Abstract: The invention is directed to a handwashing laundry detergent composition containing a surfactant system including selected levels of an anionic surfactant and a nonionic surfactant mixture of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactant and an amine oxide surfactant in a selected weight ratio. By judiciously selecting the surfactant system components and their respective levels and proportions as contained herein, the detergent composition surprisingly exhibits superior cleaning, sudsing and mildness during conventional hand washing operations. The inclusion of other adjunct detergent ingredients such as builders and other optional components enhance the unexpected superior cleaning, sudsing and mildness results achieved by the handwashing detergent product.