EP1126019A1 - Aqueous multiphase cleaning agent - Google Patents

Abstract

Aqueous liquid multiphase detergent containing surfactant has at least 2 continuous phases, including a lower aqueous phase (I) and an immiscible upper aqueous phase (II), which can be converted to an emulsion temporarily by shaking. The novelty is that the detergent contains 0-5 wt.% sodium hexametaphosphate. An independent claim is also included for the production of the detergent.

Description

The invention relates to aqueous multiphase liquid surfactant-containing cleaning agents Allow to emulsify temporarily by shaking and can be used to clean hard surfaces are and a process for their preparation.

Universally usable cleaning agents for all hard, wet or damp wipers Household and commercial surfaces are known as so-called all-purpose cleaners represent predominantly neutral to weakly alkaline aqueous liquid products, the 1 to 30% by weight surfactants, 0 to 5% by weight builder (e.g. citrates, gluconates, soda, polycarboxylates) 0 to 10% by weight of hydrotropes (e.g. alcohols, urea), 0 to 10% by weight of water-soluble Solvents (e.g. alcohols, glycol ethers) and optionally, among others Skin protection, coloring and Contain fragrances. It is usually used as an approx. 1% solution in water local stain removal also undiluted. There are also ready-to-use all-purpose cleaners as a so-called spray cleaner in the trade.

Such aqueous liquid cleaners are usually homogeneous or stable solutions Dispersions. The use of certain, especially hydrophobic, components in such cleaning agents can, however, result in this homogeneity being lost and inhomogeneous agents are obtained, their acceptance by the consumer as low is to be assessed. In such cases, the alternative formulation of funds is required despite its inhomogeneity, it is a defined exterior that is acceptable to the consumer Show appearance and application form.

in der n für einen Mittelwert von etwa 12 steht. Optional können in der unteren Phase weitere Builder-Salze enthalten sein. Als Tenside können anionische, kationische, amphotere und/oder nichtionische Tenside enthalten sein, wobei bevorzugt mindestens ein anionisches Tensid enthalten ist.European patent application 116 422 describes a liquid hair or body shampoo with two aqueous phases which can be temporarily dispersed into one another by shaking, and both phases being miscible with water in any ratio. The upper phase contains 8 to 25% by weight, based on the total composition, of at least one surfactant and the lower phase contains at least 6% by weight, based on the total composition, of dissolved sodium hexametaphosphate of the formula I,

in which n stands for an average of approximately 12. Additional builder salts can optionally be contained in the lower phase. Anionic, cationic, amphoteric and / or nonionic surfactants can be contained as surfactants, preferably at least one anionic surfactant being contained.

The object of the present invention was to provide powerful and storage-stable agents Cleaning of hard surfaces in defined inhomogeneous, easy to handle and for the Provide consumers with acceptable form.

In a first embodiment, the invention relates to an aqueous liquid multiphase detergent containing surfactant with at least two continuous phases, the at least one lower aqueous phase I and an upper immiscible with this phase has aqueous phase II and temporarily convert to an emulsion by shaking lets, and contains 0 to 5 wt .-% sodium hexametaphosphate.

In the context of the present invention, sodium hexametaphosphate is to be understood as a mixture of condensed orthophosphates of the formula I, where n is an average of about 12.

In the simplest case, an agent according to the invention consists of a lower continuous one Phase consisting of the entire phase I and an upper continuous phase consisting of of the entire phase II. One or more continuous phases of one According to the invention, however, parts of another phase can also be emulsified Contain form, so that in such an agent, for example, phase I in part as continuous phase I is present, which is the lower continuous phase of the agent, and to a different extent than discontinuous phase I in the upper continuous phase II is emulsified. The same applies to phase II and other continuous phases.

In the context of the present invention, temporary is understood to mean that 90% of the demixing of the emulsion formed by shaking into the separate phases takes place at temperatures of about 20 ° C. to about 40 ° C. within 2 minutes to 10 hours and the last 2 % of the separation into the phase state before shaking within a further 15 minutes to 50 hours.

The invention relates to the use of a in a second embodiment aqueous liquid multi-phase surfactant-containing cleaning agent with at least two continuous phases, the at least one lower aqueous phase I and one with this Has phase immiscible upper aqueous phase II and temporarily shaking in can transfer an emulsion for cleaning hard surfaces. In this respect, the following References to the agents according to the invention apply equally to the Means of use according to the invention.

The agents according to the invention are characterized by an unusually good cleaning performance of stubborn grease dirt when used undiluted. Furthermore the agents show a favorable residue behavior. The individual phases are on average stable for a long time without e.g. Deposits formed, and the transfer into one temporary emulsion remains reversible even after frequent shaking. In addition, the Separation of ingredients in separate phases promote the chemical stability of the agent.

The invention also relates to a method for producing an inventive one By mixing directly from its raw materials, then mixing and finally standing the means for separating the temporary emulsion.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the continuous phases I and II delimited from each other by a sharp interface.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, one or both of the continuous phases I and II parts, preferably 0.1 to 25 vol .-%, in particular 0.2 to 15 vol .-%, based on the volume of the respective continuous phase, each phase other than dispersant. The continuous phase I or II is then around Volume part reduced, which is distributed as dispersant in the other phase. Especially agents in which phase I in amounts of 0.1 to 25% by volume are preferred 0.2 to 15 vol .-%, based on the volume of phase II, is emulsified in phase II.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention lies next to the continuous Phases I and II part of the two phases as an emulsion of one of the two phases in the other phase, this emulsion being characterized by two sharp interfaces, an upper one and a lower part compared to the parts of phases I and II not involved in the emulsion is delimited.

The agents according to the invention contain phase I and phase II in a volume ratio from 90:10 to 10:90, preferably 75:25 to 25:75, in particular 65:35 to 35:65.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the agents contain one or more hydrophobic components. Suitable hydrophobic components are, for example dialkyl ethers having identical or different C 4 to C ₁₄ alkyl radicals, in particular dioctyl ethers; Hydrocarbons with a boiling range from 100 to 300 ° C, in particular 140 to 280 ° C, for example aliphatic hydrocarbons with a boiling range from 145 to 200 ° C, isoparaffins with a boiling range from 200 to 260 ° C; essential oils, in particular limonene and pine oil extracted from pine roots and stumps; and also mixtures of these hydrophobic components, in particular mixtures of two or three of the hydrophobic components mentioned. Preferred mixtures of hydrophobic components are mixtures of various dialkyl ethers, of dialkyl ethers and hydrocarbons, of dialkyl ethers and essential oils, of hydrocarbons and essential oils, of dialkyl ethers and hydrocarbons and essential oils and of these mixtures. The agents contain hydrophobic components in amounts, based on the composition, of 0 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 14% by weight, in particular 0.5 to 10% by weight, most preferably 0.8 to 7 % By weight.

The agents according to the invention can contain phase separation aids. Suitable Phase separation aids are, for example, the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal chlorides and sulfates, especially sodium and potassium chloride and sulfate, and ammonium chloride and sulfate or mixtures thereof. The salts mentioned support the as strong electrolytes Phase separation through the salt effect. Builder salts also act as electrolytes Effect and are accordingly also suitable as phase separation aids. The means contain phase separation aids in amounts, based on the composition, from 0 to 30% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight, in particular 3 to 15% by weight, extremely preferably 5 to 12% by weight.

The agents according to the invention can contain anionic, nonionic, amphoteric or cationic surfactants or surfactant mixtures of one, more or all contain these classes of surfactants. The agents contain surfactants in quantities based on the Composition, from 0.01 to 30 wt .-%, preferably 0.1 to 20 wt .-%, in particular 1 to 14% by weight, most preferably 3 to 10% by weight.

Suitable nonionic surfactants are, for example, C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers, alkyl polyglycosides and nitrogenous surfactants or mixtures thereof, in particular the first two. The compositions contain nonionic surfactants in amounts, based on the composition, of 0 to 30% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 20% by weight, in particular 0.5 to 14% by weight, extremely preferably 1 to 10% by weight .-%.

C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl alcohol polypropylene glycol / polyethylene glycol ethers are preferred known nonionic surfactants. They can be represented by the formula II,
R ⁱ O- (CH ₂ CH (CH ₃ ) O) _p (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _e -H, in which R ^{i is} a linear or branched, aliphatic alkyl and / or alkenyl radical with 8 to 18 Carbon atoms, p stands for 0 or numbers from 1 to 3 and e stands for numbers from 1 to 20.
The C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers of the formula II can be obtained by addition of propylene oxide and / or ethylene oxide to alkyl alcohols, preferably to fatty alcohols. Typical examples are polyglycol ethers of the formula II in which R ^{i is} an alkyl radical having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, p is 0 to 2 and e is a number from 2 to 7. Preferred representatives are, for example, C ₁₀ -C ₁₄ fatty alcohol + 1PO + 6EO ether ( p = 1, e = 6) and C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohol + 7EO ether ( p = 0, e = 7) and mixtures thereof .
End-capped C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers can also be used, ie compounds in which the free OH group in the formula II is etherified. The end-capped C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers can be obtained by the relevant methods of preparative organic chemistry. C ₈ -C ₁₈ -Alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers are preferably reacted in the presence of bases with alkyl halides, in particular butyl or benzyl chloride. Typical examples are mixed ethers of the formula II in which R ^{i stands} for an industrial fatty alcohol residue, preferably C _12/14 cocoalkyl residue, p for 0 and e for 5 to 10, which are sealed with a butyl group.

Preferred nonionic surfactants are furthermore alkyl polyglycosides (APG) of the formula III, R ⁱⁱ O [G] _x , in which R ⁱⁱ for a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl radical having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, [G] for a glycosidically linked sugar radical and x stands for a number from 1 to 10. APG are non-ionic surfactants and are known substances that can be obtained using the relevant methods of preparative organic chemistry. The index number x in the general formula III indicates the degree of oligomerization (DP degree), ie the distribution of mono- and oligoglycosides, and stands for a number between 1 and 10. While x must always be an integer in a given compound and here before all the values
x = 1 to 6, the value x for a certain alkylglycoside is an analytically determined arithmetic size, which usually represents a fractional number. Alkyl glycosides with an average degree of oligomerization x of 1.1 to 3.0 are preferably used. From an application point of view, those alkyl glycosides are preferred whose degree of oligomerization is less than 1.7 and in particular between 1.2 and 1.6. Xylose, but especially glucose, is preferably used as the glycosidic sugar.
The alkyl or alkenyl radical R ⁱⁱ (formula III) can be derived from primary alcohols having 8 to 18, preferably 8 to 14, carbon atoms. Typical examples are capronic alcohol, caprylic alcohol, capric alcohol and undecyl alcohol and their technical mixtures, such as those obtained in the course of the hydrogenation of technical fatty acid methyl esters or in the course of the hydrogenation of aldehydes from RoELEN's oxosynthesis. However, the alkyl or alkenyl radical R ⁱⁱ is preferably derived from lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, palmoleyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol or oleyl alcohol. Elaidyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, erucyl alcohol and their technical mixtures should also be mentioned.

Nitrogen-containing surfactants may be included as further nonionic surfactants, e.g. Fatty acid polyhydroxyamides, for example glucamides, and ethoxylates of alkylamines, vicinal diols and / or carboxamides, the alkyl groups with 10 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably have 12 to 18 carbon atoms. The degree of ethoxylation of these compounds is usually between 1 and 20, preferably between 3 and 10. Preferred Ethanolamide derivatives of alkanoic acids with 8 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 16 carbon atoms. The particularly suitable compounds include lauric acid, Myristic acid and palmitic acid monoethanolamides.

Suitable anionic surfactants are the preferred C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl sulfates, C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl ether sulfates, ie the sulfation products of the alcohol ethers of the formula II, and / or C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl benzene sulfonates, but also C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkanesulfonates , C8-C ₁₈ -α-olefin sulfonates, sulfonated C ₈ -C ₁₈ fatty acids, especially dodecylbenzenesulfonate, C ₈ -C ₂₂ carboxamide amide ether sulfates, sulfonic succinic acid mono- and di-C ₁ -C ₁₂ alkyl esters, C ₈ -C ₁₈ - Alkyl polyglycol ether carboxylates, C ₈ -C ₁₈ -N-acyl taurides, C ₈ -C ₁₈ -N sarcosinates and C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl isethionates or mixtures thereof. They are in the form of their alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts, in particular sodium, potassium and magnesium salts, and also ammonium and mono-, di-, tri- or tetraalkylammonium salts and, in the case of the sulfonates, also in the form of their corresponding acid, for example dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, used. The compositions contain anionic surfactants in amounts, based on the composition, of 0 to 30% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 20% by weight, in particular 1 to 14% by weight, extremely preferably 2 to 10% by weight. %.

Because of their foam-suppressing properties, the agents according to the invention can also contain soaps, ie alkali metal or ammonium salts of saturated or unsaturated C ₆ -C ₂₂ fatty acids. The soaps can be used in an amount of up to 5% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 2% by weight.

Suitable amphoteric surfactants are, for example, betaines of the formula (R ⁱⁱⁱ ) (R ^iv ) (R ^v ) N ⁺ CH ₂ COO ^- , in which R ^{iii is} an alkyl radical with 8 to 25, preferably 10 to 21, carbon atoms, which is optionally interrupted by heteroatoms or heteroatom groups, and ^iv and R ^{v are} identical or different alkyl radicals having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, in particular C ₁₀ -C ₁₈ -alkyldimethylcarboxymethylbetaine and C ₁₁ -C ₁₇ -alkylamidopropyldimethylcarboxymethylbetaine. The compositions contain amphoteric surfactants in amounts, based on the composition, of 0 to 15% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 10% by weight, in particular 0.1 to 5% by weight.

Suitable cationic surfactants include the quaternary ammonium compounds of the formula (R ^vi ) (R ^vii ) (R ^viii ) (R ^ix ) N ⁺ X ^- , in which R ^vi to R ^ix for four identical or different types, in particular two long and two short-chain, alkyl radicals and X ^{- represent} an anion, in particular a halide ion, for example didecyldimethylammonium chloride, alkylbenzyldidecylammonium chloride and mixtures thereof. The compositions contain cationic surfactants in amounts, based on the composition, of 0 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight, in particular 0.1 to 3% by weight.

In a preferred embodiment, the agents according to the invention contain anionic and nonionic surfactants next to one another, preferably C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkylbenzenesulfonates, C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl sulfates and / or C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl ether sulfates in addition to C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers and / or alkyl polyglycosides, in particular C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkylbenzenesulfonates in addition to C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers.

The agents according to the invention can also contain builders. Suitable builders are for example alkali metal gluconates, citrates, nitrilotriacetates, carbonates and bicarbonates, especially sodium gluconate, citrate and nitrilotriacetate as well as sodium and Potassium carbonate and bicarbonate, as well as alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, especially sodium and potassium hydroxide, ammonia and amines, especially mono- and triethanolamine, or mixtures thereof. This also includes the salts of glutaric acid, Succinic acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid and benzene hexacarboxylic acid as well as phosphonates and Phosphates. The agents contain builders in amounts, based on the composition, of 0 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 12% by weight, in particular 0.1 to 8% by weight, extremely preferably 0.3 to 5% by weight, but the amount of sodium hexametaphosphate except for the agents used - is limited to 0 to 5 wt .-%. As Electrolytes are the builder salts at the same time phase separation aids.

In addition to the components mentioned, the agents according to the invention can contain further auxiliaries and additives as are customary in such agents. These include in particular polymers, soil release agents, solvents (e.g. ethanol, isopropanol, glycol ether), solubilizers, hydrotropes (e.g. cumene sulfonate, octyl sulfate, butyl glucoside, butyl glycol), cleaning enhancers, viscosity regulators (e.g. synthetic polymers such as polysaccharides, polyacrylates, in nature occurring polymers and their derivatives such as xanthan gum, other polysaccharides and / or gelatin), pH regulators (e.g. citric acid, alkanolamines or NaOH), disinfectants, antistatic agents, preservatives, bleaching systems, enzymes, perfume, colors and fragrances as well as opacifiers or skin protection agents, as described in EP-A-522 556 . The amount of such additives is usually not more than 12% by weight in the cleaning agent. The lower limit of use depends on the type of additive and can be up to 0.001% by weight and below, for example, for dyes. The amount of auxiliaries is preferably between 0.01 and 7% by weight, in particular 0.1 and 4% by weight.

The pH of the agents according to the invention can be varied over a wide range, but a range from 2.5 to 12, in particular 5 to 10.5, is preferred. In the context of the present invention, the pH of the agents according to the invention is to be understood as the pH of the agent in the form of the temporary emulsion.

The agents according to the invention can be mixed directly from their raw materials, then mixing and finally standing the means for separating the temporary emulsion can be produced.

Examples

a) Dodecylbenzolsulfonsäure,

b) C₁₀-C₁₄-Fettalkohol+1PO+1EO-ether,

c) C₁₂-C₁₈-Fettalkohol+7EO-ether,

d) Monoethanolamin,

e) Natriumhydroxid,

f) Natriumchlorid,

g) Natriumgluconat,

h) aliphatischer Kohlenwasserstoff (Siedebereich: 145 bis 200 °C),

i) Isoparaffine (Siedebereich: 200 bis 260 °C),

j) Dioctylether,

k) Parfüm und

l) Wasser.

Zudem enthielten die Mittel E1 bis E7 geringe Mengen Farbstoff. [Gew.-%] E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 a) 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 b) - 1 - 2 1 - - c) 2 2 2 - 2 2 2 d) 1 0,75 1 1 1 1 - e) - - - - - - 0,5 f) 9 6,5 10 9 8 10 10 g) - - - - 2 - - h) - 5 - - - 1 - i) - - 5 - - - - j) 5 - - 5 5 4 5 k) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 l) ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 pH-Wert 9,3 8,6 9,3 9,3 9,5 9,3 9,5 Agents E1 to E7 according to the invention were produced as previously described. Their compositions in% by weight and their pH are shown in Table 1. The agents show two continuous phases, the upper one being slightly milky and temporarily form a creamy-looking emulsion when shaken.
The components were used

a) dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid,

b) C ₁₀ -C ₁₄ fatty alcohol + 1PO + 1EO ether,

c) C ₁₂ -C ₁₈ fatty alcohol + 7EO ether,

d) monoethanolamine,

e) sodium hydroxide,

f) sodium chloride,

g) sodium gluconate,

h) aliphatic hydrocarbon (boiling range: 145 to 200 ° C),

i) isoparaffins (boiling range: 200 to 260 ° C),

j) dioctyl ether,

k) perfume and

l) water.

Agents E1 to E7 also contained small amounts of dye. [% By weight] E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 a) 4th 4th 4th 5 4th 4th 4th b) - 1 - 2 1 - - c) 2 2 2 - 2 2 2 d) 1 0.75 1 1 1 1 - e) - - - - - - 0.5 f) 9 6.5 10 9 8th 10 10 G) - - - - 2 - - H) - 5 - - - 1 - i) - - 5 - - - - j) 5 - - 5 5 4th 5 k) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 l) ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 ad 100 PH value 9.3 8.6 9.3 9.3 9.5 9.3 9.5

Checking the cleaning performance

The test method described below according to Seifen-Öle-Fette-Wachsen 1986 , 112 , p. 371 , which provides very reproducible results, was used to test the cleaning ability of the detergent compositions formulated according to the invention. The cleaning agent to be tested was then placed on an artificially soiled white plastic surface. A mixture of carbon black, machine oil, triglyceride of saturated fatty acids and low-boiling aliphatic hydrocarbon was used as artificial soiling for the dilute use of the cleaning agent. The test area of 26 x 28 cm was evenly coated with 2 g of the artificial soiling with the aid of a surface coater.

A plastic sponge was each with 10 ml of the detergent solution to be tested soaked and mechanically on the also with 10 ml of the cleaning agent to be tested coated test surface moves. After 10 wiping movements, the cleaned test area Held under running water and the loose dirt removed. The cleaning effect, i.e. the whiteness of the so-called plastic surface was measured with a Color difference measuring device "Microcolor" (Dr. Lange) measured. The served as the white standard clean untreated white plastic surface.

The test was carried out with the inventive cleaning agent E1 in diluted usage at a concentration of 6 MLL ^-1 and in undiluted. For comparison, the test was carried out with a leading all-purpose cleaner in the German market with more than 10% by weight of surfactants (V1) in dilute application of 6 ml·l ^-1 as well as in undiluted application.

The inventive cleaning agent E1 outperforms the significantly more surfactant-rich cleaner V1 both in the diluted application and in the undiluted application.

Checking the residue behavior

The residue behavior was checked on black tiles. The backlog of the Agents according to the invention are at the level of commercially available all-purpose cleaners in Germany. This is still the case even if the agent contains hydrophobic components contain.

Composition of phases I and II

The composition of phases I and II of the cleaning agent E1 according to the invention is shown in Table 2. E1 Phase I [% by weight] Phase II [% by weight] a) 0 6.2 c) <0.05 3.3 d) 1.06 1.0 f) 11.5 8.9 j) <0.05 7.9 k) <0.05 1.6 1) 85.0 70.7

The upper phase II contains almost the entire amount of surfactant (a, c), hydrophobic component (j) and perfume (k), while the lower phase I almost exclusively a part of the Contains phase separation aid (f) and the builder (d).

Claims (14)

Use of an aqueous liquid multiphase surfactant-containing cleaning agent with at least two continuous phases, which has at least one lower aqueous phase I and one upper aqueous phase II which is immiscible with this phase and which can be temporarily converted into an emulsion by shaking, characterized in that it is 0 to Contains 5 wt .-% sodium hexametaphosphate. Use of an agent according to claim 1, characterized in that the continuous phases I and II are delimited from one another by a sharp interface. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that one or both of the continuous phases I and II parts, preferably 0.1 to 25% by volume, in particular 0.2 to 15% by volume, based on the volume of the respective continuous phase, the other phase contained as dispersant. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that phase I in amounts of 0.1 to 25 vol .-%, preferably 0.2 to 15 vol .-%, based on the volume of phase II, in Phase II is emulsified. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in addition to the continuous phases I and II, part of the two phases is present as an emulsion of one of the two phases in the other phase, this emulsion being characterized by two sharp interfaces, an upper and a lower one, which is delimited from the parts of phases I and II not involved in the emulsion. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the agent phase I and phase II in a volume ratio of 90: 10 to 10: 90, preferably 75: 25 to 25: 75, in particular 65: 35 to 35: 65 contains. Use of an agent according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the agent additionally hydrophobic components from the group of dialkyl ethers having identical or different C 4 to C ₁₄ alkyl radicals, in particular dioctyl ethers, hydrocarbons having a boiling range of 100 to 300 ° C, in particular 140 to 280 ° C., essential oils, in particular limonene and pine oil, and mixtures thereof, in particular mixtures of two or three of the hydrophobic components mentioned. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the agent additionally phase separating agent, preferably from the group of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal chlorides and sulfates, especially sodium and potassium chloride and sulfate, and ammonium chloride and sulfate or their Mixtures. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the agent is anionic surfactant, preferably from the group of the C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl sulfates, the C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl ether sulfates and C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl benzene sulfonates and their mixtures. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the agent contains nonionic surfactant, preferably from the group of the C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers, the alkyl polyglycosides and mixtures thereof. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the agent is anionic and nonionic surfactant, preferably C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl benzene sulfonates, C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl sulfates and / or C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl ether sulfates in addition to C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers and / or alkyl polyglycosides, in particular C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl benzene sulfonates in addition to C ₈ -C ₁₈ alkyl alcohol polyglycol ethers. Use of an agent according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the agent contains one or more cationic surfactants. Use of an agent according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the agent additionally contains builders, preferably from the group of alkali metal gluconates, citrates, nitrilotriacetates, carbonates and bicarbonates, as well as alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, ammonia and amines, especially mono - And triethanolamine or mixtures thereof. Use of an aqueous liquid multi-phase surfactant-containing cleaning agent with at least two continuous phases, the at least one lower identifies aqueous phase I and an upper aqueous phase II which is immiscible with this phase and can be temporarily converted into an emulsion by shaking, hard for cleaning Surfaces.