This invention is directed to detergent compositions which employ sulfonated alkyltoluenes as surfactants, wherein the sulfonated alkyltoluenes have a higher content of the sulfonated 2-phenyl alkyltoluenes isomers than was previously available in sulfonated alkyltoluene surfactants of the prior art. Cleaning compositions according to the invention are more effective as cleaning agents over their counterparts of prior art which contain sulfonated alkyltoluenes having lower contents of the 2-phenyl alkyltoluene isomers, owing to an unexpected increase in tolerance of water hardness minerals normally associated with precipitation of the active detergent agent. Solid sulfonate salts of alkyltoluenes are also provided, including dry cleaning formulations containing same. The alkyltoluenes of this invention may be combined with alkylbenzene surfactants in order to provide detergent blends having increased water hardness tolerance, lower Krafft temperature, and increased cleaning performance over what was previously afforded by the prior art.