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I recently did a test of various surfactants. To me they are very important. Here in California I am paying $30 a galllon. So I have been looking for something else.

I tested 5 different surfactants on asphalt shingles with an ideal even coverage of GM. My photo shows the test of each soap left to right A, B, C, D, E. Front to back are three shingles, day 1, day 2, and day 3, (to see how the SH held up) The first day I tested with the shingle at a typical 18 degree roof pitch, the next two days I laid the shingles flat, so even the watery surfactants had equal dwell time. I added a bit more surfactant than I normally would for roof cleaning but all the mixes had equal mix ratios. Here are the Surfactants:

A) Kirkland Signature environmentally friendly liquid dish soap. (far left)

This was the cheapest soap so I just bought it to try for the test (Costco) When I mixed it, it was about 4 times thicker than all the others so I thought I made a     mistake and mixed another but the results were the same. (The second photo was after a week and a half with no pitch)

B) Dawn Advanced Power 

Kinda pricy but a well known standard.

C) Gain

This is what I have been using. Its decent, Kinda pricy.

D) Palmolive liquid dish soap

I just threw this one in for kicks also, It was pretty much the worst in every way.

E) Roof Snot (far right)

I've used this quite a bit, I like it, it just costs too much so I mix it with Gain.

Considering the cost, SH compatibility and especially the way it thickened the mix, I know what I will be using. By the way I have no dog in any fight, these are just what I found in a personal test. I had the MSDS sent to me but for some reason the link is not working.