(57) A heavy duty particulate laundry detergent composition which is of reduced dye transfer properties and improved dye stability during laundering of mixed colored and white fabric laundry items is a built nonionic detergent composition (with the builder usually including sodium tripolyphosphate and/or zeolite) in which bentonite or other suitable montmorillonite clay adsorbs any dye released into the wash water by the dyed items and carries such dye off in the removed wash water and rinse water, so that it does not deposit on any white or light colored laundry items. This action of the bentonite is specific to essentially nonionic synthetic organic detergent compositions and to wash waters that contain only (or essentially only) the present nonionic detergent component, present in sufficient anti-deposition proportion. In some instances a low molecular weight polyvinyl pyrrolidone may be present in the detergent compositions to reduce dye transfer further. Various other usual detergent composition builders, functional components, adjuvants and fillers may be present in the invented compositions, together with some water, provided that they are non-interfering. Bleaching compounds and optical brighteners are best omitted or essentially omitted, to improve dye stability of the dyes of the colored laundry items (although comparatively small proportions thereof may be acceptable).