Widely used chemical detergents and surfactants for domestic and industrial purposes are released in the water bodies through drainages which poses a threat to both aquatic life and the crops when found in water used for irrigational purposes. Herein we report the isolation and characterization of detergent degrading bacteria from Sapindus mukorossi pericarp extract. Further their ability to degrade the detergent was checked against four commercially available detergents namely, Surf Excel, Tide Plus, Ariel and Rin. Appropriate control experiment was set up using sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). Degradation of detergent was estimated quantitatively in terms of emulsification index against engine oil, coconut oil, groundnut oil and mustard oil. Among the cultures, DD5 (Pseudomonas putida) culture showed efficient detergent degrading activity on incubation in minimal medium supplemented with 4 detergents. The emulsification index of Surf Excel was reduced to 32 from 40 while for Tide the reduction was seen from 36 to 28 by DD5. DD1 reduced emulsification index of Tide Plus from 36 to 24. Visible colour change, turbidity and reduction in frothing confirmed the efficiency of the isolated cultures to degrade commercial detergents. Further optimization of the parameters will help to design low cost, rapid water treatment process beneficial to agriculture.