The object of the present invention relates to the use of an branched alkoxylated non-ionic surfactant as an additive to an aqueous membrane cleaning composition, wherein the surfactant has an HLBd value of 9 to 12.5 and an average degree of branching Bs≧1.5 and wherein the surfactant has the following formula: (I), wherein R is a C8-C18 linear or branched hydrocarbon chain, X is O or N, R1, R2 and R3 independently of one another are hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, or a mixture of these, n has a value of from 1 to 8, m has a value of from 1 to 8, p has a value of from 0 to 8.
