The use of copolymers of water-soluble, non-ionic N-vinyl group-containing monomers and hydrophobic ethylenically unsaturated monomers in detergents and as fabric conditioners

The invention relates to the use of copolymers consisting of (a) between 10 and 95 weight % of at least one non-ionic monomer which has a N-vinyl group and at 25 DEG C has a water solubility of at least 60 g/l, (b) between 5 and 90 weight % of at least one hydrophobic monoethylenically unsaturated monomer which at 25 DEG C has a water solubility of less than 60 g/l, and possibly (c) between 0 and 15 weight % of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer having an ionic or ionisable group and (d) between 0 and 10 weight % of at least one monomer which has at least 2 ethylenically unsaturated groups. Said copolymers are used in detergents, in amounts of between 0.1 and 5 weight % in relation to said detergents, as additive which inhibits greying and promotes dirt removal during washing and as a secondary treatment agent for laundry.