A process for enhancing the bleaching effect at washing and use of certain amphoteric compounds in a detergent composition for enhancing the bleaching effect

The bleaching effect at washing in the presence of perborates is enhanced by using a detergent composition containing perborate and up to 4.5 per cent by weight of an amphoteric compound according to the formula wherein R is a hydrocarbon group having 7 to 22 carbon atoms, R1 is hydrogen or alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, x is 2 or 3, y is 0 or an integer of 1 to 4 and Q is (R2-COOM) where R2 is alkylene with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, M is H, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, an ammonium or a substituted ammonium ion, and B is hydrogen or is defined according to Q. Alternatively the composition contains at least one amine oxide of a compound of the above definition. Compounds as defined are used in detergent compositions containing perborate in order to enhance the bleaching effect at washing with the compositions.