The present invention relates to a method for preparing a dialkyi or dialkenyl ether of a cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol, which comprises (i) reacting the cycloaliphatic or araliphatic diol with metallic sodium in an aprotic organic solvent in the presence of a catalytic amount of at least one monoether-monoalcohol of formula (I) wherein Y is identical or different and selected from C2-C4-alkylene, n is an integer in the range from 1 to 10, and R1 is C1-C4-Alkyl, whereby the corresponding disodium dialcoholate is obtained, reacting the disodium dialcoholate obtained in step (i) with an alkylation alkenylation reagent.