Mild liquid detergent compositions

Abstract

Liquid detergent compositions having good foaming and grease emulsification properties as well as reduced skin irritation effects which consist essentially of, by weight, 8% to 30% of a water-soluble C.sub.10 --C.sub.16 alkyl ether ethylenoxy sulfate salt containing an average of 5 to 12 moles of ethylene oxide in the molecule, a supplementary, water-soluble, non-soap, anionic detergent having in its molecular structure a C.sub.8 --C.sub.22 alkyl alkenyl or acyl group, and a sulfonate, sulfate or carboxylate group, the weight ratio of said alkyl ether sulfate to said supplementary detergent being in the range of 1:1 to 20:1; 1% to 8% of a zwitterionic detergent having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.8 --C.sub.18 alkyl or C.sub.8 --C.sub.18 alkanamido C.sub.2 --C.sub.3 alkyl group, R.sub.1 is a C.sub.1 --C.sub.3 alkyl, R.sub.2 is a C.sub.1 --C.sub.4 alkylene or hydroxyalkylene and X is S:O or C; 1% to 8% of an N--C.sub.8 --C.sub.18 alkonoic acid C.sub.2 --C.sub.3 alkanolamide, the weight ratio of said alkanolamide to said zwitterionic detergent being in the range of 1:4 to 4:1; and the balance being an aqueous medium comprising water and from 2% to 20% of a solubilizer selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2 --C.sub.3 alcohols, hydrotropes and mixtures thereof. Preferred compositions include, in addition, 2% to 10% by weight of an anti-gelling agent, such as a water-soluble formate. These compositions are characterized by good foaming, cleaning and skin mildness characteristics and are suitable for use as shampoos, dishwashing liquids, liquid soaps and foam baths.