Detergent compositions

Claim 1

A granular detergent composition comprising: at least about 1% of a detersive surfactant; from about 5% to about 35% detergent builders; from about 1% to about 25% of a hectorite clay as a fabric softening ingredient, wherein said hectorite clay consists essentially of clay of natural origin having the general formula: ##EQU3## wherein Me III is Al, Fe, or B; or y=0; M n+ is a monovalent (n=1) or divalent (n=2) metal ion, said clay having a layer charge distribution (x+y) such that at least 50% of the layer charge is in the range of from about 0.23 to about 0.31; and in addition to said hectorite clay, from about 1% to about 10% of an additional fabric softening ingredient comprising: an amine of the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 N, wherein R 1 is selected from C 6 to C 20 hydrocarbyl groups, R 2 is selected from C 1 to C 20 hydrocarbyl groups and R 3 is selected from C 1 to C 20 hydrocarbyl or hydrogen groups; or an amide of the formula R 10 R 11 NCOR 12 , wherein R 10 and R 11 are independently selected from C 1 -C 22 alkyl, alkenyl, hydroxy alkyl, aryl, and alkyl-aryl groups, R 12 is hydrogen, a C 1 -C 22 alkyl or alkenyl, an aryl group, an alkyl-aryl group, or an O-R 13 group, wherein R 13 is selected from a C 1 -C 22 alkyl or alkenyl group, an aryl, or an alkyl-aryl group; or a 1-(higher alkyl) amide (lower alkyl)-2-(higher alkyl) imidazoline, wherein said higher alkyl is an alkyl having from about 12 to about 22 carbon atoms, and said lower alkyl is an alkyl having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms.

Claim 6

A method for washing and softening fabrics with a detergent composition containing a fabric softening clay, wherein said detergent comprises at least about 1% of a detersive surfactant, from about 5% to about 35% detergent builders, and from about 1% to about 25% of a hectorite clay of natural origin, said hectorite clay having the general formula: ##EQU4## wherein Me III is Al, Fe, or B; or y=0; M n+ is a monovalent (n=1) or divalent (n=2) metal ion, said clay having a layer charge distribution (x+y) such that at least 50% of the layer charge is in the range of from about 0.23 to about 0.31, and wherein said detergent composition is used at a concentration of at least about 500 ppm in an aqueous laundry bath.

Claim 7

A method for washing and softening fabrics with a detergent composition containing a fabric softening clay, wherein said detergent comprises at least about 1% of a detersive surfactant, from about 5% to about 35% detergent builders, and from about 1% to about 25% of a hectorite clay of natural origin, said hectorite clay having the general formula: ##EQU4## wherein Me III is Al, Fe, or B; or y=0; M n+ is a monovalent (n=1) or divalent (n=2) metal ion, said clay having a layer charge distribution (x+y) such that at least 50% of the layer charge is in the range of from about 0.23 to about 0.31, and wherein said detergent composition is used at a concentration of at least about 500 ppm in an aqueous laundry bath.