Abstract: An improved alkaline detergent composition is provided having a reduced tendency to discolor upon aging at room temperature and/or elevated tempertures. The detergent composition contains:(a) an alkali material such as alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal silicates and mixtures thereof; and(b) at least one nonionic surface active agent having a tendency to discolor the composition in the presence of such alkaline material. The improved composition contains a discoloring inhibiting amount of an alcohol of 3 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably 3 to 6 carbon atoms, having not more than one primary alcohol group and at least one secondary or tertiary alcohol group, e.g. 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, and 1,2-propanediol.A method is also provided for inhibiting the discoloration of such alkaline detergent composition by adding a discoloring inhibiting amount of the aforementioned alcohol to the composition.