The work aims to improve cleaning rate under low temperature and reduce foaming of water-based cleaning agent for cold-rolled aluminum sheet in winter. The cleaning rate and foam behavior of the system mixed with two kinds of block ether nonionic surfactant were studied at 3 ℃. In addition, the effects of compound system mixed with carboxylic acid amine corrosion inhibitor and alkyl phosphate OPS75E on steel and aluminium products were investigated as well. A water-based cleaning agent featuring in low foam at low temperature and high efficiency was developed, the optimum formula (on the basis of mass fraction) was: anhydrous sodium metasilicate 0.8%~2%, sodium gluconate 5%~8%, carboxylic acid amine corrosion inhibitor 2%~4%, OPS75E 1%~3%, PAA 1%~3%, TPP 3%~5%, NF7305 5%~8%, RPE3110 2%~4% and water 63%~80.2%. At the temperature above 3 ℃, it did not foam and could inhibit foam caused by oil stain saponification during the cleaning process. The cleaning rate on cold-rolled aluminium strip was over 99% provided with applied concentration of 3% and cleaning time of 2 min. The cleaning agent has favorable cleaning effect, exhibits excellent corrosion inhibition on carbon steel and aluminium products, and its properties meets the standard JB/T 4323.1—1999.