Cleaners not always bad for the environment

FALLBROOK – Shampoos, hand soaps and cleaning products typically contain surfactants, which are substances responsible for producing suds and cutting through grime. Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid allowing it to spread more easily, serve as a wetting agent, disperse dirt, or produce a foaming action. Although some surfactants can be harmful to the environment in large amounts, when used correctly, many surfactants do not present a significant environmental risk.

Many surfactants possess both water-soluble and oil-soluble characteristics. These traits...