POWDERY DETERGENT COMPOSITION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a powdery detergent composition improved in detergency by blending a sequestering agent comprising an aspartic diacetic acid (salt) with a nonionic surfactant serving as a base, a higher fatty acid salt and an alkalizing agent each in an appropriate amount. SOLUTION: A component (a) comprising an aspartic diacetic acid or its salt represented by formula I (wherein R is H or OH; and M is a cation) in an amount of 0.5-50wt.% is blended with 5-30wt.% nonionic surfactant (b), 1-10wt.% higher fatty acid salt (c) and 20-80wt.% alkalizing agent (d). The cation of component (a) preferably comprises H, Na or K. Examples of component (b) used include a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether and a polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, preferably having an HLB of 8.5 to 13. The component (c) used comprises a salt of a fatty acid having alkyl or alkenyl groups with an average number of carbon atoms of 8-22, and preferably comprises a sodium or potassium salt thereof. The component (d) used comprises, e.g. a carbonate or bicarbonate, preferably a sodium or potassium (bi)carbonate.