This method involves dissolving a solid substance containing α-sulfo fatty acid alkyl ester salt in water of a temperature Ts(°C) to produce an aqueous solution of the α-sulfo fatty acid alkyl ester salt, wherein the heat absorption peak area S1 of the solid substance at 50°C-130°C observed during thermal analysis by differential scanning thermal analyzer is 50% or greater than the heat absorption peak area S2 at 0°C-130°C, and, defining Tmax (°C) as the heat absorption peak top temperature of the heat flow maximum value observed during thermal analysis of the solid substance by differential scanning thermal analyzer, the temperature Ts (°C) has the following relation with the temperature Tmax (°C). Tmax-5 ≦̸ Ts ≦̸ Tmax+5