Alkoxylates and use thereof

A mixture, comprising (i) an alkoxylate of formula (A) or (AQ):

• (ii) a surface-active substance:
• wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, phenylethylene, cyclohexylene, decylene, and any mixture 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,
• each R5 is independently selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene, and any mixture thereof,
• each R6 is independently —H, C1-C6-alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl, —SO3Ra, —P(O)ORbORC, -CH2CO2Rd, or —C(O)Re,
• each Ra, Rd is independently H or an organic or inorganic cation,
• each Rb, Rc is independently H, an 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, or C6-C22-alkylaryl,
• each m, n, and p is independently an integer of from 1 to 30, and
• A− is an anion, with the proviso that if R3 is an oxygen atom, A is not present,
• wherein the sum of (A) and (AQ) present in said mixture is 0.8 to 20% by weight, and
• wherein said surface-active substance is at least one member selected from the group consisting of alcohol sulfate/ether sulfates, alcohol phosphates, ether phosphates, alkylbenzenesulfonates, alpha-olefinsulfonates, sulfosuccinates, quaternized ammonium salts, amine oxides, alcohol alkoxylates, alkylamide ethoxylates, alkyl polyglucosides, PO-EO block copolymers, fatty acid ethoxylates, vegetable oil ethoxylates, alkylamine oxides, and betaines, said mixture having low toxicity.