Described is a process for washing, cleaning or aftertreatment of laundry comprising treating the laundry with compounds of formula (II): wherein R″, independently of each other, represent a hydrogen atom or a sulfur-containing group selected from the group consisting of OC—CH2—S—SO3M, SO3M, and wherein at least one R″ has to be one of the sulfur-containing groups, AO, independently of each other, represent C2H4O—, C3H6O— or C4H8O—, the indices x, y and z, independently of one another, are 0 or their sum have a value of from 1 to 500, M is a cation having at least one charge, and wherein if x, y or z is zero, than its corresponding substituent R″ is a hydrogen atom; and mixtures thereof.