Low temperature laundry detergents

The performance of conventional sodium perborate-based domestic detergent powders, particularly at cool water temperatures of about 30 DEG C, is enhanced by incorporation of boronated felspathoids which may be pretreated with small amounts (usually less than 0.5% by weight) of metal salts such as copper sulphate or ferrous sulphate. These prepared reagents are added to a detergent "concentrate" to form about one third of the total bulk, or used in whole or partial replacement of any zeolite already incorporated in the commercial formulation. The reagents function partly by a direct catalytic decomposition of the perborate via a bleaching mode, partly by interaction with residual body perspiration which re-ionises the metal then inducing ion-catalysed decomposition of the perborate. The beneficial effects are apparent on treated garments as improved "freshness", a "fuller" handle on cottons, and marked "antistatic" effect on sythetic fabrics.