The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a surface of a substrate using an aqueous alkaline composition having a pH value of less than 10.0, which composition comprises, in addition to water,
hydroxide anions a1), at least one complexing agent a2), at least one surfactant a3), and optionally at least one of
condensed phosphate and borate anions a4), the surface being at least partially made of at least one steel at least partially coated with at least one
zinc-aluminum-
magnesium alloy.The present invention also relates to a method for cleaning the surface using the aqueous alkaline composition, a substrate having at least one cleaned surface obtainable therefrom, a method for chemically pretreating the cleaned
substrate surface by further using an aqueous
coating composition suitable for forming, preferably, a
conversion coating on the surface, and a substrate having at least one chemically pretreated surface obtainable therefrom.