Active composition for producing a laundry and cleaning formulation, preferably a fabric softener formulation, comprising a mixture of two or more quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula I) where R 1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having an iodine number of less than or equal to 10, preferably less than or equal to 8, particularly preferably from 0 to 5, comprising 10 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 14 to 20 carbon atoms and especially 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R 2, R 4 are the same or different, each independently selected from the group comprising divalent, preferably linear, hydrocarbon radicals comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably methylene, ethylene and n-propylene, particularly preferably ethylene, R 3 is hydrogen or acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 8 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, especially 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R 5 is the same as or different from R 3, hydrogen or acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 8 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, especially 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R 6 is a hydrocarbon radical comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably methyl or ethyl, particularly preferably methyl, X - is methylsulfate or ethylsulfate, wherein the amount ratio of the quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula I) in the mixture is a result of one or more amine(s) of the general formula II) where R 1, R 2 and R 4 have the same definition as in formula I), being reacted with one or more fatty acids corresponding to R 3 and R 5, in the molar ratio of the sum of all amines of the general formula II) to the sum of all fatty acids of from 0.8 to 1.5, preferably 0.8 to 1.4, particularly preferably 0.85 to 1.3, and especially preferably 0.9 to 1.2. a mixture of two or more quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula I) where R 1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having an iodine number of less than or equal to 10, preferably less than or equal to 8, particularly preferably from 0 to 5, comprising 10 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 14 to 20 carbon atoms and especially 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R 2, R 4 are the same or different, each independently selected from the group comprising divalent, preferably linear, hydrocarbon radicals comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably methylene, ethylene and n-propylene, particularly preferably ethylene, R 3 is hydrogen or acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 8 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, especially 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R 5 is the same as or different from R 3, hydrogen or acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 8 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, especially 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R 6 is a hydrocarbon radical comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably methyl or ethyl, particularly preferably methyl, X - is methylsulfate or ethylsulfate, wherein R 1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having an iodine number of less than or equal to 10, preferably less than or equal to 8, particularly preferably from 0 to 5, comprising 10 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, particularly preferably 14 to 20 carbon atoms and especially 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R 2, R 4 are the same or different, each independently selected from the group comprising divalent, preferably linear, hydrocarbon radicals comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably methylene, ethylene and n-propylene, particularly preferably ethylene, R 3 is hydrogen or acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 8 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, especially 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R 5 is the same as or different from R 3, hydrogen or acyl radical of a fatty acid having a chain length of 8 to 32 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 22 carbon atoms, especially 16 to 18 carbon atoms, R 6 is a hydrocarbon radical comprising 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably methyl or ethyl, particularly preferably methyl, X - is methylsulfate or ethylsulfate, the amount ratio of the quaternary ammonium salts of the general formula I) in the mixture is a result of one or more amine(s) of the general formula II) where R 1, R 2 and R 4 have the same definition as in formula I), being reacted with one or more fatty acids corresponding to R 3 and R 5, in the molar ratio of the sum of all amines of the general formula II) to the sum of all fatty acids of from 0.8 to 1.5, preferably 0.8 to 1.4, particularly preferably 0.85 to 1.3, and especially preferably 0.9 to 1.2.