamidoamines, polyamine-N-oxide polymers, polyvinyl alcohols and copolymers based on acrylamidoalkenylsulfonic acids. Among the copolymers are those of vinylpyrrolidone and vinylimidazole in a molar ratio of 5: 1 to 1: 1 with an average weight average molecular weight in the range of 5,000 g / mol to 50,000 g / mol, in particular 10,000 g / mol to 20,000 g / mol prefers.

Preferred deodorizing substances are metal salts of an unbranched or branched, unsaturated or saturated, mono- or polyhydroxylated fatty acid having at least 16 carbon atoms and / or a rosin acid with the exception of the alkali metal salts and any desired mixtures thereof. A particularly preferred unbranched or branched, unsaturated or saturated, mono- or polyhydroxylated fatty acid having at least 16 carbon atoms is ricinoleic acid. A particularly preferred rosin acid is abietic acid. Preferred metals are the transition metals and the lanthanides, in particular the transition metals of Groups VIII-a, Ib and IIb of the Periodic Table, and lanthanum, cerium and neodymium, more preferably cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc, most preferably zinc. The cobalt, nickel and copper salts and the zinc salts are similarly effective, but for toxicological reasons, the zinc salts are to be preferred. It is advantageous and therefore particularly preferred to use as deodorizing substances one or more metal salts of ricinoleic acid and / or abietic acid, preferably zinc ricinoleate and / or zinc abietate, in particular zinc ricinoleate. Cyclodextrins, as well as mixtures of the abovementioned metal salts with cyclodextrin, preferably in a weight ratio of from 1:10 to 10: 1, particularly preferably from 1: 5 to 5: 1 and in particular from 1, prove to be further suitable deodorizing substances in the sense of the invention. 3 to 3: 1. The term "cyclodextrin" includes all known cyclodextrins, that is, both unsubstituted cyclodextrins with 6 to 12 glucose units, in particular alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrins and their mixtures and / or derivatives thereof and / or their mixtures.

Liquid or pasty compositions in the form of common solvents, in particular water, containing solutions are usually prepared by simply mixing the ingredients, which can be added in bulk or as a solution in an automatic mixer.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the agents are present, preferably in liquid form, as a portion in a completely or partially water-soluble coating. Portioning makes it easier for the consumer to dose. In this embodiment, the water content of the aftertreatment agent is preferably less than 15 wt .-% and is in particular in the range of 1 wt .-% to 12 wt .-%. The funds can be packed, for example, in foil bags. Pouches made of water-soluble film make it unnecessary for the consumer to tear open the packaging. In this way, a convenient dosing of a single, sized for a wash portion by inserting the bag directly into the washing machine or by throwing the bag into a certain amount of water, for example in a bucket, a bowl or hand basin, possible. The film bag surrounding the washing portion dissolves without residue when it reaches a certain temperature.

There are numerous processes in the prior art for producing water-soluble detergent portions, which are basically also useful in the context of the present invention. The best known methods are the tubular film processes with horizontal and vertical sealing seams. Also suitable for the production of film bags or dimensionally stable detergent portions is the thermoforming process (thermoforming process). However, the water-soluble envelopes do not necessarily consist of a film material, but can also represent dimensionally stable containers that can be obtained for example by means of an injection molding process.

Furthermore, methods for producing water-soluble capsules of polyvinyl alcohol or gelatin are known, which in principle offer the possibility to provide capsules with a high degree of filling. The methods are based on introducing the water-soluble polymer into a shaping cavity. The filling and sealing of the capsules takes place either synchronously or in successive steps, in which case the filling of the capsules takes place through a small opening in the latter case. The capsules are filled, for example, by a filling wedge, which is arranged above two drums rotating against each other, which have spherical half-shells on their surface. The drums carry polymer belts that cover the ball half-shell cavities. At the positions where the polymer band of one drum coincides with the polymer tape of the opposite drum, a seal takes place. In parallel, the filling material is injected into the forming capsule, wherein the injection pressure of the filling liquid presses the polymer bands in the Kugelhalbschalenkavitäten. A process for the preparation of water-soluble capsules, in which initially the filling and then the sealing takes place, is based on the so-called Bottle-Pack ^® method. In this case, a tubular preform is guided into a two-part cavity. The cavity is closed, the lower tube portion is sealed, then the tube is inflated to form the capsule shape in the cavity, filled and finally sealed.

The shell material used for the preparation of the water-soluble portion is preferably a water-soluble polymeric thermoplastic, more preferably selected from the group (optionally partially acetalized) polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone lidone, polyethylene oxide, gelatin, cellulose and derivatives thereof, starch and derivatives thereof, blends and composites, inorganic salts and mixtures of said materials, preferably hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and / or polyvinylalcohol blends. Polyvinyl alcohols are commercially available, for example under the trade name Mowiol ^® (Clariant). In the present invention, particularly suitable polyvinyl alcohols are, for example, Mowiol ^® 3-83, Mowiol ^® 4-88, Mowiol ^® 5-88, Mowiol ^® 8-88 and Clariant L648. The water-soluble thermoplastic used to prepare the portion may additionally optionally comprise polymers selected from the group comprising acrylic acid-containing polymers, polyacrylamides, oxazoline polymers, polystyrene sulfonates, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers and / or mixtures of the above polymers. It is preferred if the water-soluble thermoplastic used comprises a polyvinyl alcohol whose degree of hydrolysis makes up 70 to 100 mol%, preferably 80 to 90 mol%, particularly preferably 81 to 89 mol% and in particular 82 to 88 mol%. It is further preferred that the water-soluble thermoplastic used comprises a polyvinyl alcohol whose molecular weight is in the range from 10 000 to 100 000 gmol / preferably from 1 1 .000 to 90 000 gmol / more preferably from 12 000 to 80 000 gmol ^-1 and especially from 13 000 to 70 000 gmol ^{. 1} lies. It is further preferred if the thermoplastics are used in amounts of at least 50% by weight, preferably of at least 70% by weight, more preferably of at least 80% by weight and in particular of at least 90% by weight, based in each case on the weight the water-soluble polymeric thermoplastic.

Examples

example 1

A washing machine LG F1494QD was loaded with approx. 5.25 kg of a laundry load according to DIN EN 60456, which was not stacked in a modification to the standard, but simply stuffed. Was washed in a cotton wash at 40 ° C (program duration about 45 minutes) using a commercially available gel-type universal detergent (dosage 73 ml, addition in the main wash on the dosing drawer). The additives indicated in the table below were fed via the softener-dosing compartment; The timing of the dosage was the responsibility of the machine, but was reliable at the beginning of the final rinse with the water inlet instead. Before washing, the laundry was weighed dry. After completion of the wash cycle, the laundry was weighed wring moist and calculated the residual moisture.

Table 1

It can be seen that the use of softener does not significantly improve the drainage of laundry during spinning. By using the polymer essential to the invention, the drainage is improved.

Example 2

The procedure described in Example 1 was repeated using 7.5 g of polyethylene glycol 6000. After the determination of the residual moisture, the laundry was washed under the otherwise same conditions 10 times again, but waived the polyethylene glycol 6000 administration, and determines the residual moisture after each operation. Thereafter, the batch of laundry was a final 12 times, but at 60 ° C under otherwise identical conditions, again without polyethylene glycol 6000, washed. Table 2 below shows the residual moisture content after the individual washings. Table 2

It can be seen that at 40 ° C., the polymer applied at this temperature still leads to a reduction in the residual moisture in subsequent washing and rinsing operations without the use of the polymer. By washing at 60 ° C, the effect is lifted.

Claims

claims

1. Use of at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer of these in the rinse step mechanical washing process to reduce the drying time of the washed and optionally spun textiles.

2. Use of at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer thereof to reduce the residual moisture content of machine-washed and in particular spun textiles.

3. A method for shortening the drying time of machine-washed textiles, comprising washing soiled fabrics in an aqueous detergent wash, one or more rinsing the textiles with water, and at least one rinse with an aqueous aftertreatment liquor containing at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer of laundry aftertreatment containing them.

4. A method for lowering the residual moisture content of mechanically washed and in particular spun textiles by rinsing at least once with an aqueous aftertreatment liquor containing a at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer thereof containing Wäschenachbehandlungsmittel.

5. Use according to claim 1 or 2 or method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or the copolymer thereof is used as part of a rinse aid, the 50 wt .-% to 95 wt .-% , in particular 80 wt .-% to 95 wt .-% of the polymer, or which is hydrous and liquid and 1 wt .-% to 90 wt .-%, in particular 10 wt .-% to 50 wt .-%, Contains polymer of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or copolymer thereof.

6. Use or method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the time during which the aqueous aftertreatment liquor remains in contact with the washed textiles, in the range of 1 minute to 60 minutes, in particular from 5 minutes to 20 minutes.

7. Washing machine with a tub, a washing drum for receiving the laundry to be washed, a water supply system and a program control, characterized in that the washing machine has a reservoir for a polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or the copolymer of these, from which the poly can be introduced into the washing process in a program-controlled manner, the polymer in the storage container being in the form of an aqueous solution containing preferably from 10% by weight to 50% by weight, in particular from 20% by weight to 40% by weight of the polymer, is present.

8. Use of at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer thereof to reduce the residual moisture content then mechanically washed at temperatures below 45 ° C and especially spun textiles.

9. A method for machine washing at temperatures below 45 ° C residual moisture-reducing equipment of textiles by rinsing at least once with an aqueous aftertreatment liquor containing a at least one polymer of ethylene glycol or propylene glycol or a copolymer thereof containing laundry aftertreatment.

10. Use, method or washing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polyethylene glycol has a number average molecular weight in the range of 300 g / mol to 35000 gl mol, in particular 4000 g / mol to 6000 g / mol, and / or the polypropylene glycol has a number-average molecular weight in the range from 250 g / mol to 5000 gmol, in particular 1500 g / mol to 2500 g / mol, or in the copolymers the weight ratio of propylene glycol to ethylene glycol in the range from 10:90 to 90:10, especially from 60:40 to 80:20.