Abstract: An aqueous light duty liquid detergent composition consisting essentially of, by weight, 10% to 50% of a mixture of a water-soluble alkylbenzene sulfonate detergent salt and a water-sokluble alkyl ethenoxy ether sulfate detergent salt in a weight ratio sulfonate to sulfate in the range of about 0.8:1 to 2:1; about 1% to 8% of an alkanoic acid mono- or di-ethanolamide foam booster; at least about 0.5% to 1.8% of magnesium ions; triethanolammonium ion of 2:1 to 1:2.4; and the balance an aqueous medium, said composition having a pH of 5 to 8 and exhibiting improved oily soil removal and oily soil emulsification properties at a temperature of 18 C. to 26 C. as compared to the same composition without the magnesium and triethanolammonium ions. A method of making said composition comprising the steps of neutralizing alylbenzene sulfonic acid with magnesium hydroxide to a pH of about 1.