Two anionic surfactants, dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid sodium salt (LAS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and two nonionic surfactants, Triton X-100 and Tween 80, were selected in the research on their capability of enhancing water solubility of diesel and cleaning diesel-polluted soil once for all when they were around their critical micelle concentration (CMC). Results showed that in terms of capability of enhancing water solubility of diesel, the four surfactants were in the sequence of SDS < LAS < Triton X-100 < Tween 80, whereas in terms of efficiency in cleaning diesel-polluted soil LAS>SDS>Triton X-100>Tween 80, and anionic surfactants showed higher cleaning efficiency than nonionic surfactants.