CA1048709A - Detergent softener - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A phosphate built detergent composition which simultaneously cleans and softens fabrics consisting essentially of 5-20% anionic surfactant, 1-10% non-ionic surfactant, 10-45% tripolyphosphate salt, and 2-10% cationic quaternary ammonium compound.

Description

î~4~7~9 This invention relates to a phosphate built detergent-softener composition and to a method of simultaneously softening and washing soiled laundry, using such detergent or its constituents. More particularly, the invention is of a detergent composition based on anionic and nonionic sur-factants J a phosphate salt and a cationic quaternary ammonium softener compound.
Efforts have been made to modify detergent compositions to impart softness properties to laundered fabrics without interfering with the clean-ing efficacy thereof. Heretofore, it has been found necessary to apply a fabric softening composition separately and in the final rinse because of the well-known incompatibility of the quaternary ammonium softeners with conventional anionic detergents whereby coprecipitation occurs resulting in a decrease in both the cleaning and softening efficacies of the formulations.
Consequently, this invention seeks to provide a composition for simultaneously laundering and softening fabrics comprising compatible deter-gents and fabric softeners.
According to the present invention, there is provided a softener-detergent composition in particulate form consisting essentially of about 5-20% synthetic water-soluble anionic surfactant, about 1-10% nonionic surfactant being a water soluble product derived from the condensation of an alkylene oxide or equivalent reactant and a reactive-hydrogen containing hydrophabe, about 2-10% cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softener compound having the following formulae:

\ / 3

2 R4 ~3~
R/ \

B

1(~4~7~9 wherein Rl is a long chain aliphatic radical having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is a long chain aliphatic radical having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms or is a lower alkyl or alkenyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl or aralkyl radical, R3 and R4 are lower alkyl or alkenyl radicals, and X is a water soluble salt-forming anion, and about 10-45% inorganic water-soluble phosphate builder salt.
In another aspect, the present invention provides the process of simultaneously washing and softening fabrics, the improvement which comprises adding to an aqueous bath a sufficient amount of the above defined compos-ition, It has been found that the addition of nonionic surfactants to a cationic softener-containing formulation increases the solubility of said ,! cationic softener. Likewise, the addition of nonionics to anionic-containing compositions increases the solubility of said anionic surfactant. It has also been found that the turbidity created by the addition of a cationic softener to an anionic surfactant system is removed upon the addition of a nonionic surfactant. Consequently, the precipricate (turbidity) inter-action of the anionic surfactant with the cationic softener in the wash . water is solubilized by the presence of a nonionic surfactant; thereby . 20 enabling the conjoint use of aforesaid softener and surfactant in a composi-i tion possessing a dual function, both softening and cleaning. In addition, '. the nonionic surfactant enhances the cleansing properties of the detergent composition without increasing its foaming properties, another desirable feature in the detergent field; since excessive foaming tends to clog washing machines. Thus it is apparent that a nonionic surfactant is an ~ essential component in the instant formulation for providing both superior ;~ cleaning and softening properties to fabrics treated herewith.
The nonionic surface active compounds which are contemplated are commercially known and comprise the water-soluble products which are derived from the condensation of an ,. . ..
~ -2-.~' .

1~4~7~9 alk-ylene oxide or e~ulvalent reactant and reactiYe-hydrogen hydrophobe. The hydrophobic organlc compounds may be aliphatic, aromatlc or heterocyclic, a~though the rirst -two classes are preferred. The preferred types of hydrophobes are higher aliphatic alcohols and alkyl phenols, although others may be used such a~ carboxylic acidsg carboxamides~ mercaptans, sul-phonamides etc The ethylene oxide condensates with hlgher-alkyl phenols represent a preferred class of nonionic compounds.
U6ually the hydrophobic moiety should contaln at least about 6 carbon atom~ and preferably at least about 8 carbon atoms, and may contain as many as about 50 carbon atoms or more. The amount of alkylene oxlde will vary ovnsiderably depending upon ~he hydrophobe, but as a general guide and rule, at least about 5 moles of alkylene oxide per mole of hydrophobe should be used. The upper llmit o~ al~aene oxide will vary, also, but no particular critlcality can be ascribed thereto. ~
much as 200 or more mole~ of alkylene oxide per mole of hydro-phobe may be employed. While ethylene oxide is the preferred and predominating oxyal~ylatlng reagent, other lower alkylene oxlde~ such ~s propylene oxide, butylene oxide, and the like may also be used or substituted in part for the ethylene oxlde, Other nonlonic compounds which are suitable are the polyoxyalkylene esters of the organic acids such as the higher fatty aclds, the rosin acid~, tall oil acids, acid~
from petroleum oxldation products, etc. These esters will usually contain from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms ln the acld moiety and from about 12 to about 30 moles of ethylene oxide o~ its equlvalent~
Stlll other nonionlc s~rfactants are the alk~lene 30 oxlde condensates with the higher fatty aci~ amides. The l~J'Q9 fatty acid group will generally contain from ~bout 8 to about 22 carbon af.orns ar~d this will be condensed with about 10 to about ~0 moles o~ ethylene oxide a3 the preferred illustration.
The correspon(ling carboxamides And sulphonamlc1es may also be used a3 su~stantlal e~uivalents Still another clas6 of nonionic products are the oxyalkylated higher allphatic alcohols The fatty alcohols should contaln at least 6 carbon atoms, and preferably at least abou~ 8 carbon atoms. The most preferred alcohols are lauryl, myr~styl~ cetyl, stearyl and oleyl alcohols and the said alcohols should be condensed with at least about 6 moles o~ ethylene oxide andJ preferably about 10 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide. A typical nonionic product is oleyl alcohol cond~nsed with 15 moles o~ ethylene oxide. The corresponding alkyl mercapt~ls when conden~ed with ethylene oxide are also ~uitable in the compo~itions o~ the pre~ent invention The amount o~ nonionic surfactant must be sufficient - to effect solubllization o~ the cationic-anionic complex. In general~ from a~out 1~ to 10~ preferably 2 to 7% by weight ba~ed on the tot~l weight of the detergent may be used~ The amount may be varied depending on the amount~ and nature of the other particular ingredient8 as well as the conditions of u~e 6uch a~ water hardness and temperature~
The primary and maJor detergent ingredient ~s a water ~oluble, ~ynthetic anionic surf~ctant. The anionic deter-gents are c~mmercially known and include those surface active compoun~ whi~h contain an organic hydropho~lc group ard an anlonic solubilizing ~roup such as ~lfonate, sul~ate, carboxy-late, ph~phonate and phosphate. The hydrophobic group is an ~0 slkyl or aralkyl radical containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms.

; _4_ 7~9 As examples of suitabla s~nthetic anionic detergents there may be clted the higher alkyl mononuclear aromatlc sulfonates such as the higher alkyl benzerle sul~onates contain-ing from 10 to 16 carbon atom~ in the alkyl group ln a strai~ht or br~nched chain5 e.g.g the sodium salts of higher alkyl ben-zene sulfonates; alkyl naphthalene sulfonate~ ammonlum diamyl.
naphthalene sulfonate, and æodium d~nonyl naphthalene sul~onate.
In one pre~erred type of compo9ition there is u~ed a linear alkyl benzene sul~onate having a high content of 3-(or higher) phenyl i30mers and a correspondingly low content (well below 50~) of 2-(or lower) phenyl isomers; in other termlnology, the benzene rlng is preferably attached in large part at the 3 or higher (e.g. 4, 5, 6, or 7) posltion of the alkyl group and the eontent of isomers i~ which the benzene ring is attached at ;i 15 the 2 or 1 positJion is correspondingly low. Particularly pre-ferred materlals are æet forth in U.S. Patent 3320174, May 16, 1967, Or J. Rubinfeld.
Other anionic detergents are the olefin sulfonates, including long chain alkene sulfonates, long chain hydroxy-~lkane s~fo~tes or mlxtures of alkenesul~onates and hydroxy-.. alkanesulfonates. The olefin sulfonate detergenta may be prepared3 ln known manner, by the reaction Or S02 with long chain olefins (of ~-25, preferably 12-21 carbon atoms) of the ~ormula RCH=CHRl, where R i8 alkyl and Rl is alkyl or hydrogen, ~5 to produce a mixture of sultones and alkenesulfonic acids, . which mixture ls then ~reated to convert the sultones to sul-forlate~. Ex~m~les of ot~ler sulfate or sulfonate detergents are paraff~n sulronates, such as the reaction products of alpha , -5-i 7~9 olefins and bisulflteR ~e.g, sodium bi~ulfite~, e.g. primar~
paraffin sulfonate~ of a~out 10~20~ preferably about 15-20 carbon atoms; sulfate~ or higher alcohols; ~alts of ~-sul*o-fatty e~ters ~e.~. of about 10- to 20-carbon atoms~ such as 5 methyl C~-sulromyristate or ~ulfotallowate).
Exa~.ples of ~ulfates of hlgher alcvhols are sodium lauryl sulfate, ~odium tallow alcohol sulfate. Turkey Red Oil or other sulfated oils~ or ~ulfates or mono 4r di-glycerides of fatty acids (e.g, stearic monoglyceride mono-sulfate)3 alkyl poly (ethenoxy~ ether sulfate~ ~uch as the ~ulfates of the conden~ation products of ethylene oxide and lauryl alcohol (usually having 1 to 5 ethenoxy groups per molecule); lauryl or other higher alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates; aromatic poly ~ethenoxy) ether sulfates such as the sulfates of the condensa-tion product~ of ethylene oxide and nonyl phenol (usually having1 to 6 oxyethylene groups per molecule).
The suitable anionic detergents ~nclude also the acyl sarcosinates (e.g. sodium lauroylsarcosinate), the acyl esters (e.g. oleic acid ester) of isethionates, and the acyl N-methyl taurldes (e.g. potassium N-methyl lauroyl- or oleyl tauride).
The most highly preferred water soluble anionic dstergent compounds are the ammonlum and substituted ammonium (such ~8 mono-, di and triethanolamine), alkali metal (such as sodium and potassium) and alkaline earth metal (such as c~cium and magnesium) ~alts of the higher alkyl ben~ene sulfonates, olefin sulfonate~3 the higher alkyl ~ulfates, and the higher fat+y acld monoglyceride ~ulfates. The particular salt will be suitably selected depending upon the particular form~lation and the proportlons thereln.

~)4~7~19 . , Soaps, which are also anionic detergents, may be utillzed in addition to the synthetlc anionlc detergents primarily for foam control i~ necesr~ary or deæirable. Suitable water-soluble ~alts of }-igher fatty aclds or rosin acids in-clude alkall metal salts of s~turated~ unsaturated, or mixturesof unsaturated and saturs.ted, fatty acids contalning from about 8 to a~out 18 carbon atoms in the molecule such as:
sodium capra'e, sodium laurate, sodium myristate, sodlu~
palmitate, potassium oleate~ sodlum stearate, sod~um &nd potassium salts of tallow f~tty acids, sodium and potassium salts of coconut oil fatty acids, and the llke.
The amount of anlon c detergent may vary widely depending on the specific nature and intended use of the detergent formulation. In gener~l, howe~rer, from about 5 to 20~ ~ynthetic anionic detergent and from about 0 to 4~ soap based on the total weight of the formulation may be used. The ratlo of the specific surfactants may be varied within suitable performing limits.
Another essential ingredient in instant formulation is the quaternary ammonium fabrlc softeners which are commerclally known, and may be represented by the following formulae:
Rl \ / R3 ~

N X

~R2 R
_ -lV4~
wherein Rl is a long chain aliphatic radical having from 8 to 22 carbon atom~, R2 la a lon~ c:hain al~phatic radical having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms or is a lower alkyl or alkenyl radi-cal having f`rom 1 ~o 4 carbon atoms or an aryl or aralkyl radl-cal, R3 and R4 are lower alkyl or alkenyl radlcals, and X is awater soluble salt formlng anion auch as halide, i. 2., chloride, bromlde, iodide, a ~ulfate, acetate, hydroxide, methosulfate or similar inorganic or organlc solubilizing mono- or dlba~ic radical. The carbon chain of the aliphatic radical containlng 8 to 22 carbon atom~ may be straight or branched, and saturated or un~aturated. The lower al~yl radlcals may contain other substltuentq such as hydroxy, halo cyano, carbalkoxy~ alkoxy and the llke. The pre~erred ammonium salt is a dialkyl dl-methyl ammonium chloride wherein the alkyl group is derived from hydrogenatad tallow or ~tearic acid, or a dialkyl imidazol-inium chloride. Specific ex~mples of quaternary ammonium soften-ing agents sultable for use in the composition of the present i~ventlon include the followlng: hydrogenated ditallow dlmethyl ammonium chloride, l-hydroxyethyl-l-methyl-2-heptadecyl imi-dazolinium chloride, dimethyl dlcteQryl ammonium chloride, tri-methyl atearyl ammonium bromide, cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, di-coco dimethyl ammonium chloride, higher alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, di-icobutyl phenoxy ethoxy-ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, benzyl dimethyl ~tearyl ammonium chloride, and the corresponding sulfate, methosulfate, bromide and hydroxide ~alts thereof, etc.
The term "coco" when utilized refers to fatty acid group~ formed in coconut ~il fatty acid~. Such acids co~ ain from about 8 to 18 carbon atoms per molecu~e predominating

3~ in the C12_14 acid.

7~9 Suita~ qtla~ve~lary ammonlum compound~ are available as 95 perce~t actlve powders, 57 percent active aqueous paste8 and in 25-50 percent aqueous alcoholic solution~
It ls pref'erred to use the ~5 percent active powder ma-terial, 5 but choice ef partlcular phy~ical ~orm is dependenk upon s~brage and production facilitie.~.
The amount of quaternary ammonium compound muat be su~ficient to adequately so~ten ~abrics treated with in~tant detergent ~ormulatlon without adversely af~ecting lts detergency properties. A range of about 2 to 10~
active quaternary compound baQed on the total welght ~ the compo~ition imparts ~igni~icant ~oftening to ~abrics as well as retains the superior cleaning propertles of instant form~lation.
Another esse~tial component of heavy-duty detergent compositlons of this invention 1A a water-soluble builder salt. The salt can be inorganic or organlc, illuAtrative of which are:
Trisodium pho~phate, Tetrasodlum pyrophosphate, Sodium acid pyropho~phate, Sodium -tripolyphoAphate, Sodlum monobasic phosphate, Sodlum diba~ic phosphate, Sodl~m hexametaphosphate, Sodlum meta~lllcate Sodium ~ilicates, Na20/SiO2 o~ 1.6/1 to 3.2/1, Sodium carbonate, ~odium aulfate, ~orax, Nltriloacetic acid trlsodium salt, _9_ 1~)4~ 9 r Ethylene diamine tetr~acetic acid tetrasodium 9alts, etc.
Mixtures of two or more lnorganic or organic salt3 can be used~ as can mlxt~lres of lnorganic and organic salts.
Particularly preferred herein are wa-ter-soluble) 5 alkali metal pol~hosphate builder salts" These salts form water-xoluble complexea with calcium and magnesium ions found in hard water and thereby prevent the formatlon o*
insoluble salts which tend to deposit upon textiles during a washing cycle. ~urther, ~uch phosphates enhance the deter-~` 10 ~ive ef~iclency of anlonic detergents, ald in controlling !' ~ sud~ing power~ and aid in keeping 80il suspended in the w~shing bath a~ter its removal from the soiled textiles.
Various ad~uvants may be present ln the detergent,...
product to giV'2 it additional d2sired propertles, either of functional or aestheklc nature. Thus, there may be ln-cluded in the formulation; minor amounts of soil suspending or anti-redeposition agents, e.g., polyvinyl alcohol, sodiu~ carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxy-propyl methyl cellulose; optical brighteners, e.g. cotton, amine and polyester brighteners, bactericides, e.g~, tetrachloro-salicylanilide, hex~chlorophene; fungicides; dyes; pig-ments (water disparsible); preservatives; ultrav~olet absorbers and perfumes. In the selections of the ad~uvants, they will be chosen to be compatible with the ma~n constl-tuents o~ the detergent ~ mpositlon.
Proportions of the component of instant novel ; composltion are properly related to obtain maxlmum cleaning ,:
performance in the presence o~ t~e catlonic quaternary ~' :, ~., ~4~7~C~
ammonium softenerO ~leanlng performance is measured by the degree oP soil removal (detergency~ and percentage soll redeposltion. Brightener emission is a ~unction of the nature an~ quantity o~ the soil left on tne fabric, i.e.
more soil5 less brightener emission. The fac-tors a~`fecting cleaning efflcacy o* detergent compositions include the hardness and temperature of the wash water, ~e amounts and types o~ solls~ types o~ Pabrlcs to be treated, and the specific components of sald composition. The nonionics are more e~fective surfactants ~or removing oi~ soi~ than the anionics on an equal weight basis and the effectl~e~e~s of the surfactants are a ~unction of the amount of soil present. Comblnations o~ low temperature, high hardness and high softener content dra~tically reduces soll removal.
Similarly, comblnations o~ hlgh hardness, so~tener and temperature lncreases soil redepositionO Soil removal increase~ at elevated temperatures and decreases as the hardness of the wash water increases. Contrary herewlth, ele~ated temperature~ increases soil redeposition. Maximum soil removal is obtained with a detergent compo~ition com-prlsing 3.75~ nonionlc, 12% anionlc and 5~ catlonic quaternary ammonium compound. Increasing the amount o~ so~tening agent in instant formulation neces~itates a corresponding increase in the amount of nonionic surfactant ~or maximum cleaning e~Picacy. The proportion o~ quaternary ammonium softening compound ean vary ~rom about 2 to 10~ by weight o~ the tot&l compositlon, but ~u~t be sufficient to provide softness to ~abrics treated therewlth~ The amount of nonlonic surfactant ~63487~9~

may vary from ~bout 1 to 10~ by weight based on the total composition, and must be su~ficient to render aforesaid so~tening agent compatible with the anlonic surractant.
The ma~or detergent ingredient is the anionic surfactant which may v~ry from about 5 to 20~ by weight of the total ingredients. The inorganic phosphate salt7 which enhances the detergency of instant formulation and provides heavy duty cleanirlg ~erefor, constitutes about 10 to 45~ by weight of the total composition.
The detergent-softener formulation of this invention may be prepared by simply admixing the various lngredients in substantially dry form at room temperature with continuous agitation to ensure homogeneity of the finished product.
Another method involves the admixing of the various ingre-dients with water to form a slurry and then spray drying.
The ingredients may be added in any suitable order or form, but must be adequately mixed to ensure the formation of a uniform product in particulate form. Instant formulation may be transformed into the form of beads, granules, flakes, chips, powder or the li~e as deslred by the use of con-ventional techniques.
Use of the present detergent-softener product is both simple and exceptionally efficient and can be utilized in both top-loading and front loading waæhing machines as well as in hand laundering. A weight change of about 100 gms tl 1/4 cup) of instant formulation is advantageously utilized in washing machines to effect both ~oftening and superior cleaning of soiled laundry containing a mixture of fabrics, i.e., cotton, permanent pres~, synthetic blends;

1~34~7~

polyester blends such as dacron-cotton and the like. The weight c~iange varies dependlng on the water volume utiiized in the washing machine with the concentrat~on oP instant ~ormulation being about 1 to 2.5 g~l of wash water and 5 preferably 1.5 g/l.
The wash water used may be a fairly so~t water or of reasonable hardness and will generally be used at elevated temperatllre. The present invention is also useful in laurldering clothes in very hard waters and at lower tempera-tures. ThusJ water hardness may range from 0 to over 300parts per million, calculated as calcium carbonate, and washing temperatures may be from 40 ~, to 120F, Washing will be ef~ected in an automatic washing machine in which ¦ the washing is followed by rinsing and spin or other draln-in~ or wringing cycles or operations. The washing operations will generally take from three minutes to one hour, depending on the fabrics being washed and the degrees of soiling ob-served. After completion of wash~ng and the spinning, draining or wringing operations, it is preferred to dry the laundry in an automatic dryer 800n thereafter but line drying may also be employed.
The following examples illustrate the invention but do not limit it. All parts are by weight and the pres-sure is atmospheric, unless otherwlse lndicated.

., Ingredients Granular Softener-Detergent - Product . . . _ .. _ ~
Sodium linear tridecyl ~enzene sulfonate (anionlc) 12.0 C 4-1 fatty alcohol ethoxylated with 1~ E.~. units (non~onic) 4.0 ~imethyl distearyl ammonium chloride (catlonlc) 5-, 35 Sodium tripolyphosphate 33 0 1~4~7~
Ingredients Granu~ar Softener-Detergent _ _ Product Sodium sili~ate 7,5 Carboxymethyl Cellulose 0.5 Sodium sulf.~ate 30.0 Moisture 8.o Using tap water and at a concentration of 1.5 g/l wash water this formulation effects 51~ soil removal and 17% soil redeposition.

The amounts of nonionlc and cationic of Example 1 are increased to 4.~ and 7.0% respectively and the moisture content adjusted accordingly. This product effects 4~ soil removal.

The ~nionic content of Example 1 is increased to 1~ and the nonionic content is decreased to 3~ and the moisture content is ad~usted accordingly. Soil removal is 49% and soi~ redeposition is 15%.

The cationic content of Example 3 is increased to 7% and the moisture ~ ad~usted accordingly. Soil removal is 46~.

The anionic content of Example 1 is increased to 17%~ the nonionic is decreased to 2,25~ and the moisture content adjusted accordingly. Soil removal is 4~ at 100F.
.

11~487~C~
EX~PLE 6 The anionic content of Example 1 is increased to 14~ and the moisture content adt~usted. Soll removal is 48 at 100 F
EX~MPLE 7 The cationic content of Example 1 is decreased to 2~ and the moisture content is ad~usted accordingly. At 70F. uslng tap water~ 42% soil removal is obtained. At 130Fo ~ using tap water, 48% soil removal is obtained.
]0 However, increasing the hardness of the water, decreases the ~ soil removal.

The nonionic content of Example 1 ls decreased to 3% and the moisture content adt~usted accordingly. At g7F., using tap water, maximum soil removal of 50% and a minimum redeposition of 15~ is obtained. Increasing the hardness of the wash water reduces the soll removal and increases the redeposition. Fabrics washed with afore-sald formulations were soft to the touch.
The aforedefined examples clearly show that cleaning ability of a product is a function o~ the condi-tions of treatment, namely; temperature and water hardness, as well as the content of individual components. Conse-quently, the ranges of ingredlents as set forth is critical for optimum fa~ric cleaning and softening.

1~ sodium tallow soap is added to Exa~ le 1 and ~, the moisture content decreased to 7~.
i ~ -15-" . t 87r~9 his product is vielded the best detergency and softness ratings The anianlc content of Example 1 is decreased to 10%, the nonionic content decreased to 2~, 2~ sodium tallow soap added and the moisture content adJusted accordingly.
The detergency and softness ratings were also good but not quite as good as in Example 9.

The quaternary ammonium compound of Example 10 was reduced to 3~ and the moisture content ad~usted.
Similarly good softness and detergency results were obtained herewlth.

Tallow alcohol sulfate was substituted for the anionic of Example 10 with similarly superior detergency and ~oftness results.

A secondary alcohol containing 11-15 carbons ethoxylated with 9 E0 groups was substituted for the non-ionic of Example 1. Similarly superior clean~ng and soften-ing results were obtained.
Whlle various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated by means of specific examples, it is to be understood that the pre~ent invention ls in no way to be deemed as limited thereto, but should be construed as broadly as all or any equivalents thereo~.

Claims (10)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A softener-detergent composition in particulate form consisting essentially of about 5-20% synthetic water-soluble anionic surfactant, about 1-10% nonionic surfactant being a water soluble product derived from the condensation of an alkylene oxide or equivalent reactant and a reactive-hydrogen containing hydrophabe, about 2-10% cationic quaternary ammonium fabric softener compound having the following formulae:

wherein R1 is a long chain aliphatic radical having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is a long chain aliphatic radical having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms or is a lower alkyl or alkenyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl or aralkyl radical, R3 and R4 are lower alkyl or alkenyl radicals, and X is a water soluble salt-forming anion, and about 10-45% inorganic water-soluble phosphate builder salt.

2. A composition in accordance with claim 1, wherein the anionic surfactant is a higher alkyl benzene sulfonate.

3. A composition in accordance with claim 2, wherein the phosphate salt is sodium tripolyphosphate.

4. A composition in accordance with claim 3, wherein the nonionic surfactant is an ethoxylated higher aliphatic alcohol.

5. A composition in accordance with claim 4, wherein the fabric softener is dimethyl distearyl ammonium chloride.

6. A composition in accordance with claim 1, which includes non-phosphate, inorganic builder salts.

7. A composition in accordance with claim 6, which includes a minor amount of an anti-redeposition agent.

8. A method of simultaneously washing and softening fabrics which comprises applying to said fabrics in an aqueous bath, a sufficient amount of the composition of claim 1.

9. In the process of simultaneously washing and softening fabrics, the improvement which comprises adding to an aqueous bath a sufficient amount of the composition of claim 6.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the composition of claim 7 is added in the wash cycle during laundering.