(57) A surface active composition which is either a liquid or dry powder, which comprises: a) from 15 per cent by weight to 99 per cent by weight of an alcohol ethoxylate having the formula R-O-(CH₂CH₂O)_n-H, wherein R is an alkyl group having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms or an alkylaryl group having an alkyl moiety in the range of from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, and n represents the average number of oxyethylene groups per molecule and is a number in the range of from 1 to 12, b) from 1 per cent by weight to 80 per cent by weight of a salt of an alcohol ethoxysulfate having the formula R′-O-(CH₂CH₂O)_x-SO₃M, wherein R′ is an alkyl group having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms or an alkylaryl group having an alkyl moiety in the range of from 8 to 12 carbon atoms, M is a cation selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal ion, an ammonium ion and mixtures thereof, and x represents the average number of oxy­ethylene groups per molecule and is a number in the range of from 1 to 12, and c) from 0.01 per cent by weight to 15 per cent by weight water, wherein components (a) and (b) comprise at least 85 per cent by weight of components (a), (b) and (c) and if desired an adsorbent powder detergent ingredient.