Abstract: Cold-water active washing agent compositions comprising(a) from 0.3% to 2.5% by weight of an N-substituted-.omega.-hydroxyalkane carboxylic acid amide obtained by reacting substantially equimolar amounts of an N-(C.sub.8-20 -alkyl)-di-amino-C.sub.2-6 -alkane with a lactone having 4 to 7 ring atoms,(b) a tenside mixture of anionic tensides of the sulfonate and/or sulfate type and/or zwitterionic tensides, optionally together with soaps and/or nonionic tensides, in an amount sufficient to give a weight ratio of (a) to (b) of from 1:50 to 1:2, preferably 1:20 to 1:2, and(c) a powdery or liquid carrier selected from the group of powdery organic and inorganic builders, of water-soluble lower alkanols, alkanediols, alkoxyalkanols, and alkoxyalkoxyalkanols, and of water, said component (c) being present in an amount of from 50% to 99.1% by weight and, in the case of powdery carriers, also may include a powdery bleaching component.

Abstract: Process for washing textiles in which the washing treatment is carried out in the presence of a cation exchanger containing carboxyl groups in the form of alkali salts and capable of removing calcium and magnesium ions from the washing liquor, and a washing agent for use in said process.