Abstract: Polycarboxylate additives suitable for use in automatic dishwasher detergent compositions are prepared by polymerizing three or more monomers including monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 monocarboxylic acids such as acrylic acid, monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.4 to C.sub.6 dicarboxylic acids such as maleic acid, and monoethylenically unsaturated esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid. Automatic dishwasher detergents prepared from these additives produce low filming and spotting on washed glassware.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition useful in a washing process containing at least one vinyl amide polymer. The vinyl amide polymer contains from 5 to 100 weight percent of at least one vinyl amide monomer, and from 0 to 95 weight percent of one or more vinyl ester monomers. The present invention also provides a method of cleaning an article and a method of providing soil resistance to an article using the vinyl amide polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fabric washing composition and aqueous treatment solution for inhibiting dye from transferring from one fabric to the same or different fabric in a fabric washing process. The fabric washing composition and aqueous treatment solution contain at least one dye deposition inhibiting polymer. The dye deposition inhibiting polymer contains, as polymerized units, from 5 to 100 weight percent of at least one vinyl amide monomer and from 0 to 95 weight percent of one or more vinyl ester monomers. The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting the deposition of dye by adding at least one of dye deposition inhibiting polymer useful in the present invention to a fabric washing process where dye may be released.