A surface-active composition is described which comprises (a) from 0.01 to 90% by weight of a muixture of a microbicidal active ingredient of (a1) a diphenyl ether compound and (a2) a phenol derivative, (b) from 0 to 50% by weight of one or more hydrotropic agents, (c) from 0 to 80% by weight of one or more synthetic detergents or of a soap or of combinations of the mentioned substances and/or of a salt of a saturated and/or unsaturated C8-C22 fatty acid, (d) from 0 to 50% by weight of an alcohol, (e) from 0 to 50% by weightof typical ingredients for cleaning and disinfectant compositions and optionally (f) tap water or deionised water ad 10%. The compositions are used for the antimicrobial treatment of human skcin, and hair, of hard surfaces and of textile fibre materials.
