Abstract: Liquid detergent compositions are disclosed for softening and washing fabrics comprising an aqueous base, a detergent active material such as a mixture of anionic and nonionic materials, a detergency builder, such as sodium tripolyphosphate, and a special fabric softening clay which swells in water but not in sodium tripolyphosphate solution. The use of such clays enable the product to be prepared without an undesirably high viscosity.

Abstract: An aqueous liquid detergent composition comprises, in addition to water, detergent active compound, at least one water-soluble dicarboxylic acid having from 5 to 7 carbon atoms in the molecule and having a solubility in water of from 1 to 70 g/100 g water at 20.degree. C., and at least one organic solvent having a boiling point of from 120.degree. to 280.degree. C. and chosen from alkylene and polyalkylene glycols having from 2 to 9 carbon atoms in the molecule, and the C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl ethers thereof containing a total of from 3 to 14 carbon atoms in the molecule.