Alkoxylates and use thereof

The use of an alkoxylate of the general formula (A)

• or of a quaternized alkoxylate of the general formula (AQ)
• where
• R1, R2 independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, phenylethylene, cyclohexylene, decylene and mixtures thereof,
• R3 is H, —OH, —OR4, —[R5—O]p—R6, C1-C6-alkyl or an oxygen anion,
• R4 is C1-C6-alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl or C2-C6-alkynyl,
• R5 independently of one another, is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene and mixtures thereof,
• R6 independently of one another, is —H, C1-C6-alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl, —SO3Ra, —P(O)ORbORc, —CH2CO2Rd or —C(O)Re,
• Ra, Rd independently of one another, are H, organic or inorganic cation,
• Rb, Rc independently of one another, are H, organic or inorganic cation, C1-C6-alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl or C2-C6-alkynyl,
• Re is C1-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C2-C22-alkynyl, C5-C22-aryl, C6-C22-alkylaryl,
• m, n, p independently of one another, are integers from 1 to 30 and
• A− is an anion, where, in the case that R3 is an oxygen atom, a is not present,
• in cleaning compositions, as rust remover, as emulsifier, in the manufacture of fibers, for leather treatment, in printing inks, in formulations for construction chemistry or in formulations for flotation.