Provided herein are compositions useful as detergents in cleaning a wide variety of substrates, including hard surfaces and laundry. The compositions contain a water-soluble polymer, which is a co-polymer between a polymerizable amide and a second, ethylenically-unsaturated monomer. The polymerizable amide itself is prepared from an amine-capped, alkoxylated alcohol by reaction with maleic acid anhydride. Compositions according to the invention show enhanced cleaning performance and beneficial anti-redeposition properties.