Method of cleaning a combination of ionic and nonionic surfactants

A process for cleaning hard surfaces with a combination of ionic and non-ionic surfactants, containing:

• (a) at least one quaternary ammonium compound having the general formula (I):
• R.sup.1 (--CHOH--CHR.sup.2).sub.n --N.sup.+R.sup.3 R.sup.4 R.sup.5 X.sup.-(I),
• wherein R.sup.1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms;
• R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 21 carbon atoms, the total number of the carbon atoms of the substituents R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 being within the range of from 10 t0 22;
• n=0 or 1;
• R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represent methyl, ethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl or hydroxypropyl;
• R.sup.5 represents an alkyl group having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms or a phenylalkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety;
• and X.sup.- represents a halide or the anion of an organic acid having from 4 to 15 carbon atoms;
• and
• (b) at least one alkyl or alkenyl polyethylene glycol mixed ether having the general formula (II):
• R.sup.6 --O--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --O).sub.s --R.sup.7 (II),
• wherein R.sup.6 represents a linear alkyl group having from 8 to 10 carbon atoms or a cyclic alkyl group having from 5 to 6 carbon atoms;
• s represents a number within the range of from 2 to 4.5, and R.sup.7 represents a linear alkyl group having 4 carbon atoms or a benzyl group,
• the ratio by weight of the components (a):(b) being within the range of from 20:1 to 1:20.