Abstract: A method is provided for spray drying a detergent slurry in a spray drying chamber having at least two different levels of uniformly spaced atomizing nozzles, which slurry consists of about 50 to 70% by weight of solid constituent comprising 20 to 40% by weight of active ingredient containing an anionic surfactant, 5 to 30% by weight of water-soluble silicate and at most 21% by weight of phosphate builder and about 50 to 30% by weight of water. The lower stage of the two adjoining spraying stages is positioned at a point in the spray drying chamber where the moisture content of the particles sprayed from the upper spraying stage becomes less than about 25% by weight. The lowest spraying stage is positioned at a point in the spray drying chamber which is at a temperature of from higher than the boiling point of the detergent slurry to less than 200.degree. C. From 30 to 70% of the slurry is sprayed from said lowest stage.