Knowledge of the adsorption of surface-active substances onto different interfaces is of basic importance for its technical application in washing and cleaning processes. Important parameters are adsorption kinetics and adsorption equilibria. The criteria of adsorption kinetics and adsorption equilibrium change in opposite directions with increasing length of the hydrophobie group. Equilibrium adsorption increases exponentially, whereas the diffusion coefficient decreases linearly with increasing number of CH2 groups in the n-aikyl part of nonbranched surfactants. Branching of the hydrophobic group has the same effect as shortening the chain length. The wetting effect changes in the same direction as the diffusion coefficient, whereas the washing effect changes similarly to equilibrium adsorption. The generally positive temperature effect on soil removal may be reversed in the opposite direction for nonionic surfactants at temperatures above the cloud point. Separation of phases brings about a decrease of adsorption and washing performance.