Abstract

An elastic detergent product which may also be used by children as a toy or plaything while taking a bath, includes a mixture of anionic and amphoteric synthetic organic detergents, gelatin and water. The products are substantially form-retaining and although they wear away during use, substantially retain their initial forms and elasticities for major proportions of their useful lives. They are easily manufactured and during the manufacturing process are moldable to finely figured and detailed shapes. Because of their elasticity they are resistant to breakage during shipping and use and because of their contents of both synthetic anionic and amphoteric organic detergents they exhibit less surface tackiness than other elastic detergent products or bars in which similar proportions of gelatin and water are present. In an improved process for the manufacture of such products having a lesser tendency to shrink upon prolonged exposure to the atmosphere, during the blending of the various product components heating is employed and is continued for a long enough time to evaporate a substantial proportion of water from the mixture, after which the composition may be poured into molds and solidified.