The present invention relates to aqueous liquid detergent compositions, wherein the compositions exhibit a high microbial stability without the use of conventional preservatives. The liquid detergent composition of the invention is particularly useful for washing
laundry, where a good cleaning performance is needed and where the
consumer takes into account the environmental
impact of the detergent composition. The composition is
boron-free and compres (i) at least one anionic surfactant, preferably selected from the group of sulfonates,
ether sulfates, and / or
alkyl sulfates, and salts of fatty acids (
soap), and combinations thereof, (ii) at least one
alkanolamine, preferably
ethanolamine, even more preferred monoethanolamine, (iii) at least 50 wt.% water, wherein said composition has a pH value in the range from 6 to 10, and wherein said composition comprises less than 0.05 wt.% of a total amount of conventional
preservative(s) of the group comprising
benzoic acid,
benzoates,
phenoxyethanol, sorbates, sulfites,
phenoxyethanol,
sodium or
zinc pyrithione,
bronopol, iodopropynylbutylcarbamate,
formaldehyde and
formaldehyde releaser,
glyoxal, glutaral and isothiazolinones. The use of alkanolamines and of the combination of alkanolamines (ii) and anionic surfactant(s) (i) to reduce / inhibit microbial growth in aqueous systems, preferably in aqueous detergent compositions, more preferred in
boron-free aqueous detergent compositions, which are free of any conventional
preservative, is also disclosed.