Abstract: A composition useful as a laundry detergent having from about 95 to about 5 percent by weight of a first component and from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of a second component. The first component contains one or more short chain fatty acids having from 5 to about 14 carbon atoms, and the second component contains one or more surfactants. A method of laundering sullied fabrics is also presented which includes preparing a laundering solution of from about 0.2 to about 0.75 percent by weight of the above detergent composition, from about 0.0 to about 1.3 percent by weight of an alkaline constituent and enough water to equal 100 percent by weight. The laundering solution is then employed in a conventional washing machine in order to remove the sullying materials from the fabric.