• Surfactants, or surface-active ingredients, are chemical agents that aid in cleaning surfaces that contain oil, stains, and dirt, which usually are not soluble in water. They include a hydrophilic (water- loving) polar head and a hydrophobic (water-fearing) nonpolar tail. The head interacts with polar molecules like water, while the tail that is usually comprised of a hydrocarbon chain attaches to nonpolar substances like oil.