A structured detergent composition has a yield stress point and includes a surfactant component present in an amount of from about 5 to about 50 weight percent actives, water present in a total amount of from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, and a smectite clay present in an amount of from about 0.2 to about 3 weight percent actives, each based on a total weight of the composition. The composition is formed by combining water and a smectite clay to form a mixture, applying shear to the mixture, combining the sheared mixture with an acidic surfactant, adding an acid to the combination of the sheared mixture and the acidic surfactant, then adding a base and a buffer. The method also includes the step of adding additional surfactants, wherein the combination of the acidic surfactant and the additional surfactants make up the surfactant component.

A structured detergent composition has a yield stress point and includes a surfactant component present in an amount of from about 5 to about 50 weight percent actives, water present in a total amount of from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, and a smectite clay present in an amount of from about 0.2 to about 3 weight percent actives, each based on a total weight of the composition. The composition is formed by combining water and a smectite clay to form a mixture, applying shear to the mixture, combining the sheared mixture with an acidic surfactant, adding an acid to the combination of the sheared mixture and the acidic surfactant, then adding a base and a buffer. The method also includes the step of adding additional surfactants, wherein the combination of the acidic surfactant and the additional surfactants make up the surfactant component.