The invention relates to non-ozone depleting cleaning compositions for degreasing elements in manufacturing and engineering processes like oily machine parts and for defluxing printed circuit boards, used in the electric and electrical industry. The composition according to the invention contains at least one C.sub.6-12 alkyllactate ester, preferably 2-ethyl hexyl lactate, in an amount of 70-99% by weight and at least one emulsifier, preferably n-octanol, in an amount of 1-30% by weight. One of the main advantages of the present cleaning composition is based on the fact that in the rinsing step with water for removing the cleaning composition from the treated surface an emulsion is formed, which on the one hand is stable enough for having proper rinsing ability and on the other hand--after the rinsing step--will separate rather quickly into an oil and a water phase. This last mentioned phenomenon provides the benefits of reusing the active cleaning agent, i.e. the C.sub.6-12 alkyllactate ester and reusing and/or partly discarding the waste water being toxicologically and environmentally safe.