A deinking method which comprises adding a specified nonionic surfactant having a specified solubility parameter as an essential component, during in the pulping step (the preceding step) and in any of the subsequent steps (the succeeding step). By use of the deinking surfactant composition and the deinking method of the present invention, an excellent deinking performance, including an elevated whiteness, a decrease in the number of unliberated large ink spots and an improved defoaming property of the flotation reject, can be achieved in deinking waste papers, in particular, waste OA papers and blends containing thereof.