Compositions and methods which utilize certain cellulosic based polymer or oligomeric materials as fabric treatment agents that can impart fabric appearance and integrity benefits to fabrics and textiles laundered in washing solutions which contain such materials. Specifically, the cellulosic based polymers or oligomers are of the general formula: ##STR00001## Wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of R.sub.2, R.sub.C, and ##STR00002## each R.sub.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H and C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl; each R.sub.C is ##STR00003## each Z is independently selected from the group consisting of M, R.sub.2, R.sub.C, and R.sub.H; and each R.sub.H is independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.5-C.sub.20 alkyl, C.sub.5-C.sub.7 cycloalkyl, C.sub.7-C.sub.20 alkylaryl, C.sub.7-C.sub.20 arylalkyl, substituted alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkoxy-2-hydroxyalkyl, C.sub.7-C.sub.20 alkylaryloxy-2-hydroxyalkyl, (R.sub.4).sub.2N-alkyl, (R.sub.4).sub.2N-2-hydroxyalkyl, (R.sub.4).sub.3N-alkyl, (R.sub.4).sub.3N-2-hydroxyalkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.12 aryloxy-2-hydroxyalkyl, ##STR00004## The Degree of Substitution for group R.sub.H in these cellulosic based polymers or oligomers is between about 0.001 and 0.1, and the Degree of Substitution for group R.sub.C wherein Z is H or M in these cellulosic based polymers or oligomers is between about 0.2 and 2.0.