A surfactant having a formula R1 R2 R3 N???0 (amine oxide detergent) wherein R1 is an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 28 carbon atoms, from zero to about two hydroxy groups and from zero to about five ether linkages, there being at least one moiety of R1 which is an alkyl group containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and zero ether linkages, and each R2 and R3 are selected