Detergent compositions with improved whitening benefits and methods and articles employing same

Detergent compositions, specifically laundry detergent compositions comprising agents, specifically water soluble polymers, for providing cleaning and improved whitening of fabrics contacted by such detergent compositions; and methods and articles employing such detergent compositions are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to laundry detergent compositions comprising vinyl addition polymers derived from (i) monoethylenically unsaturated C 3-8 monocarboxylic acids, C 4-8 dicarboxylic acids, their salts and mixtures thereof; (ii) hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing at least one poly(oxyethylene) group; and (iii) hydrophobic ethylenically unsaturated monomers with a water solubility of less than 1%. The laundry detergent compositions of the present invention provide improved whitening benefits compared to conventional laundry detergent compositions.