Surfactants (Hard Surface Cleaning)

Surfactants are crucial for cleaning products, particularly for hard surfaces, as they reduce water surface tension, enabling the dispersion and removal of soils and grease.

They emulsify hydrophobic substances, ensuring thorough soil removal without redeposition. Surfactants also enhance wetting and spreading on surfaces, improving cleaning performance even on tough-to-clean areas. Their versatility allows them to tackle various soils, making cleaning solutions suitable for diverse applications. By reducing the need for extensive scrubbing, surfactants enhance user experience and increase cleaning efficiency, contributing to optimal outcomes across different environments.

DANA green, non-ionic surfactant for use in foaming and hydrotroping
  • Glass cleaning
  • Laundry (enzyme stabilization)
  • Hydrotroping, even in green certified formulae
  • Oil field down hole foaming
  • Wheel cleaning
EGMConcentrated surfactant for VOC exempt, streak-free glass cleaning
  • Multi-surface cleaners
  • Super concentrates
  • VOC exempt glass cleaners
  • Summer windshield wash
  • TV and electronics screen cleaners
EQIA highly economical surfactant with superior degreasing performance.
  • BBQ and Grill Cleaners
  • Marine Cleaners
  • Peroxide Cleaners
  • Transportation Presoaks – Car and Truck
  • Wheel Cleaners
ES1Nonionic surfactant system for extremely high electrolyte/high alkaline systems
  • Asphalt release agent
  • Frictionless/touchless presoaks
  • Heavy equipment cleaners
  • Oven cleaners
  • Printing press cleaners
GTQ™A highly economical, multidimensional surfactant with superior performance
  • Consumer based cleaners (APC’s, Degreasers, etc.) with 'green claims'
  • Excellent surfactant option for SKU rationalization
  • Laundry stain removers and pre-spotting applications
  • Oil field degreasing and oil cleaning applications
  • All types of industrial degreasing and soot removal
IPB4Cost effective, concentrated surfactant for producing VOC free daily shower cleaner
  • Glass Cleaners
  • Outdoor Window Cleaners
  • Bathroom / Kitchen Sinks & Faucets (Preventative Maintenance)
  • Bathtub (Preventative Maintenance)
  • Daily Shower cleaner
IQLFA breakthrough in high detergency, low foam cleaning
  • Parts Washers
  • Floor cleaning
  • High pressure cleaning and degreasing
  • Industrial cleaners
  • Metal Working cleaners
LFQA truly low foam surfactant with powerful detergency
  • Cabinet/Parts Washers
  • Metalworking
  • Peroxide Cleaners
  • Carpet Cleaners
  • CIP Cleaners
NQ3Naturally derived, exceptionally versatile surfactant system
  • Canvas & vinyl cleaners
  • Laundry detergents
  • Non-acid wheel cleaners
  • Paper equipment cleaners
  • Carpet spotters
PPSA nonionic surfactant developed for use in transportation pre-soak detergents, wheel cleaners and hard surface cleaners
  • Alkaline wheel cleaners
  • Hard surface cleaners/degreasers
  • One and two step touchless transportation wash
Q3™The most versatile surfactant chemistry available
  • Laundry – spotters/boosters
  • Marine Cleaner
  • Oil Field Equipment and Parts Degreasing
  • Pulp, Paper, and Printing cleaners
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Based Cleaners
QHDA powerful surfactant system for heavy duty degreasing
  • Engine and machine cleaners
  • Laundry pre-treaters
  • Parts washing
  • Wheel cleaning
  • BBQ and grill cleaning
QNGA superior degreasing surfactant derived from natural feedstocks
  • Laundry – spotters/boosters
  • Marine Cleaners
  • Oil Field Equipment and Parts Degreasing
  • Pulp, Paper, and Printing cleaners
  • Hydrogen Peroxide Based Cleaners
QX9Unique surfactant blend used In aqueous based cleaning
  • Aircraft cleaners
  • Neutral floor cleaners
  • Oil rig degreasing
  • Oven cleaners
  • Printing press cleaners
R49Use as a drop-in replacement for 91-6/ 91-8 alcohol ethoxylate or similar chemistries
  • Hard surface cleaners
  • Neutral floor cleaning
  • Peroxide cleaners
  • Transportation wash
SSSuperior surfactant system for use in acidic based formulae for soap scum removal
  • Floor cleaners
  • Tub and tile cleaners
  • All purpose cleaners
  • Bowl cleaners
  • Grout cleaners
TSRPowdered absorbent system for producing oil stain removers and metal polishes
  • Cream cleansers
  • Metal polish
  • Oil stain remover for concrete, asphalt, wood decking, composite decking

More Information

Surfactants are indispensable components of cleaning products, especially for hard surface cleaning, playing a pivotal role in enhancing their effectiveness and efficiency. These specialized additives, also known as surface-active agents, are designed to reduce the surface tension of water and facilitate the dispersion and removal of soils, grease, and other contaminants from hard surfaces. The importance of incorporating surfactants into cleaning formulations cannot be overstated, as they significantly contribute to the overall efficacy, versatility, and user experience of the product.

One of the primary functions of surfactants is to break down and emulsify oils, grease, and other hydrophobic (water-repellent) substances, allowing them to be dispersed and suspended in water-based cleaning solutions. Surfactants work by attaching to oil and grease molecules at the surface of the hard substrate, forming micelles or small droplets that are solubilized in the cleaning solution. This enables the effective removal of oils and greases from surfaces, preventing their redeposition and ensuring thorough soil removal.

Furthermore, surfactants help to improve the wetting and spreading of cleaning solutions on hard surfaces, ensuring uniform coverage and contact with soils and contaminants. By reducing the surface tension of water, surfactants promote better penetration into pores, crevices, and uneven surfaces, allowing for more effective soil removal. This enhances the overall cleaning performance and efficiency, allowing for more thorough and efficient cleaning results, even on tough-to-clean surfaces.

In addition to their cleaning efficacy, surfactants also contribute to the versatility of cleaning products by enabling them to tackle a wide range of soils and contaminants. Whether cleaning oil spills, food residues, soap scum, or other substances, surfactants ensure that cleaning solutions can effectively solubilize and remove these substances from hard surfaces, making them suitable for diverse cleaning applications and environments.

Moreover, the inclusion of surfactants in cleaning products enhances user experience by making them easier to use and more effective in achieving desired cleaning outcomes. Cleaning solutions containing surfactants typically require less scrubbing and agitation to achieve satisfactory results, reducing the physical effort and time required for cleaning tasks. This not only improves user satisfaction but also increases cleaning efficiency and productivity, allowing users to achieve optimal cleaning outcomes with minimal effort.

The inclusion of surfactants in cleaning products is essential for enhancing cleaning effectiveness, versatility, and user experience, especially for hard surface cleaning. These specialized additives break down and emulsify oils, grease, and other contaminants, improving soil removal and wetting properties of cleaning solutions. By providing reliable and user-friendly formulations, surfactants play a crucial role in achieving optimal cleaning outcomes across various applications and environments.