Abstract: The foaming and detergent power of manual dishwashing detergents gentle to the skin and containing anionic surfactants of the sulfonate or sulfate surfactant type, fatty acid alkanolamides and fatty alkylgucosides are enhanced by using fatty alkyl C.sub.12 -C.sub.14 monoglucosides containing less than 2 glucose units per fatty alkyl group in quantities of from 3 to 20% by weight alkyl sulfate or alkylether sulfate, and from 1 to 15% by weight fatty acid alkanolamide.

Abstract: Dishwashing composition for the machine washing of crockery at around 40.degree. C. which contain, in addition to polymeric alkali phosphates (di-, triphosphates), water-soluble complexing zeolites of the NaA or NaX type or organic complexing agents for calcium, alkali metasilicate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, waterglass, active oxygen donors and a low-foaming nonionic surfactant from the group of alkylene oxide adducts with C.sub.12 -C.sub.18 alkanols, nonylphenol or with polypropylene glycols having a molecular weight of from 900 to 4000, (1) form about 0.1 to 5% by weight of a hydrolase enzyme (amylases, proteases, lipases) and, (2) as cleansing boosters, from about 0.1 to 10% by weight of C.sub.8 -C.sub.10 primary, straight-chain or branched-chain alkanols which may optionally be propoxylated with from 1 to 2 moles of propylene oxide.

Abstract: 2-benzyl-1-alkanol polyglycol ethers having the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is a C.sub.6 to C.sub.22 alkyl group; R.sup.2 is a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkylene group; and n is an integer from 1 to about 100.The products are produced by heating a mixture of a ratio of an alcohol having the formula:R.sup.1 --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OHwherein the symbol R.sup.1 has the same meaning as above with a ratio of from about 1 mole to about 10 moles, preferably 1 to 3 moles, of benzyl alcohol to a temperature of from about 180.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. in the presence of an alkali metal compound, and optionally a hydrogenation catalyst; separating the excess benzyl alcohol from the mixture and alkoxylating the alcohol thus obtained.The polyglycol ether are used as wetting agents, dispersants, emulsifiers and detergents.

Abstract: Process for the rinsing of dishes in dishwashing machines having one or several clear-rinsing cycles using an aqueous solution of an adduct of from 2 to 14 moles of ethylene oxide and from 0 to 7 mols of propylene oxide to the monocarboxylic acid ester of an alkanediol with a linear alkane chain of 8 to 20 carbon atoms, and having vicinal hydroxyls, as well as clear-rinsing concentrates for use in the process.