The present invention relates to an aqueous cleaning composition used to remove unwanted organic and inorganic residues and contaminants from a substrate such as, for example, a semiconductor substrate. The cleaning composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 40% by weight of a salt selected from a guanidinium salt, an acetamidinium salt, a formamidinium salt, and mixtures thereof; water; and optionally a water soluble organic solvent. Compositions according to the present invention are free of an oxidizer and abrasive particles and are capable of removing residues from a substrate and, particularly, a substrate having silicon-containing BARC and/or photoresist residue.