Abstract: A particulate composition useful in the softening of fabrics from a wash liquor, the composition comprising a fabric softening clay material and a nonionic surfactant system which consists of one or more nonionic surfactants, wherein the nonionic surfactant system exists as a cloudy phase, at 1% concentration in water, somewhere in the range of 0.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., the weight ratio of the clay to the nonionic surfactant system is from 2:3 to 20:1, and the moisture content of the composition, as measured by the water loss at 135.degree. C., is from 7.5% to 12% by weight.

Abstract: A detergent composition for washing and softening fabrics comprising at least one detergent active material and, as a fabric softening agent, a smectite clay mineral which is a 2:1 layer phyllosilicate possessing a lattice charge deficiency in the range of 0.2 to 0.4 g equivalents per half unit cell.

Abstract: A detergent composition for softening fabrics while maintaining good detergency comprises a fatty amine such as di tallow methyl tertiary amine and a nonionic surfactant with a low cloud point, such as an ethoxylated fatty alcohol with 3 moles of ethylene oxide per molecule.

Abstract: A particulate composition useful in the softening of fabrics from a wash liquor, especially in the form of a fabric washing product, comprises a fabric softening clay in intimate contact with a nonionic surfactant system which has a cloud point below 80.degree. C. The clay/nonionic weight ratio is from 2:3 to 20:1. A typical nonionic surfactant is a fatty alcohol with a low degree of ethoxylation, such as a C.sub.13-15 alcohol with 3 ethylene oxide groups per molecule.

Abstract: A particulate composition useful in the softening of fabrics from a wash liquor, especially in the form of a fabric washing product, comprises a fabric softening clay and a nonionic surfactant system which has a cloud point below 15.degree. C. The clay/nonionic weight ratio is from 2:3 to 20:1. A typical nonionic surfactant is a fatty alcohol with a low degree of ethoxylation, such as a C.sub.13-15 alcohol with 3 ethylene oxide groups per molecule.

Abstract: A particulate composition for softening textile fabrics in the wash comprises:(a) from 5 to 30% by weight of a primary, secondary or tertiary amine capable of softening fabrics, sorbed onto(b) from 70 to 95% by weight of a particulate carrier comprising a porous crystal-growth-modified carbonate-based salt.The preferred particulate carrier is the sodium carbonate/sodium sulphate double salt Burkeite modified by means of a polymeric polycarboxylate. The softening composition may be incorporated in a detergent powder, suitably in an amount providing from 0.5 to 15% by weight of amine in the total powder.