Textile fibers have obvious hydrophilic properties and are easily wetted. The wetting effect of surfactants is closely related to the decontamination process of fabrics. With the participation of surfactants, the surface of fabric fibers is easily wetted by liquid and penetrates into the capillaries of the fibers to expand the fibers. At the same time, the surfactants can penetrate between the hydrophobic dirt particles to smash the particle dirt into Colloidal-sized particles, in this way, the original structure between the fabric fiber and the dirt is destroyed, and the dirt is easily separated from the fiber. The wetting effect of surfactants does not directly decontaminate in the washing process, but it plays a very important role in the decontamination of fabrics.

Insoluble solids such as dust and soot cannot be dissolved in water and sink. When detergents containing surfactants are added, the hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain of the surfactant is easily adsorbed on the surface of the solid particles, while the hydrophilic group at the other end extends into the water to form a layer of hydrophilic adsorption around the solid particles. Membrane, at this time, the surface tension between the washing liquid and the solid particles is less than the surface tension inside the solid particles. At this time, the wetting effect of the surfactant molecules destroys the cohesion between the solid particles. At the same time, due to the extremely strong penetrating power of the surfactant molecules, the solid particles are broken into tiny particles, which are surrounded by the surfactant molecules and dispersed in water. Because surfactants are polar substances that can be ionized in water and carry different charges, this layer of molecular enclosure is usually charged, so the dispersed particles are not easy to re-aggregate to form precipitates and can only be suspended in water.

After adding a surfactant to the liquid in the oil-water layer, the oil will be divided into very fine droplets and dispersed in the water with only a little vibration, forming an emulsion, which is not prone to stratification. The emulsification of surfactants plays a very important role in washing the greasy dirt on the clothes. After the greasy dirt becomes an emulsified state, it is not easy to accumulate and settle on the clothes.

There are three ways of solubilization: one is that non-polar substances such as grease and mineral oil are dissolved between the hydrocarbon chains of surfactant molecules and sandwiched between hydrophobic groups. One is a substance with polar and non-polar groups, and the surfactant molecules are aligned together. There is also a hydrophilic substance, which is adsorbed on the surface of the polar base of the surfactant micelle.

When a certain amount of surfactant is added to the water, the foam formed by external force is relatively stable. The main reason for the formation of foam is the directional adsorption of surfactant molecules, which reduces the surface tension of the gas-liquid interface.