Sulphated alkylol amides are prepared by reacting sulphuric acid or chlorsulphonic acid in the presence of acetic or propionic acid or anhydride with an alkylol amide having the general formula R.CONR1.CH2.CH2.OH wherein R.CO is an aliphatic acyl radical containing 4-20 carbon atoms in which R is a straight or branched chain and saturated or containing one or two ethylenic linkages or is an aliphatic chain containing a homocyclic ring substituent, the total number of carbon atoms being 7 to 19, the chain containing, if desired, halogen or hydroxyl substituents, R1 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing up to 3 carbon atoms and, if desired, one or more of the hydrogen atoms of the chain -CH2.CH2- being replaced by alkyl groups, the total number of carbon atoms in all such alkyl groups not exceeding 4. Preferably, the amide is melted, mixed with the acid or acid anhydride and the resulting mixture run into sulphuric acid; alternatively, the sulphuric acid may be run into the molten mixture or the organic acid or anhydride may be added to the sulphuric acid and the mixture mixed with the amide. The organic acid or its anhydride is normally used in amounts of up to 30 per cent by weight of the amide. The sulphation may be effected in the additional presence of urea when an unsaturated amide is being treated. Specified alkyloamides are those derived from mono-ethanolamine or mono-isopropylamine and lauric, myristic, stearic, palmitic, mixed coconut fatty oil or mixed palm fatty oil acids. The amides may be used in admixture with other sulphatable materials such as fatty alcohols. The sulphated products may be neutralized with sodium or potassium hydroxide, ammonia, triethanolamine, magnesium oxide or other basic substances. The products may be used as detergents. In examples (1) coconut oil fatty acid ethanolamide; or (2) palmitic acid ethanolamide is mixed in the molten state with acetic anhydride, the mixture is then poured into sulphuric acid at 40 DEG C., and the product neutralized with aqueous caustic soda; (3) a molten mixture of amides and fatty alcohols obtained by condensing sperm oil with monoethanolamine is poured with acetic anhydride into a mixture of urea and sulphuric acid at 35 DEG C., and the sulphation product neutralized as in (1). The amido starting materials may be prepared by condensing alkanolamines with the appropriate fatty acid or acids, the corresponding acid chloride or a fatty oil.ALSO:Cleansing compositions are prepared by sulphating with sulphuric or chlorsulphonic acid in the presence of acetic or propionic acid or anhydride, one or more alkylolamides having the general formula <FORM:0717903/III/1> wherein R.CO is an aliphatic acyl radical containing 4 to 20 carbon atoms in which R is a straight or branched chain and saturated or containing 1 or 2 ethylenic linkages or R is an aliphatic chain containing a homocyclic ring substituent, the total number of carbon atoms in such grouping being 7-19, the chain containing, if desired, halogen or hydroxyl substituents, R1 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having up to 3 carbon atoms, and wherein, if desired, one or more of the hydrogen atoms in the group -CH2.CH2-may be replaced by alkyl groups, the total number of carbon atoms in all such groups not exceeding 4. The organic acid or its anhydride is normally present in amounts up to 30 per cent. by weight of the amide. When an unsaturated amide is used, urea may also be present during the sulphation. Specified alkylolamides are the monoethanolamides and monoisopropanolamides of lauric, myristic, stearic, palmitic, mixed coconut oil and mixed palm oil acids; the amides may be used in admixture with other sulphatable materials, e.g. fatty oils. The sulphated products are neutralized with sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonia, triethanolamine, magnesium oxide, or other basic materials. In examples: (1) coconut oil fatty acid ethanolamide or (2) palmitic acid ethanolamide is mixed in the molten state with acetic anhydride, poured into sulphuric acid at 40 DEG C. and the product neutralized with aqueous caustic soda; (3) a molten mixture of alkanolamides and fatty alcohols obtained by condensing sperm oil with monoethanolamine, and acetic anhydride is poured into a mixture of sulphuric acid and urea at 35 DEG C. and the product neutralized as in (1).