A method for treating a contaminated substrate comprising the steps of contacting an emulsion to a substrate surface soiled with one or more contaminants, the emulsion comprising a blend of dibasic esters, whereby the emulsion is capable of emulsifying all or some of the contaminants, forming a resulting emulsion; removing substantially all of the resulting emulsion from the substrate surface; and, optionally, in recovering the contaminant, adding an amount of water or a solvent to the resulting emulsion effective to form at least a first phase layer comprising a substantial amount of the contaminant and a second phase layer comprising a substantial amount of the emulsion. The dibasic esters can be a blend of adipic, glutaric, and succinic diacids, and, in one particular embodiment, the blend comprises dialkyl methylglutarate and dialkyl ethylsuccinate, wherein the alkyl groups individually comprise a C1-C12 hydrocarbon group. The one or more surfactants and additional components can be added.