Abstract: The ocular irritancy of aqueous shampoo compositions containing from about 1 to 20% by weight of an eye irritating anionic surfactant such as a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 alkyl sulfate containing from 0 to about 4 ethyleneoxy units is reduced by the addition of from about 0.01% to 5% of an ethylene oxide homopolymer. The homopolymer has the formula H(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.x OH where x has a value such that the weight average molecular weight of the homopolymer is between about 100,000 and 5,000,000, preferably between about 500,000 and 4,000,000. The resulting compositions are useful as hair shampoos as well as for cleaning the face and body.