Light duty liquid cleaners comprising a monoalkoxylated quaternary ammonium surfactant

The present invention relates to a clear liquid detergent composition suitable for use in dishwashing and multipurpose cleaners for household applications as well as for industrial and institutional uses. The clear liquid detergent comprises a) 1 to 40 percent an anionic surfactant or group of anionic surfactants, b) 0.01 to 10 percent cationic surfactants, and c) optionally, 0.05 to 15 percent amphoteric and/or nonionic surfactants. More particularly, the light duty detergents of the present invention cationic compounds of the formula: ##STR1##

wherein R¹ is C₈-C₂₂-alkyl, C₈-C₂₂-alkenyl, C₈-C₂₂-alkyl/alkenylamidopropyl, C₈-C₂₂ alkoxyalkenylethyl, C₈-C₂₂-alkyl/alkenyi(poly)alkoxyalkyl, C₈-C₂₂-alkanoylethyl or C₈-C₂₂-alkenoylethyl,

R² is C₁-C₂₂-alkyl, ClC₂₂-alkenyl or a group of the formula A(OA)_nOH,

R³ and R⁴ are C₁-C₂₂-alkyl, C₂-C₂₁-alkenyl or a group of the formula A(OA)_nOH,

A is C₂H₄ and/or C₃H₆ and

n is a number from 0 to 20 and

X is an anion.