Detergents, familiar and indispensable products in the home, are synthetic surface-active agents that are chemically classified as anionic, nonionic, or cationic (Table II–22). Most of these products also contain bleaching (chlorine-releasing), bacteriostatic (having a low concentration of a quaternary ammonium compound), or enzymatic agents. Accidental ingestion of detergents by children is very common, but severe toxicity rarely occurs.