before turning to a detailed description of the composition of the invention , it should first of all be pointed out that the terms “ detergent composition ” and “ detergent ” may be understood in a broad sense in the present application , namely as comprising all those substances and mixtures of substances which can be used in connection with cleaning processes . these include not only the compositions which are actually active in cleaning , such as dishwasher detergents and washing substances , but also compositions which support the cleaning functions concerned , such as water softeners , or which have the effect of providing protective care , such as fabric softeners or final rinses . it is preferred if each tablet according to the present invention weighs less than about 600 mg , more preferably less than about 400 mg , and most preferably less than about 250 mg . preferably each tablet weighs more than about 10 mg , more preferably more than about 20 mg and most preferably more than about 40 mg . in a preferred embodiment of the invention , each individual tablet weighs about 50 to about 150 mg . the detergent composition of the invention can be used in a variety of ways in appropriate ( effective ) quantities or dosages , e . g ., as a dishwasher detergent , in the final rinse in a dishwasher , as a detergent in a washing machine , as a detergent for hand - washing laundry , as a water softener or fabric conditioner in a washing machine , as a bleach enhancer in a washing machine or dishwasher , or as a descaling agent . it goes without saying that other possible uses are conceivable and are also encompassed . the detergent composition of the invention possesses a wide range of advantages both over conventional powders and granules and over conventional tablets . the presentation in the form of tablets , which are preferably manufactured by pressing or compacting , can make a substantial reduction possible in the amount of dust formed in the case of powders and granules , both in manufacturing and packaging , and in use . in contrast to powders and granules , the small tablets of the invention tend less to coagulate , both in storage and in the machine chamber ( especially when predissolved therein ), since they are less sensitive to moisture . with the tablet form of the detergent composition of the invention , it is also possible to have better control over solubility , for example , by providing components or a coating which delays dissolution , or by pressing or compacting under high pressure . embodiments of the invention include tablets prepared by compacting a starting material or by pressing a pulverulent starting material . as a result of the fact that the tablets of the invention are larger than conventional powders or granules , they are not completely removed from the machine during the pumping stage after the main washing stage or the intermediate rinsing stages , so that ingredients may be included which are not intended to develop their effect until the final rinsing stage . a further problem with powders and granules , namely the separation of fine particles that inevitably occurs during manufacture which prevents the uniform distribution of ingredients , can likewise be avoided by using the composition of the invention . finally , there is also greater flexibility with regard to the choice of components , because components can also be included which are not readily miscible into powders or granules — substances with a certain stickiness , for example , such as surfactants . a similarly enhanced flexibility also exists compared to detergent granules prepared by extrusion , since the pressures and temperatures necessary for that process restrict the choice of starting materials that can be used and make it necessary to add a plasticizer . compared to conventional detergent tablets , the composition of the invention can be metered more flexibly , flexibility which is not in principle inferior to the flexibility of powders and granules . in order to manufacture the small tablets of the composition of the invention , it is also possible to use procedures other than conventional tabletting , such as compacting , which is also understood to include agglomeration under pressure without the use of binders . therefore , there is also greater flexibility with regard to the manufacturing process . since the small tablets according to the present invention have a larger surface area than conventional large tablets , it is possible to spray on more material or to apply it by means of other coating methods . because of their higher surface - to - volume ratio , the tablets of the detergent composition of the invention are more rapidly soluble than conventional detergent tablets , e . g . even in water at lower temperatures , such as for hand - washing detergents . for this reason , it is also possible to include more poorly soluble substances ( especially such as surfactants ), optionally employing an effervescent system in order to enhance solubility still further . in the case of perfume substances which are conventionally added to detergent compositions , the fact that they are worked into the tablets leads to better retention than in the case of powders and granules , and secondly the larger surface area allows the perfume to develop a better effect in the washing process than in the case of conventional tablets . because of the smaller dimensions of the tablets of the invention , better use can be made of the space available during storage and packaging than with conventional tablets . furthermore , the smaller tablets are less susceptible to breakage and can be more easily removed from the machine chamber and distributed in the machine . the problem which occasionally occurs with dishwasher detergent tablets , namely that the tablets become stuck between pieces of crockery and do not dissolve correctly as a result , is likewise reliably avoided . the starting material for the detergent compositions of the invention in tablet form may be formulated in the same way as conventional powders , granules or tablets . a suitable formulation may therefore comprise a large number of different ingredients , including builders , surfactants , enzymes , bleaches , bleach activators , sources of alkalinity , dyes , perfumes , dispersants for lime soaps , organic polymers , including polymers to inhibit color transfer , crystal growth inhibitors , complexing agents for heavy metal ions , salts , enzyme stabilizers , corrosion inhibitors , solvents , fabric softeners , optical brighteners , hydrotropic agents , etc . in addition , the compositions may contain suitable fillers , such as sulfates and carbonates , and tabletting aids , such as polyethylene glycol , starch or starch derivatives , etc . in a preferred embodiment , the tablets may be provided with or surrounded by a water soluble coating whose nature may be determined by the purpose for which it is intended . any water - soluble polymer can be provided for a coating , for example , if the purpose of the coating is to provide greater stability during storage and handling and / or a certain delay in dissolution in the wash liquor . for example , if the aim of the delay is so that the ingredients may be released during a certain phase of the washing cycle , as is the case with formulations for the final rinse of machine rinsing , ph - dependent coating materials can be used , such as those described in german published patent application de 198 34 180 . 6 . the tablets can also contain a scattering agent or effervescent system , such as a combination of bicarbonate of soda and citric acid , in order to support the rapid dissolution of the tablets , especially when poorly soluble ingredients are included . a major criterion of the detergent composition of the invention in tablet form is the mass ( or a related parameter ) of the individual tablets , which is preferably about 5 to about 700 mg and more preferably about 50 to about 150 mg . the tablets may have various shapes , such as spherical , cylindrical , ellipsoid , etc . in the case of a spherical design , the preferred diameter is about 2 mm to about 10 mm . the detergent tablets of the present invention may be manufactured using a variety of processes , including normal pressing under pressure . depending on the demands placed on the dissolution behavior and stability in storage and transport , and depending on the nature of the ingredients , the appropriate pressing pressure can be set accordingly . a further preferred manufacturing process is compacting , which is understood in this application to mean pressing agglomeration without the use of binders , which is usually performed by rollers rotating in opposite directions and possessing grooves of the appropriate dimensions . with this production process , it is also possible to use other ingredients , which are usually not suitable for pressing , because the pressures during compacting are considerably lower . washing and detergent granules manufactured by extrusion , i . e . by plasticizing a premix , as described in european patent ep 0 486 592 b1 , which has been mentioned above , are not regarded as tablets for the purposes of the present application . the detergent composition of the invention may be used in a variety of ways , including as a dishwasher detergent , as a final rinse in dishwashers , as a detergent in a washing machine or for a hand wash , as a water softener or fabric softening rinse in a washing machine , as a bleach enhancer , or as a descaling agent . other fields of use in the detergent sector are conceivable and possible , such as use as a detergent composition for dissolution in water for cleaning hard surfaces , such as floors . the tablets may thus contain appropriate ( i . e ., effective for the purpose ) dosages of dishwashing detergent , laundry detergent , water softener , fabric conditioner , bleach enhancer or descaling agent , for example , depending on the desired washing application . the features of the invention disclosed in the above description and in the claims can be essential , both alone and in any combination , for carrying out the invention in its various embodiments . the invention will now be described with reference to the following examples . water softener tab formula (% w / w ) ingredients total white layer blue layer citrate 56 . 120 52 . 730 62 . 890 polymer 22 . 770 22 . 770 22 . 770 peg 6000 3 . 000 3 . 000 3 . 000 cellulose 4 . 500 4 . 500 4 . 500 cellulose 2 . 500 2 . 500 2 . 500 sulfate 8 . 350 12 . 520 0 . 000 silicate 0 . 660 2 . 000 dye 0 . 005 0 . 016 peg 200 0 . 115 0 . 344 water 1 . 980 1 . 980 1 . 980 total 100 . 000 100 . 000 100 . 000 add the raw materials to the lödige mixer in the above order while the mixer works at 20 % speed . mix for 30 seconds with mixer at 50 % speed and check versus specification . protect from heat and humidity . add raw materials 1 to 6 to the ruberg mixer in the above order while mixing at 50 % speed . spray on the color pre mix over 1 minute while continuing to mix . remove the fuel injector , then mix for 3 minutes at 50 % speed . the color should appear homogeneous . check the specification &# 39 ; s data and fill in two big bags , close and protect against heat and humidity . process the mix within 4 weeks max . color pre mix ingredients % w / w polyethylene glycol 200 95 . 667 dye 4 . 333 mixer must be dry . add the ingredients . mix for 5 minutes . the liquid should appear homogeneous . store in closed containers . formula : double layer briquettes (% weight / weight ) layers nacl organic acid peg 600 dye white 98 0 2 0 blue 90 . 725 7 . 2 2 0 . 075 white 98 0 2 0 blue 90 . 7 7 . 2 2 0 . 1 white 98 0 2 0 blue 90 . 775 7 . 2 2 0 . 025 white 98 0 2 0 blue 90 . 76 7 . 2 2 0 . 04 white 98 0 2 0 blue 90 . 79 7 . 2 2 0 . 01 white 98 0 2 0 blue 90 . 75 7 . 2 2 0 . 05 it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof it is understood , therefore , that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed , but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims .