Abstract: A stable aqueous detergent composition is provided in liquid or gel form containing from 10 to 80% by weight of an active detergent mixture comprising primary alkyl sulphate in an amount of 15 to 75% by weight of the active detergent plus betaine and/or amine oxide in an amount of 10 to 40% by weight of the active detergent mixture. Primary alkyl sulphate having chains of 10 or 11 carbon atoms provides at least 25% by weight of the primary alkyl sulphate present. The betaine and/or amine oxide is at least two thirds of the amount by weight of any primary alkyl sulphate having carbon atom chains of 12 carbon atoms or longer. The C.sub.10 and/or C.sub.11 alkyl sulphate is surprisingly effective as a detergent in such compositions despite higher water solubility than longer chain alkyl sulphate. It can enhance mildness compared to longer chain alkyl sulphate, and can replace or partially replace alkyl ether sulphate. Nonionic detergent may be included to enhance mildness further.

Abstract: Alkyl ether sulphates are disclosed that are derived substantially wholly from C.sub.12 and C.sub.13 alcohols, at least 50% by weight being branched at the 2-position and at least 30% by weight being 2-ethyl or more highly branched. Foaming detergent compositions containing an alkylbenzene sulphonate and/or a dialkyl sulphosuccinate in combination with an alkyl ether sulphate of this specific type exhibit excellent foaming and detergency and are especially suitable for hand dishwashing.

Abstract: A high foaming aqueous liquid detergent composition suitable inter alia for manual dishwashing is based on a ternary active detergent system of (a) dialkyl sulphosuccinate, (b) alkylbenzene sulphonate and/or secondary alkane sulphonate and (c) alkyl ether sulphate. This combination gives both performance and formulation (viscosity, hydrotropy) benefits.

Abstract: In a foaming liquid detergent composition suitable inter alia for hand dishwashing and including in its detergent-active system a dialkyl sulphosuccinate, performance is enhanced and physical characteristics (stability, viscosity, hydrotrope requirement) are improved by the inclusion of a fatty acid dialkanolamide such as lauric diethanolamide.

Abstract: In light-duty liquid detergent compositions suitable for hand dishwashing, improved foaming performance, especially in hard water, is obtained by using combinations of particular alkylbenzene sulphonates (linear C.sub.10 -C.sub.13 alkylbenzene sulphonates substantially free of other alkyl chain lengths and containing only minor amounts of C.sub.13 material) and particular alkyl ether sulphates (those containing 20% or less of C.sub.14 and above material and having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 1 to 12).

Abstract: Detergent compositions suitable inter alia for hand dishwashing include as active detergent a mixture of dialkyl sulphosuccinates obtained from a mixture of C.sub.7 and C.sub.8 aliphatic alcohols, optionally with C.sub.6 alcohol. Improved performance and formulation benefits are obtained.

Abstract: Fabric softening is provided by cationic diesters of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a benzyl group, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each alkyl chains containing from 11 to 23 carbon atoms, and X.sup.- is a water soluble anion. Mixtures of these diesters with the corresponding monoesters are described together with preparative methods.