Fabric detergent compositions

1. A transparent liquid detergent formulation comprising:

a) a nonionic-cationic surfactant system;

b) 0.5% to 10% wt of a lubricant selected from polyol polyester(s), polyol polyether(s), or blends thereof; and

c) wherein the cationic surfactant is a quaternary ammonium compound which has a single C8–C28 alkyl or alkenyl chain, the remaining three chains being short chain C1–C3 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl and the nonionic-cationic surfactant system is present in an effective amount to function as a deposition aid for the lubricant and to also have a cleansing function.

2. A composition according to claim 1 which further comprises a polar non-aqueous solvent.

3. A liquid detergent composition according to claim 1 wherein the level of builder such that the calcium binding capacity of the composition does not exceed that of an equivalent composition which comprises 10% sodium tripolyphosphate as sole builder.

4. A composition according to claim 1 which is essentially free of anionic surfactants.

5. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the polyol polyester is an oily sugar derivative.

6. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the cationic surfactant is a fatty dimethyl hydroxy ethyl or fatty trimethyl ammonium salt.

7. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the nonionic surfactant is the condensation product of fatty, primary or secondary, linear or branched alcohol, alkoxylated with 4–12 moles of alkylene oxide.

8. A process for the manufacture of a fabric washing composition according to claim 1 which comprises the steps of:

a) mixing a lubricant/polar solvent premix with a cationic surfactant to form a further premix, and,

b) mixing the further premix with a nonionic surfactant.