Abstract

An aqueous cleaning composition comprising a surfactant; up to about 50% of a higher boiling solvent, typically an alkyl ether of an alkylene glycol, said solvent introducing impurities into the composition in an amount and of a nature normally chemically incompatible with oxidizable dye chromophores; a dye in an amount to provide a desired tinctorial value, and a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of salts suitable to provide iodide and thiosulfate anions in an amount effective to retard fading of the dye, said compositions having a basic pH when the stabilizer is the thiousulfate salt. In another aspect of the invention, the stabilizer incorporated into compositions containing a solvent, a surfactant, and water, and optionally a dye provides a beneficial cleaning result. In yet another aspect of the invention, the stabilizer beneficially retards the development of malodors when the compositions of the present invention are contained in a PVC container. Broadly, the incorporation of the stabilizer in said solvent can be employed to neutralize said impurities.