The invention provides a cleaner for lithographic printing plates free of aromatic hydrocarbons consisting essentially of from about 3.0% to about 35.0% of a solvent component which is selected from the group consisting of ethoxylates and propoxylates of C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alcohols; and from about 0.5% to about 7.0% sodium metasilicate; and from about 0.25% to about 6.0% of a non-ionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyoxy aryl ethers having a hydrophile-lipophile balance in the range of from about 10.5 to about 11.5; and from about 52.0% to about 96.25% water, wherein said percentages are by weight of the cleaner.