There were surfactants with average removals (this is, the removal for all the metals studied) of 67.1%(Tween 80), 64.9%(Surfacpol 14104) and 61.2%(Emulgin W600). There were exceptional removals using Texapon N-40 (83.2%, 82.8%and 86.6%for Cu, Ni and Zn), Tween 80 (85.9, 85.4 and 81.5 for Cd, Zn and Cu), Polafix CAPB (79%, 83.2%and 49.7%for Ni, Zn and As). The worst results were obtained with POLAFIX LO with a global removal of 45%, well below of the average removal with tap water (50.2%).All removal efficiencies are reported for a one step washing using 0.5%surfactant solutions, except for the case of mezquite gum, where a 0.1%solution was employed.