An encapsulated active substance for a manual detergent for hard surfaces comprises the following: A) an essentially anhydrous active substance with (i) at least one tenside and (ii) at least one liquid polymer support and B) a water-soluble or water-dispersible capsule, the active substance (ii) containing a quantity of the liquid polymer support of less than 25 wt. % in relation to the active substance, and/or (iii) at least one unbranched or branched, acyclic or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated alcohol with 1 to 10 carbon atoms and one or two primary, secondary or tertiary hydroxy groups and a carbon skeleton which is optionally interrupted by one or more oxygen atomsO- and/or (iv) being free of glycerol. The encapsulated active substance can be used as a manual detergent for hard surfaces and applied in a method for manually cleaning a hard surface with an aqueous cleaning liquor, said cleaning liquor being produced by dissolving or dispersing at least one encapsulated active substance of this type in water.