Mid-chain branched primary alkyl polyoxyalkylene surfactants useful in laundry and cleaning compositions, especially granular and liquid detergent compositions. These surfactants are also suitable for formulation with other surfactants for the purpose of providing improved surfactant systems, especially for use in detergent compositions which will be used in laundry processes involving low water temperature wash conditions. The present invention also relates to novel mid-chain branched primary alkyl polyoxyalkylene surfactants suitable for use in the surfactant mixtures.