zh-cn:纯净物 清洁剂是具有清洁功能的化学品，可以是纯净物，也可是混合物。

清洁剂基本上都为水溶液。除此之外，组分还有：

• 表面活性剂
• 研磨剂
• 用于调节pH的物质，有时加入酸以除锈和腐蚀有机分子
• 硬水软化剂，参见硬水
• 氧化剂，用于漂白、消毒和分解有机分子
• 酶：分解污渍中的蛋白质、脂肪和碳水化合物，或改变纤维手感
• 发泡剂，产生或去除泡沫
• 增强美感的化学品，如增白剂、纤维软化剂、染料和香水等
• 稀释剂

A detergent is a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants with "cleaning properties in dilute solutions." These substances are usually alkylbenzenesulfonates, a family of compounds that are similar to soap but are more soluble in hard water, because the polar sulfonate (of detergents) is less likely than the polar carboxyl (of soap) to bind to calcium and other ions found in hard water. In most household contexts, the term detergent by itself refers specifically to laundry detergent or dish detergent, as opposed to hand soap or other types of cleaning agents. Detergents are commonly available as powders or concentrated solutions. Detergents, like soaps, work because they are amphiphilic: partly hydrophilic (polar) and partly hydrophobic (non-polar). Their dual nature facilitates the mixture of hydrophobic compounds (like oil and grease) with water. Because air is not hydrophilic, detergents are also foaming agents to varying degrees.