We introduce a simple and efficient strategy to enhance the efficiency of a quenching-based fluorosensor for metal ions by several orders of magnitude by using commercially available anionic surfactants varying hydrophobic chain length. Anionic surfactants with a proper choice of hydrophobic chain length at their optimum concentrations are efficient to boost up the efficiency of copper ion sensor dramatically. This simple and convenient strategy is, in general, applicable to quenching-based fluorosensors, new or established, in aqueous solution. It is powerful enough to transform a virtually non-sensor fluorophore to a sensor with a commendable efficiency with the help of proper surfactant. Thus, in this communication, light has been thrown on the application of surfactants toward increasing fluorosensing efficiency of a quenching based sensor. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.