Recent studies of the synthesis and properties of chemically cleavable surfactants are reviewed. Surfactants bearing acetal-linkage are easily hydrolyzed in acidic aqueous solution. These surfactants lose the surface active properties by addition of acid after expected usage such as emulsification, dispersion and cleaning. The treatment of inactivation of surfactants gives the improvement of the yield and purity of product after organic synthesis and polymeriztion in emulsion system. Moreover, most of organic materials can be easily removed from waste water containing these surfactants by oil-water separation technique after expected usages. These surfactants are synthesized by the reaction of carbonyl compounds with polyols or epoxides, followed by saponification, sulfation, sulfonation, ethoxylation and quaternization. Generally, anionic surfactants are hydrolyzed most easily. Other chemically cleavable surfactants are also described.