(57) This invention relates to a process for preparing a liquid surface active composition having a 1,4-dioxane content of less than 10 ppm relative to alcohol ethoxysulfate which process comprises: a) partially sulfating an alcohol ethoxylate at an SO₃/­alcohol ethoxylate mole ratio of less than 0.99 to form a mixture of a sulfuric acid ester of said alcohol ethoxylate and alcohol ethoxylate and b) combining said mixture with a concentrated neutralizing agent in an amount sufficient to neutralize said sulfuric acid ester, and an amount of alcohol ethoxylate and water sufficient to yield a final composition having from 15 percent by weight to 99 percent by weight of an alcohol ethoxylate, from 1 percent by weight to 80 percent by weight of a salt of an alcohol ethoxysulfate, and from .01 percent by weight to 15 percent by weight water, wherein said alcohol ethoxylate and alcohol ethoxysulfate components comprise at least 85 percent by weight of said composition, and wherein said composition is substantially free of any organic solvent.