Use of quaternary ammonium compound as a hydrotrope and a composition containing the quaternary ammonium compound

A method of cleaning hard surfaces which comprises applying to said surfaces a cleaning effective amount of an aqueous composition comprising a nonionic surfactant in an aqueous media, the solubility of said nonionic surfactant in said aqueous media having been increased by adding to said nonionic surfactant and/or aqueous media a hydrotrope for said nonionic surfactant, said hydrotrope comprising a cationic surfactant having the formula

• wherein R═C8-C20 alkyl or alkenyl;
• R1 and R2 independently are a C1-C4 alkyl group;
• n=15-25;
• and X− is an anion, and said nonionic surfactant is a C8-C18-alcohol alkoxylate containing 1-20 ethyleneoxy units and 0-5 propyleneoxy units, and said aqueous media comprises alkali hydroxides, alkaline builders and/or alkaline complexing agents,
• with the proviso that if any anionic and/or amphoteric surfactant is present in the composition, then the molar amount of the cationic hydrotrope is greater than the molar amount of any anionic groups in the anionic and/or amphoteric surfactant.