EP1259585B1 - Clear rinsing agents - Google Patents

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to rinse aid for automatic dishwashing, containing hydroxy mixed ethers and Alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides, optionally further nonionic surfactants, water and others Auxiliaries and additives, as well as the use of such mixtures in rinse aid, and a Process for rinsing and cleaning hard surfaces.

State of the art

Today, higher demands are placed on machine-washed dishes than on manually washed dishes Dishes. This means that dishes that have been completely cleaned of leftovers are not considered perfect rated if it is whitish after machine dishwashing, water hardness or otherwise mineral salts with stains that have dried out due to a lack of wetting agents Water drops originate.

Rinse aid is therefore used to ensure that dishes are clear and spotless. The addition of liquid or solid rinse aid ensures that the water runs off the dishes as completely as possible, so that the different surfaces are residue-free and shiny at the end of the washing program.

Commercial rinse aids are mixtures of nonionic surfactants, solubilizers, organic acids and solvents, water and possibly preservatives and fragrances. The task of the surfactants in these agents is to influence the interfacial tension of the water so that it is as thin and coherent as possible Film can run off the wash ware so that no water drops, streaks or films remain during the subsequent drying process (so-called wetting effect). Furthermore, the surfactants also have the task of dampening the foam that is caused by food residues in the dishwasher. Since the rinse aids mostly contain acids to improve the clear dry effect, the surfactants used must also be relatively insensitive to hydrolysis against acids.
Rinse aids are used both in the home and in commercial areas. In household dishwashers, the rinse aid is added at just under 40 ° C-65 ° C after the pre-rinse and cleaning cycle. Commercial dishwashers work with only one cleaning liquor, which is only renewed by adding the rinse aid solution from the previous washing process. There is therefore no complete water exchange during the entire washing program. Therefore, the rinse aid must also have a foam-suppressing effect, be temperature-stable with a strong temperature gradient of 85-35 ° C and also be sufficiently stable against alkali and active chlorine.

It is known from the unpublished DE 19851453 that alkoxylated fatty acid lower alkyl esters and in particular mixtures with other nonionic surfactants such as hydroxy mixed ethers and alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides meet the requirements for a branded product with regard to the application properties. However, no preferred mixing ratios of hydroxy mixed ether and alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides are disclosed there.

German published patent application DE 19738866 describes surfactant mixtures of hydroxy mixed ethers and nonionic surfactants such as fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol / polypropylene glycol ether, if appropriate end group capped, described, which have a good foaming behavior and in rinse aid show good rinse aid effects.

The object of the present invention was to develop rinse aid which is also a good one Show drainage behavior through improved wetting behavior, have a foam-suppressing effect and one high material compatibility, especially very good plastic compatibility of the rinsed Have surfaces.

The object could be achieved by the combination of hydroxy mixed ether and alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides in the weight ratio according to the invention. This results in a high level of plastic compatibility and, thanks to the very good wettability, a spotless shine on the surfaces to be rinsed. It should be emphasized that, despite the alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides, which are known to be non-foam-suppressing but very surface-compatible, the agents according to the invention exhibit low self-foaming behavior.
Furthermore, it was found that the use of the petrochemical solubilizer cumene sulfonate could be reduced by up to 75% by using hydroxy mixed ethers, especially in combination with alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides.

Description of the invention

a. Hydroxymischether (HME) der Formel (I) R¹O[CH₂CHR²O]_x[CH₂CHR³O]_yCH₂CH(OH)R⁴

in der R¹ für Alkyl- und/oder Alkenylrest mit 4 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen

R² für Wasserstoff oder einen Methyl- oder Ethylrest

R³ für Wasserstoff oder einen Methyl- oder Ethylrest

R⁴ für einen Alkylrest mit 2 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen

x für 0 oder 1 bis 30,

y für 0 oder 1 bis 30, wobei x+y>=1 ist, steht,

b. Alkyl- und/oder Alkenyloligoglykoside (APG) der Formel (II) R⁵O-[G]_p

in der R⁵ für Alkyl- und/ oder Alkenylrest mit 4 bis 22 Kohlenstoffatomen

G für einen Zuckerrest mit 5 oder 6 Kohlenstoffatomen

p für eine Zahl von 1 bis 10, steht,

c. weitere nichtionische Tenside,

d. gegebenenfalls Wasser,

e. gegebenenfalls Hilfs- und Zusatzstoffe,

wobei in den Mitteln HME und APG im Gewichtsverhältnis 10 zu 0,1 bis 1 zu 10 enthalten sind. The invention relates to rinse aids

a. Hydroxy mixed ether (HME) of the formula (I) R ¹ O [CH ₂ CHR ² O] _x [CH ₂ CHR ³ O] _y CH ₂ CH (OH) R ⁴

in the R ¹ for alkyl and / or alkenyl radical having 4 to 22 carbon atoms

R ^{2 represents} hydrogen or a methyl or ethyl radical

R ^{3 represents} hydrogen or a methyl or ethyl radical

R ^{4 represents} an alkyl radical with 2 to 22 carbon atoms

x for 0 or 1 to 30,

y is 0 or 1 to 30, where x + y> = 1,

b. Alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides (APG) of the formula (II) R ⁵ O- [G] _p

in the R ⁵ for alkyl and / or alkenyl radical having 4 to 22 carbon atoms

G for a sugar residue with 5 or 6 carbon atoms

p stands for a number from 1 to 10,

c. other nonionic surfactants,

d. optionally water,

e. where appropriate, auxiliaries and additives,

HME and APG are contained in a weight ratio of 10 to 0.1 to 1 to 10.

hydroxy mixed

Hydroxy mixed ethers of the formula (I) are known from the literature and are described, for example, in German application DE 19738866. They are prepared by reacting 1,2-epoxyalkanes (R ⁴ CHOCH ₂ ), where R ^{4 is} an aliphatic saturated, straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 2 to 22, in particular 6 to 16 carbon atoms, with alkoxylated alcohols.
Preferred hydroxy mixed ethers for the purposes of the invention are those derived from alkoxylates of monohydric alcohols of the formula R ¹ -OH having 4 to 18 carbon atoms, where R ^{1 is} an aliphatic, saturated, straight-chain or branched alkyl radical, in particular having 6 to 16 carbon atoms, stands.
Examples of suitable straight-chain alcohols are butanol-1, capron, Önanth, capryl, pelargon, caprinal alcohol, undecanol-1, lauryl alcohol, tridecanol-1, myristyl alcohol, pentadecanol-1, palmity alcohol, heptadecanol-1, stearyl alcohol, nonadecanol 1, arachidyl alcohol, heneicosanol-1, behenyl alcohol and their technical mixtures, as are obtained in the high-pressure hydrogenation of technical methyl esters based on fats and oils. Examples of branched alcohols are so-called oxo alcohols, which usually carry 2 to 4 methyl groups as branches and are produced by the oxo process, and so-called Guerbet alcohols, which are branched in the 2-position with an alkyl group. Suitable Guerbet alcohols are 2-ethylhexanol, 2-butyloctanol, 2-hexyldecanol and / or 2-octyldodecanol.

The alcohols are used in the form of their alkoxylates, which are prepared in a known manner by reacting the alcohols in any order with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and / or butylene oxide.
Alkoxylates of alcohols which are formed by reaction with 10 to 50 mol of ethylene oxide are preferably used, where R ² and R ^{3 are} hydrogen and x + y = 1-50. Both alkoxylates which are formed by reacting alcohol with 1 to 10 mol of propylene oxide (R ² = methyl, x = 1-10) and 10 to 30 mol of ethylene oxide (R ³ = hydrogen, y = 10-30) are preferred, and also by reaction with 10 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide (R ² = hydrogen, x = 10-30) and 1 to 10 moles of propylene oxide (R ³ = methyl, y = 1-10).

Hydroxy mixed ethers of the formula (I) are particularly suitable, where R ^{2 is} a methyl radical and R ^{3 is} hydrogen, which is advantageously carried out by reacting alcohol with 1 to 3 mol of propylene oxide (x = 1-3) and then with 10 to 25 mol Ethylene oxide (y = 10-25) have been produced.

Alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides

The rinse aids according to the invention absolutely contain alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides of the formula (II). They can be obtained according to the relevant procedures in preparative organic chemistry. Representative of the extensive literature here is the review by Biermann et al. in Starch /force 45, 281 (1993), B.Salka in Cosm.Toil. 108, 89 (1993) and J.Kahre et al. in SÖFW-Journal issue 8, 598 (1995)
The alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides can be derived from aldoses or ketoses with 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. The preferred alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides are thus alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglucosides.
The alkyl radical R ⁵ can be derived from primary saturated alcohols. Typical examples are butanol-1, capron, Önanth, capryl, pelargon, caprinal alcohol, undecanol-1, lauryl alcohol, tridecanol-1, myristyl alcohol, pentadecanol-1, cetyl alcohol, palmity alcohol, heptadecanol-1, stearyl alcohol, isostearecanol alcohol -1, arachidyl alcohol, heneicosanol-1, and behenyl alcohol and their technical mixtures, such as are obtained, for example, in the hydrogenation of technical fatty acid methyl esters or in the course of the hydrogenation of aldehydes from Roelen's oxosynthesis.
The alkenyl radical R ⁵ can be derived from primary unsaturated alcohols. Typical examples of unsaturated alcohols are undecen-1-ol, oleyl alcohol, elaidyl alcohol, ricinol alcohol, linoleyl alcohol, linolenyl alcohol, gadoleyl alcohol, arachidone alcohol, eruca alcohol, brassidyl alcohol, palmoleyl alcohol, petroselinyl alcohol, arachyl alcohol, and the technical mixtures thereof, which can be obtained as described above, and their technical mixtures.

Alkyl or alkenyl radicals R ⁵ which are derived from primary alcohols having 6 to 16 carbon atoms are preferred.
Particularly suitable are alkyl oligoglucosides of chain length C ₈ -C ₁₀ , which are obtained as a preliminary step in the separation of technical C ₈ -C ₁₈ coconut fatty alcohol by distillation and which may be contaminated with a proportion of less than 6% by weight of C ₁₂ alcohol, as well as alkyl oligoglucosides based on technical C _9/11 oxo alcohols.
The alkyl or alkenyl radical R ⁵ can also be derived from primary alcohols having 12 to 14 carbon atoms.

The index number p in the general formula (II) indicates the degree of oligomerization (DP), ie the distribution of mono- and oligoglycosides, and stands for a number between 1 and 10. While p in a given compound must always be an integer, and here in particular that Can assume values p = 1 to 3, the value p for a certain alkyl oligoglycoside is an analytically determined arithmetic parameter, which usually represents a fractional number.
Alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides with an average degree of oligomerization p of 1.1 to 2.0 are preferably used. From an application point of view, preference is given to alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides whose degree of oligomerization is less than 2.0 and in particular between 1.2 and 1.7.

Hydroxy mixed ethers of the formula (I) and alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides are also the Formula (II) in a weight ratio of 10 to 0.1 to 1 to 10, preferably 10 to 0.5 to 1 to 5, in particular Use 10 to 1 to 1 to 4.

Nonionic surfactants

The agents according to the invention can contain further nonionic surfactants. Typical examples of nonionic surfactants are alkoxylates of alkanols, end-capped alkoxylates of alkanols without free OH groups, alkoxylated fatty acid lower alkyl esters, amine oxides, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, Fatty acid polyglycol esters, fatty acid amide polyglycol ethers, fatty amine polyglycol ethers, alkoxylated triglycerides, Mixed ethers or mixed formals, fatty acid N-alkylglucamides, protein hydrolyzates (especially vegetable Wheat-based products), polyol fatty acid esters, sugar esters, sorbitan esters, and polysorbates. Sofem the nonionic surfactants containing polyglycol ether chains, these can be conventional, preferably however, have a narrow homolog distribution.

The further nonionic surfactants are preferably selected from the group formed by Alkoxylates of alkanols, especially fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol / polypropylene glycol ether (FAEO / PO) of the formula (III) or fatty alcohol polypropylene glycol / polyethylene glycol ether (FAPO / EO) of the formula (IV), end group-capped Alkoxylates of alkanols, especially end-capped fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol / polypropylene glycol ether or end-capped fatty alcohol polypropylene glycol / polyethylene glycol ether, and fatty acid lower alkyl esters and amine oxides.

Fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol / polypropylene

In a preferred embodiment, fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol / polypropylene glycol ethers of the formula (III), which are optionally end group-capped, R ⁶ O (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n [CH ₂ (CH ₃ ) CHO] _m R ⁷ used, in which R ^{6 represents} an alkyl and / or alkenyl radical having 8 to 22 C atoms, R ^{7 represents} H or an alkyl radical having 1 to 8 C atoms, n for a number from 1 to 40, preferably 1 to 30 , in particular 1 to 15, and m represents 0 or a number from 1 to 10.

Fatty alcohol polypropylene glycol / polyethylene

Also suitable are fatty alcohol polypropylene glycol / polyethylene glycol ethers of the formula (IV), which are optionally end-capped, R ⁸ O [CH ₂ (CH ₃ ) CHO] _q (CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _r R ⁹ in which R ^{8 represents} an alkyl and / or alkenyl radical having 8 to 22 C atoms, R ^{9 represents} H or an alkyl radical having 1 to 8 C atoms, q represents a number from 1 to 5 and r represents a number of 0 up to 15.

According to a preferred embodiment, the agents according to the invention contain fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol ethers of the formula (III) in which R ^{6 is} an aliphatic, saturated, straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, n is a number from 1 to 10, and m is 0 and R ^{7 represents} hydrogen. These are addition products of 1 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide with monofunctional alcohols. The alcohols described above, such as fatty alcohols, oxo alcohols and Guerbet alcohols, are suitable as alcohols.
Of those alcohol ethoxylates, those are also suitable which have a narrow homolog distribution.

Other suitable representatives of non-end-capped representatives are those of the formula (III) in which R ^{6 is} an aliphatic, saturated, straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, n is a number from 2 to 7, m is a number of 3 to 7 and R ^{7 represents} hydrogen. These are addition products of monofunctional alcohols alkoxylated with 2 to 7 moles of ethylene oxide and then with 3 to 7 moles of propylene oxide, of the type already described.

The end group-capped compounds of the formula (III) are capped with an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms (R ⁷ ). Such compounds are often referred to in the literature as mixed ethers. Suitable representatives are methyl group-locked compounds of the formula (III) in which R ^{6 is} an aliphatic, saturated, straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, n is a number from 2 to 7, m is a number from 3 to 7 and R ^{7 represents} a methyl group. Such compounds can easily be prepared by reacting the corresponding non-end-capped fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol ether with methyl chloride in the presence of a base.

Suitable representatives of alkyl-capped compounds are those of the formula (III) in which R ^{6 is} an aliphatic, saturated, straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, n is a number from 5 to 15, m is 0 and R ⁷ represents an alkyl group with 4 to 8 carbon atoms. The end group closure is preferably carried out with a straight-chain or branched butyl group by the corresponding fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol ether with n-butyl chloride or with tert. Butyl chloride is reacted in the presence of bases.

Instead of the compounds of the formula (III) or in a mixture with them, end-capped fatty alcohol polypropylene glycol / polyethylene glycol ethers of the formula (IV) may be present. Such connections are described, for example, in German published patent application DE-A1-43 23 252. Particularly preferred representatives of the compounds of the formula (IV) are those in which R ^{8 is} an aliphatic, saturated, straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 8 to 16 carbon atoms, q is a number from 1 to 5, r is a number of 1 to 6 and R ^{9 represents} hydrogen. These are preferably addition products of 1 to 5 mol of propylene oxide and of 1 to 6 mol of ethylene oxide with monofunctional alcohols, which have already been described as suitable in connection with the hydroxy mixed ethers.

Alkoxylated fatty acid lower alkyl esters

Suitable alkoxylated fatty acid lower alkyl esters are surfactants of the formula (V) R ¹⁰ CO- (OCH ₂ CHR ¹¹ ) _w OR ¹² in which R ¹⁰ CO stands for a linear or branched, saturated and / or unsaturated acyl radical with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R ¹¹ for hydrogen or methyl, R ¹² for linear or branched alkyl radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms and w for numbers from 1 to 20 stands. Typical examples are the formal insert products of on average 1 to 20 and preferably 5 to 10 moles of ethylene and / or propylene oxide in the methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl and tert-butyl esters of caproic acid, caprylic acid, 2 -Ethylhexanoic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, isotridecanoic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmoleic acid, stearic acid, isostearic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, petroselinic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, elaeostearic acid, arachidic acid, gadoleic acid, behenic acid and technical grade and erucas. The products are usually prepared by inserting the alkoxides into the carbonyl ester bond in the presence of special catalysts, such as, for example, calcined hydrotalcite. Conversion products of an average of 5 to 10 moles of ethylene oxide into the ester linkage of technical coconut fatty acid methyl esters are particularly preferred.

amine oxides

Compounds of the formula (VI) and / or can be used as amine oxides.

The preparation of the amine oxides of the formula (VI) starts from tertiary fatty amines which have at least one long alkyl radical and is oxidized in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. In the case of the amine oxides of the formula (VI) which are suitable for the purposes of the invention, R ^{13 represents} a linear or branched alkyl radical having 6 to 22, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, and R ¹⁴ and R ¹⁵ independently of one another are R ¹³ or, if appropriate hydroxy-substituted alkyl radical with 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Amine oxides of the formula (VI) are preferably used in which R ¹³ and R ^{14 are} C _12/14 and C _12/18 cocoalkyl radicals and R ^{15 is} a methyl or a hydroxyethyl radical. Amine oxides of the formula (VI) in which R ^{13 represents} a C _12/14 or C _12/18 cocoalkyl radical and R ¹⁴ and R ^{15 have} the meaning of a methyl or hydroxyethyl radical are likewise preferred.
Further suitable amine oxides are alkylamidoamine oxides of the formula (VII), the alkylamido radical R ²³ CONH being obtained by the reaction of linear or branched carboxylic acids, preferably having 6 to 22, preferably having 12 to 18, carbon atoms, in particular from C _12/14 or C _12/18 - fatty acids with amines. R ^{24 represents} a linear or branched alkenyl group having 2 to 6, preferably 2 to 4 carbon atoms and R ¹⁴ and R ¹⁵ have the meaning given in formula (VI).

In a preferred embodiment, the rinse aid according to the invention contains 0.01 to 30% by weight, preferably 0.025 to 20% by weight and in particular 0.5 to 15% by weight of hydroxy mixed ethers of the formula (I), calculated as active substance, based on the Medium.
Active substance defines itself as pure substance, which is contained in the rinse aid.

In a further embodiment, the rinse aid according to the invention contains 0.01 to 30% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 20 wt .-% and in particular 0.2 to 15 wt .-% alkyl and / or Alkenyl oligoglycosides of the formula (II) calculated as active substance, based on the composition.

The further nonionic surfactants can be used in the agents according to the invention in amounts of 0.1 to 20 % By weight, preferably 0.5 to 8% by weight, in particular 1 to 6% by weight, calculated as Active substance, based on the funds.

Water, auxiliaries and additives

The rinse aids can be used both as aqueous solutions and in solid form e.g. in wax poured in or present as a gel. It is particularly preferred that it be in the form of aqueous solutions available.

The agents according to the invention can be used as auxiliaries and additives, for example solubilizers such as Cumene sulfonate, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butyl glycol, diethylene glycol, Propylene glycol monobutyl ether, polyethylene or polypropylene glycol ether with molecular weights from 600 to 1,500,000, preferably with a molecular weight of 400,000 to 800,000, or in particular butyl diglycol contain. Organic acids, such as mono- and / or polyvalent carboxylic acids, can also be preferred Citric acid, as well as preservatives and fragrances are used.

Another object of the present invention is the use of Hydroxymischethem in Combination with alkyl and / or alkenyl oligoglycosides and other nonionic surfactants in Rinse aid, preferably for household, industrial and institutional use.

Another object of the present invention is the method for rinsing and cleaning hard surfaces, the agents according to the invention mixed with water on the surfaces be applied.

Examples

Application studies. The rinse aid capacity is assessed visually by test subjects. Glasses, cutlery and plates are patterned in a room with a defined brightness.
In addition, the immersion network capacity (DIN EN 1772) is determined.

Claims (15)

1. Rinse agents containing

   a. hydroxy mixed ethers (HMEs) corresponding to formula (I): R¹O[CH₂CHR²O]_x[CH₂CHR³O]_yCH₂CH(OH)R⁴

   in which R¹ is an alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing 4 to 22 carbon atoms,

   R² is hydrogen or a methyl or ethyl group,

   R³ is hydrogen or a methyl or ethyl group,

   R⁴ is an alkyl group containing 2 to 22 carbon atoms,

   x = 0 or 1 to 30,

   y = 0 or 1 to 30, x + y > = 1,

   b. alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides (APGs) corresponding to formula (II): R⁵O-[G]_p

   in which R⁵ is an alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing 4 to 22 carbon atoms,

   G is a sugar unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms,

   p is a number of 1 to 10,

   c. other nonionic surfactants,

   d. optionally water,

   e. optionally auxiliaries and additives,

   characterized in that HMEs and APGs are present in the rinse agents in a ratio by weight of 10:0.1 to 1:10.
2. Rinse agents as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that HMEs and APGs are present in a ratio by weight of 10:0.5 to 1:5.
3. Rinse agents as claimed in any of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that they contain hydroxy mixed ethers corresponding to formula (I) in which R¹ is an alkyl group containing 4 to 18 carbon atoms.
4. Rinse agents as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that they contain hydroxy mixed ethers corresponding to formula (I) in which R² is a methyl group and R³ is hydrogen.
5. Rinse agents as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that they contain hydroxy mixed ethers corresponding to formula (I) in which x is a number of 1 to 3 and y is a number of 10 to 25.
6. Rinse agents as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that they contain alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides corresponding to formula (II) in which R⁵ is a C_6-16 alkyl group.
7. Rinse agents as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that they contain alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides corresponding to formula (II) in which p is a number of 1 to 3.
8. Rinse agents as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that they contain other nonionic surfactants preferably selected from the group consisting of alkoxylates of alkanols, end-capped alkoxylates of alkanols with no free OH groups, alkoxylated fatty acid lower alkyl esters (FMEO) and amine oxides.
9. Rinse agents as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that they contain water.
10. Rinse agents as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that they contain auxiliaries and additives selected from the group consisting of organic acids, solubilizers, preservatives and perfumes.
11. Rinse agents as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that they contain 0.01 to 30% by weight, based on rinse agent, of hydroxy mixed ethers corresponding to formula (I) expressed as active substance.
12. Rinse agents as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that they contain 0.01 to 30% by weight, based on rinse agent, of alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides corresponding to formula (II) expressed as active substance.
13. Rinse agents as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that they contain 0.1 to 20% by weight, based on rinse agent, of other nonionic surfactants expressed as active substance.
14. The use of hydroxy mixed ethers in combination with alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides and other nonionic surfactants in rinse agents, optionally together with water and auxiliaries and additives.
15. A process for washing and cleaning hard surfaces, characterized in that the rinse agents claimed in claims 1 to 13 are applied to the surfaces in admixture with water.