| abstract |
Disclosed are detergent compositions containing polycarboxylate builders and one or more anionic, nonionic, or cationic detersive surfactants, or mixtures thereof, improved by the inclusion of certain polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants. The compositions comprise at least 1 % by weight of polycarboxylate builder, and at least 1 % by weight of a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide of formula (I) wherein R1 is H, C¿1?-C4 hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl, 2-hydroxy propyl, or a mixture thereof; and R?2¿ is a C¿5?-C31 hydrocarbyl; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative (preferably ethoxylated or propoxylated) thereof. |