Abstract: A detergent composition contains(i) an anionic detergent active material;(ii) polyvinyl pyrrolidone; and(iii) a nonionic material or a mixture of nonionic materials, the nonionic material or its mixture having an HLB of not more than 10.5The polyvinyl pyrrolidone and the nonionic material are present to reduce redeposition of suspended soil onto fabrics washed with this composition.

Abstract: A detergent composition containing a detergent active, sodium carbonate and calcite also contains a copolymer to reduce deposition of insoluble material on fabrics. The copolymer is derived from a carboxylic monomer and a non-carboxylic monomer, with the non-carboxylic monomer being in excess. A 3:1 copolymer of sulphonated styrene and maleic anhydride is exemplified.

Abstract: Fabric, particularly soiled fabrics containing calcium carbonate crystal growth poisons, may be washed in hard water to which has been added a detergent active material and an alkali metal carbonate if a secondary detergency builder is added after a defined critical state of the system is reached. The secondary builder may be a precipitating, sequestering or ion exchange builder, and is added in such an amount which would be insufficient, in the absence of the carbonate, to reduce the free calcium ion concentration to less than 10.sup.-5 molar. The delayed addition can be achieved by separate dosing, coating the secondary builder, dosing the composition in the form of a two-compartment sachet or forming the secondary builder material in situ. The composition may include a material, such as calcite, to promote the occurrance of the critical state.

Abstract: A particulate detergent composition for fabric conditioning includes, in addition to a detergency active material, from 10-40% of a mixture of tripolyphosphate and orthophosphate in the ratio of 20:1 to 3:1 together with 2-25% of a mixture of soap and an anionic polyelectrolyte in the ratio of 10:1 to 1:1. Any pyrophosphate present must be kept below 5%. The soap and polyelectrolyte result in reduced deposition of inorganic materials onto the fabrics. The preferred polyelectrolyte is sodium polyacrylate with a molecular weight of about 27,000. The composition may also include conventional additional ingredients.