Abstract: A powder detergent composition which is effective for removing and dispersing organic non-polar and polar soils from fabrics in wash liquors. The powder detergent composition comprises a polymer having a hydrophilic backbone and at least one hydrophobic moiety. The hydrophilic backbone is prepared from a monomer selected from ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic monomers, polymerizable hydrophilic cyclic monomers, and non-ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable hydrophilic monomers selected from glycerol and other polyhydric alcohols. The hydrophobic moiety is prepared from a monomer selected from siloxanes, saturated or unsaturated alkyl and hydrophobic alkoxygroups, aryl and aryl-alkyl groups. The polymers also boost the cleaning performance of hard surface and dishware detergent compositions.