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

A packaged detergent composition consisting essentially of a container and, packed in the container, a first plurality of units each comprising a water-soluble synthetic organic detergent component of the composition, and at least one other plurality of units different from those of the first plurality and comprising at least one other component of the composition selected from the group consisting of detergent builders and detergent adjuvants, each unit being in the form of a tablet, envelope, packet, capsule or other container, and the size of each unit being such that its weight is in the range from 5 to 30 grams, its volume is in the range from 4 to 20 milliliters and is such that one or a simple multiple up to 10 units of each component when dissolved in water produces a liquid washing medium of an operator-formulated composition suitable for washing soiled laundry.