Abstract: A Process is described for the pretreatment or finishing of materials with processing agents dissolved or dispersed in water or in organic solvents, wherein the portion of the treatment liquor or of the pretreatment liquor containing the processing agent constitutes the volumetrically smaller part, and the remaining portion of this treatment liquor consists of at least one inert organic compound selected from a water-insoluble, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and aromatic compound which is perfluorinated or mixed-halogenated, or which contains a perfluorinated or mixed-halogenated radical which compounds are immiscible with the treatment liquor; and wherein the liquor optionally contains additional auxiliaries that do not form an emulsion with the inert organic compound, and the system is very thoroughly mixed during the pretreatment or finishing process.