Abstract: Disclosed are improved cleaning compositions comprising soap&com ma; fatty acid, synthetic detersive surfactant, salt and a polyhydridic alcohol, which are suitable for formation into precursor cleansing/laundry bar “soap noodles,” personal cleansing bars and laundry detergent bars. The compositions comprise: (a) from about 58% to about 93% by weight of an approximately 70% aqueous soap slurry; (b) from about 1% to about 15% by weight of a fatty acid; (c) from about 2% to about 30% by weight of an approximately 55% aqueous mixture of anionic surfactants comprising i) an alpha sulfonated alkyl ester, and ii) a sulfonated fatty acid or salts thereof, wherein the ratio of i) to ii) is from about 10:1 to about 1:10; (d) from about 0.5% to about 2% by weight of a salt; (e) from about 0.

Abstract: A composition suitable for use in personal cleaning or detergent soap bars, which includes a sulfonated fatty acid or alpha sulfonated alkyl ester, and methods for producing such a composition. The composition and methods exhibit efficient processing and allow for formation of cleansing or detergent bars with improved hardness, improved resistance to marring and improved processability to marring, lower wear-rate and decreased mush formation during consumer use.