A process for the preparation of mixtures of diphenylmethane diisocyanates and polyphenylpolymethylene polyisocyanates of reduced iodine color number, by reacting the corresponding mixtures of diphenylmethanediamines and polyphenylpolymethylene polyamines with phosgene in the presence of at least one inert organic solvent at elevated temperature, removing the excess phosgene and solvent when the phosgenation is complete, and heating the reaction product, the improvement which comprises incorporating monohydric or polyhydric polyoxyalkylene alcohols or mixtures thereof in an effective amount into the reaction mixture when the phosgenation is complete.