Light-duty liquid or gel dishwashing detergent compositions comprising mid-chain branched surfactants

Light-duty liquid or gel dishwashing detergent compositions that are especially useful for manual washing of heavily soiled dishware under conditions of low temperature and high hardness. Such compositions contain a surfactant system comprising a mid-hain branched surfactant. Preferably, the compositions also comprise a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide-based nonionic surfactant component, a detersive amount of magnesium or calcium, a suds booster which is preferably an amine oxide and an aqueous liquid carrier. The detergent compositions exhibit excellent phase stability at low temperatures and excellent mixing rates with water, even at low temperature and/or high water hardness.