In terms of cleaning performance, surfactants achieve their effects through their unique "biparental structure." It functions by having its lipophilic tail embed into grease, while the hydrophilic head remains in water. Through mechanical action, such as hand scrubbing or agitation in a washing machine, large grease particles are emulsified and dispersed into fine droplets, which are eventually rinsed away by water. Data shows that a typical surfactant molecule, upon reaching its critical micelle concentration (CMC) when added to water, can form 50-150 aggregates of individual molecules that efficiently capture oil stains.

Foam is another intuitive indicator of detergent performance. The amount and stability of foam are closely related to the type of surfactant used. For example, traditional fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ethers (AEO-9), although they have good detergency, their high foam stability can actually increase water usage and time costs in commercial laundry settings that require quick rinsing. Therefore, low-foaming surfactants (such as TERGITOL™ LA series) have become a trend, as they feature rapid bubble-breaking performance, which helps improve rinsing efficiency and is particularly suitable for industrial cleaning and water-saving household appliances.

Product stability also relies on surfactants. For instance, in dry cleaning detergents, stabilizers (such as trioxane and benzotriazole) are added to prevent the solvent from decomposing in the presence of moisture, which could otherwise corrode equipment and affect cleaning performance. In liquid detergents, the gel range and pour point of surfactants directly influence the product's fluidity and ease of use at low temperatures. New plant-based surfactants (such as TERGITOL™ LA series) have been reported to have a lower pour point and no gelation range, which greatly facilitates storage and use in cold regions.