The present invention relates to alkyl ether sulfate salts of the general formula I RO—(CH2CH2O)x—(CH2—CHR1O)y—(CH2CH2O)zSO3−M+  (I), where R is an unbranched or branched C8-C18-alkyl radical or mixtures of different unbranched or branched C8-C18-alkyl radicals, R1 is an aliphatic radical selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl, M+ is a cation, selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, NH4+ and HNR23+, where R2 is selected from the group consisting of unbranched or branched alkyl radicals, CH2CH2OH and CH2CH(OH)CH3, x has a mean value of 0-3, y has a mean value of 1-10, z has a mean value of 0-30, and the quotient A = c ⁢ ⁢ m ⁢ ⁢ c ⁡ ( RO - ( CH 2 ⁢ CH 2 ⁢ O ) z ⁢ SO 3 - ⁢ M + ) c ⁢ ⁢ m ⁢ ⁢ c ( RO - ( CH 2 ⁢ CH 2 ⁢ O ) x - ( CH 2 - CHR 1 ⁢ O ) y - ( CH 2 ⁢ CH 2 ⁢ O ) z ⁢ SO 3 - ⁢ M + ) ⁢ ⁢ is > 1 and to their use as anion surfactant component in laundry detergents and cleaning compositions, in chemical engineering applications or in cosmetics formulations.