The active ingredient in dish soap that makes it effective at cleaning dishes is a group of chemicals known as surfactants. Surfactants are molecules that have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts. This unique structure allows them to break down and remove greasy or oily substances from the surface of dishes and other items.
When you apply dish soap to dirty dishes, the hydrophobic part of the surfactant attaches to the grease and oil, while the hydrophilic part binds to water. This action helps to lift the dirt and grease off the dishes and create a suspension in water, allowing it to be rinsed away easily.
Surfactants are essential in dish soap because water alone is not very effective at removing oily substances due to the differences in their polarities. The surfactants bridge this gap and help water interact with and remove the grease, leaving your dishes clean and free of residue.
Additionally, dish soaps often contain other ingredients like enzymes, fragrances, and colorants, but the primary workhorse for cleaning is the surfactant. Different dish soaps may use various types and combinations of surfactants, but their purpose is the same: to remove grease and grime effectively.