use of polyhydroxyalkylamine - n , n - dialkylcarboxylic acids or their salts , as builders for detergents and cleaning agents . compounds of formula ## str1 ## where x represents a polyhydroxyalkyl group with 3 to 7 carbon atoms and which may be glycosidically linked to a mono -, di -, or oligosaccharide ; and n is 1 to 3 , are used as builders for detergents and cleaning agents .