Process for the preparation of organopolysiloxanes

A continuous process for the preparation of organopolysiloxanes involves, in a first step, reacting chlorosilanes with from 0.01 to 0.7 mol of water per mole of hydrolyzable chlorine and with from 0.2 to 1.7 mol of alcohol per mole of hydrolyzable chlorine, the molar ratio of water to alcohol being from 0.005 to 3.5; in a second step, the reaction mixture obtained in the first step is optionally mixed continuously with a water-insoluble organic solvent having a density of less than 0.9 kg/l, and water is metered in continuously in amounts of from 0.2 to 100 mol of water per mole of silicon component; and in a third step, the aqueous alcoholic phase is separated off.