Polyelectrolyte complexes

This refers to aqueous compositions of associative polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC), which optionally contain surfactants, biocidal agents and / or oxidizers, which may provide a benefit of cleaning and surface protection of treated articles, which includes a lower tendency to dirt, less cleaning effort and greater dirt repellency, as well as providing bacteriostatic properties to the treated surfaces with which they obtain resistance to water, environmental exposure and the attack of microbes. Treatment means and compositions are provided which employ complex associative polyelectrolytes formed by combining a first water-soluble cationic polyelectrolyte with a second water-soluble polyelectrolyte having charge groups opposite the first polyelectrolyte under suitable mixing conditions and at least one oxidant selected from the group consisting of : alkali metal salts and / or alkaline earth metal salts of hypochlorous acid, hypochlorous acid, solubilized chlorine, any source of free chlorine, acid sodium chlorite, active chlorine generating compounds and any combination or mixture thereof.