Detergent compositions and washing methods including and utilizing separate tablets of components

A method of washing laundry which consists essentially of admixing with laundry and wash water at a washing temperature in the tub of a washing machine, the volume of which tub is from 20 to 80 liters, a plurality of separate units of different detergent composition components, in the range of 1 to 10 of each of said units, to produce a liquid washing medium containing 0.05% to 0.5% of an operator formulated synthetic organic detergent composition and agitating the medium for a time sufficient to remove soil from the laundry being washed, said units being of tablet, envelope, packet, capsule or other container form having a weight of 5 to 30 grams each and a volume of 4 to 20 milliliters and being dispensed from a dispensing article located on or near the washing machine, which separately stores and dispenses the units as selected by the operator of the washing machine to produce an efficient washing composition for the type of laundry being washed.