The invention relates to a process for preparing polyether alcohols by catalytic addition of alkylene oxides onto a starter substance mixture comprising water-soluble H-functional starter substances which are solid at room temperature, alcohols which are liquid at the reaction temperature and water using alkali metal hydroxides and/or alkaline earth metal hydroxides as catalysts, wherein the amount of water is from 1.0 to 6.0% by weight, based on the weight of the starter substance mixture, and the starter substance mixture comprises no amine constituents.