Stable liquid detergent compositions

A heavy-duty liquid detergent composition comprising, by weight:

• (a) from about 5% to about 15%, on an acid basis, of a sulfonate surfactant containing a C.sub.10 -C.sub.16 alkyl or alkenyl group;
• (b) from about 8% to about 18%, on an acid basis, of an alcohol ethoxylate sulfate surfactant of the formula RO(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.m SO.sub.3 M, wherein R is a C.sub.10 -C.sub.16 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, m is from about 0.5 to about 4, and M is a compatible cation;
• (c) from about 2% to about 15% of an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant of the formula R.sup.1 (OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.n OH, wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.10 -C.sub.16 alkyl group or a C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 alkyl phenyl group, n is from about 3 to about 9, and said nonionic surfactant has an HLB of from about 10 to about 13;
• (d) from about 0% to about 5% of a cosurfactant selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) quaternary ammonium surfactants having the formula:
• [R.sup.2 (OR.sup.3).sub.y ][R.sup.4 (OR.sup.3).sub.y ].sub.2 R.sup.5 N.sup.+ X.sup.-
• wherein R.sup.2 is an alkyl or alkyl benzyl group having from about 6 to about 16 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain;
• each R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3)--, --CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.2 OH)--, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, and mixtures thereof;
• each R.sup.4 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 hydroxyalkyl, benzyl, and hydrogen when y is not 0;
• R.sup.5 is the same as R.sup.4 or is an alkyl chain wherein the total number of carbon atoms of R.sup.2 plus R.sup.5 is from about 8 to about 16;
• each y is from 0 to about 10 and the sum of the y values is from 0 to about 15;
• and X is any compatible anion;
• (ii) amine surfactants having the formula:
• [R.sup.2 (OR.sup.3).sub.y ][R.sup.4 (OR.sup.3).sub.y ]R.sup.5 N
• wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and y are as defined above;
• (iii) amine oxide surfactants having the formula:
• [R.sup.2 (OR.sup.3).sub.y ][R.sup.4 (OR.sup.3).sub.y ]R.sup.5 N.fwdarw.0
• wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and y are as defined above;
• (e) from about 5% to about 20% of a C.sub.10 -C.sub.14 saturated fatty acid, the weight ratio of C.sub.10 -C.sub.12 fatty acid to C.sub.14 fatty acid being at least 1;
• (f) from about 3% to about 8%, on an acid basis, of a water-soluble polycarboxylate builder material;
• (g) from about 0 to about 0.04 moles per 100 grams of composition of an alkanolamine selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine;
• (h) potassium and sodium ions in a potassium to sodium molar ratio of from about 0.1 to about 1.3;
• (i) from about 2% to about 10% ethanol;
• (j) from about 2% to about 15% of a polyol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 6 hydroxy groups;
• and
• (k) from about 25% to about 40% water;
• said composition containing from about 20% to about 35% of (a), (b), (c) and (d);
• from about 8% to about 28% of (e) and (f);
• from about 33% to about 50% of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f);
• from about 8% to about 20% of (i) and (j);
• and from about 35% to about 55% of (i), (j) and (k);
• the weight ratio of (a) to (b) being from about 0.3 to about 1.7;
• the weight ratio of (a) plus (b) to (c) being from about 1 to about 10;
• and all of said components being selected to provide an isotropic liquid at 55.degree. F. (12.8.degree. C.) having an initial pH of from about 7.5 to about 9.0 at a concentration of about 10% by weight in water at 68.degree. F. (20.degree. C.).