Abstract: Alcohol ethoxylate surfactants particularly useful in detergents are combinations of formulae:

Abstract: A fabric softening composition of high active component content consists of a blend of an alkoxylated organic amide derivative (A) and a quaternary ammonium compound (B), the weight ratio of (A) to (B) in the composition being in the range 90:10 to 40:60. Component A comprises a derivative of general formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 comprises a long chain alkyl group containing 8 to 24, preferably 12 to 20, more preferably 13 to 17 carbon atoms;R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be the same or different, comprise hydrogen or an alkyl group containing 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 6, carbon atoms and more preferably are both methyl;R.sub.4 comprises a long chain alkyl group containing 8 to 24, preferably 11 to 21, more preferably 15 to 17 carbon atoms;AO comprises an alkylene oxide or mixed alkylene oxide, for example ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and n is in the range 1 to to 10, preferably in the range 1 to 6 and more preferably is 1; andX is an anion.