Near-neutral pH detergents containing anionic surfactant, cosurfactant and fatty acid

A detergent composition comprising:

• (a) from about 2% to about 60% by weight of an anionic synthetic surfactant;
• (b) from about 0.25% to about 12% by weight of a cosurfactant selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) quarternary 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 8 to about 18 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 selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 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 not more than about 18;
• 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;
• and
• (ii) diquaternary ammonium surfactants having the formula:
• [R.sup.2 (OR.sup.3).sub.y ][R.sup.4 (OR.sup.3).sub.y [.sub.2 N.sup.+ R.sup.3 N.sup.+ R.sup.5 [R.sup.4 (OR.sup.3).sub.y ].sub.2 (X.sup.-).sub.2
• wherein R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, y and x are as defined above;
• (c) from about 5% to about 40% by weight of a fatty acid containing from about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms;
• and
• (d) from about 3% to about 10% by weight of a detergent builder;
• said composition having a molar ratio of the anionic synthetic surfactant to the cosurfactant of at least 1 and formulated to provide an initial pH of from about 6.0 to about 8.5 at a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight in water at 20.degree. C.