Abstract: Bactericidal soap bar containing in combination a bactericidal compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein each of X.sub.1 and X.sub.3 independently represents a halogen atom which is the same or different and X.sub.2 represents a hydrogen or halogen atom, and a compound of the formula ##STR2## wherein R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group of 8 to 17 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A soap or synthetic detergent composition is provided which comprises an anionic and/or non-ionic surfactant and(a) from 0.1 to 2.5% by weight of a compound consisting essentially of hydrolyzed polymaleic anhydride with a molecular weight of 300 to 5000 or of a water-soluble salt of such hydrolyzed polymaleic anhydride, or(b) from 0.1 to 2.5% by weight of a hydrolyzed copolymer with a molecular weight of 300 to 1000 from 2.5 to 100, preferably 2.5 to 30 moles of maleic anhydride with 1 mole of monoethylenically unsaturated monomer or mixture of monomer.Also a method of washing textiles, preferably cellulosics, with an aqueous bath containing 0.5 to 20 g/l of said soap or synthetic detergent composition is provided.The deposit of scale on working parts of the washing machine employed and of residual calcium and magnesium salts onto textiles is reduced or inhibited by using said soap or synthetic detergent composition.