A method of use of polyaminomethylenephosphonates as dispersing, wetting, and/or stabilizing agents in formulations for cements, detergents, ceramic materials, dyes, synthetic resins, rubbers, drilling fluids, and for reverse osmosis includes the step of adding a polyaminomethylenephosphonate having the formula: ##STR00001## wherein n is an integer higher than 2, M is an alkaline metal or the ammonium ion, and R is: --CH.sub.2PO.sub.3M.sub.2; --CH.sub.2Z, wherein Z is --CH.sub.2OH, --CHOHCH.sub.3, --CHOHCH.sub.2Cl, or --CHOHCH.sub.2OH; --(CH.sub.2).sub.mSO.sub.3M, m being 3 or 4; --CH.sub.2CH.sub.2T, wherein T is --CONH.sub.2, --CONH.sub.2, --CHO, --COOQ, --COOX, CN, wherein Q is --CH.sup.3 or --C.sub.2H.sub.5 and X is an alkaline metal ion or the ammonium ion; and wherein the polyaminomethylenephosphonate is present in a weight quantity of over 0.01% with respect to the total weight of the formulation.