The invention provides a substantially anhydrous gas-free liquid detergent based on non-ionic surfactants containing a liquid surfactant component comprising adducts of from 2 to 8 moles ethylene oxide with 1 mole C.sub.10-20 - fatty alcohol, anionic surfactant, and low molecular weight polyethylene glycol. The liquid surfactant component makes up at least 20% by weight of the detergent as a whole; the ratio of fatty alcohol ethoxylate to anionic surfactant is from 1:1 to 2:1; and the detergent has a density of from 1.4 to 1.8. Typically, the detergent includes a particulate solids component which is incorporated with the liquid components as separate component fractions of differing particle size.