A low-foaming surfactant composition comprising: (a) a hydroxy mixed ether corresponding to formula I: R1O[CH2CH(CH3)O]x(CH2CHR2O)y[CH2CH(OH)R3]z,  (I) wherein R1 is an alkyl and/or alkylene group containing from 4 to 18 carbon atoms, R2 is hydrogen, R3 is an alkyl group having from 2 to 22 carbon atoms, x is 0, y is a number from 1 to 30, and z is a number from 1 to 3; and (b) a low-foaming nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of an optionally end-capped fatty alcohol polyethylene glycol/polypropylene glycol ether corresponding to formula II: R4O(CH2CH2O)n[CH2(CH3)CHO]mR5  (II) wherein R4 is an alkyl and/or alkylene group containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R5 is hydrogen or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, n is a number from 1 to 15 and m is a number up to 10, an optionally end-capped fatty alcohol polypropylene glycol/polyethylene glycol ether corresponding to formula II: R6O[CH2(CH3)CHO]p(CH2CH2O)qR7  (III) wherein R6 is an alkyl and/or alkylene group having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms, R7 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, p is a number from 1 to 5, and q is a number up to 15, and mixtures thereof.