PURPOSE: To clean a metallic surface to get rid of oils, etc., sticking to this surface at low foamability without the possibility of environmental disruption by incorporating the specific polyoxyalkylene compds. expressed by general formulas at a prescribed ratio into the above compsn.

CONSTITUTION: This detergent compsn. for the metallic surface is formed of the compsn. consisting, by weight %, of 50 to 97% compd. A (for example, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) and 3 to 50% compd. B (for example, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether). The above-mentioned compd. A is expressed by the general formula R1O (CnH2nO)mH (where R1: 1 to 8C alkyl group or cycloalkyl group, n: an integer from 2 to 4, m: an integer from 1 to 5). The above- mentioned compd. B is expressed by the general formula R2O (CH2CH2O)pR3 (where R2, R3: 1 to 8C alkyl group or cycloalkyl group, P: an integer from 1 to 5).