This study is a preliminary investigation of the influence of surface characteristics of substrates on detergency of particulate soil. The surface of PET film was modified with NaOH and NaOH+ethylene diamine on different times. The surface morphology of the film was scanned by AFM and surface energies were calculated from measured contact angles between several solutions and film based on the geometric mean and a Lewis acid base method. The surface morphology of PET film treated with NaOH and NaOH+ethylene diamine became more etched, and the surface area, surface roughness and the coefficient of friction of film increased with treatment of NaOH and NaOH+ethylene diamine. The contact angle of film treated with NaOH and NaOH+ethylene diamine decreased in water and surfactant solution; in addition, the surface energy increased was largely attributed to the increased portion on the polar surface energy of film. However, the effect of the diamine addition to the NaOH treatment solution on surface characteristics of PET film was insignificant.