Abstract: Liquid softergent compositions having improved softening and stability properties comprising an anionic optical brightener, a higher alkyl dimethyl 2-ethyl hexyl quaternary ammonium compound, a nonionic surfactant and preferably an anionic surfactant in a 1:1 molar ratio with the cationic quaternary compound in an aqueous vehicle; and a method of simultaneously cleaning and softening fabrics without reducing brightener and detergency performance, which comprises treating fabrics with said composition in the wash cycle of the laundering operation.