Graft copolymers providing soil release benefits in laundry detergent
compositions contain backbone units derived from an ethylenically
unsaturated monomer, hydrophilic uncharged side chains, and cationically
chargeable or charged side chains containing a tertiary or quaternary
nitrogen atom. Preferred copolymers have a methacrylate backbone with
polyethylene oxide and 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) side
chains. The graft copolymers may be prepared by radical polymerisation.