Abstract: A particulate fabric softening composition and a particulate fabric softening detergent composition are described, both of which include bentonite powder agglomerated into larger particulate bead or granule form with a normally solid co-melt of a pentaerythritol compound (PEC), such as pentaerythritol ditallowate (PEDT), and a nonionic surfactant, such as a condensation product of a mole of a C.sub.12-15 fatty alcohol with seven moles of ethylene oxide. The fabric softening composition described may be added to wash (or rinse water) but preferably is incorporated in a particulate built synthetic organic anionic and/or nonionic detergent composition to produce a fabric softening detergent composition. The invented detergent compositions are especially suitable for washing laundry in "cold" water, such as water at 40.degree. C.

Abstract: An antistatic particulate laundry detergent composition comprises synthetic organic detergent, preferably sodium linear dodecylbenzene or sodium linear tridecylbenzene sulfonate, inorganic and/or organic builder for the detergent, preferably sodium tripolyphosphate and/or zeolite builder, and higher alkyl or alkylbenzene hydroxyethyl imidazoline of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl or alkylbenzene of 8 to 24 carbon atoms preferably stearyl, which detergent composition is of improved detergency due to the presence therein of the higher alkyl or alkylbenzene hydroxyethyl imidazoline antistat. In preferred detergent compositions of this type bentonite is desirably present for its fabric softening activity, and such activity is improved by the presence of the higher alkyl or alkylbenzene hydroxyethyl imidazoline, which also possesses fabric softening properties.