The present invention is directed towards an aqueous alkaline cleaner composition comprising: an iron cation, a molybdenum cation, a cobalt cation, or combinations thereof; and an alkaline component; wherein the pH of the aqueous alkaline composition is at least 10, and the aqueous alkaline composition includes no more than 50 ppm of phosphate. Also disclosed are treatment systems comprising an aqueous alkaline composition for treating at least a portion of a substrate, and a pretreatment composition for treating at least a portion of a substrate. Also disclosed are substrates treated according to the disclosed treatment systems.