Effective control of ammonia odor in hexangonal phase detergent gels containing urea

A detergent composition comprising a gel wholly or predominantly in hexagonal liquid crystal phase, said gel comprising: (a) from 15% to 70% anionic surfactants selected from alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyltoluene sulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, olefin sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, alpha-sulfonated fatty acid alkyl esters, alkyl glyceryl ether sulfonates, dialkyl sulfosuccinates, coconut oil fatty acid monoglyceride sulfates and sulfonates, alkylphenolpolyethylene oxide ether sulfates, beta-acetoxy- and beta-acetamido-alkanesulfonates, and mixtures thereof; (b) from 0% to 30% optional co-surfactants; (c) from 10% to 35% urea; (d) from 20% to 70% water; (e) a strong acid selected from the group consisting of acid precursors of hydrotropes, acid precursors of anionic surfactants (a), and mixtures thereof; and (f) a weak acid; wherein the pH of the detergent gel is between 7.0 and 7.5, and wherein the total amount of surfactants (a) + (b) in the detergent gel is from 15% to 70% by weight of the gel. The detergent gel composition provides effective control of ammonia odor without requiring the addition of boric acid.