Abstract: The chemical cleaning method applied to the remediation of petroleum contaminated soil has the advantages of short remediation time, simple operation, low energy consumption, wide adaptability and eluted oil recycling. In this paper, the researches on the remediation of petroleum contaminated soil by chemical cleaning in recent years were reviewed from the aspects of surfactant mixing, additive application, process intensification and the effects of the properties of petroleum contaminated soil. In order to promote the practical application of the chemical cleaning method, it was recommended to research further the interaction mechanism between surfactants and between surfactant and additive, explore systematically the effects of properties of petroleum contaminated soil on the cleaning technology, investigate the methods to reduce the adverse effects of chemical cleaning on soil properties, and study intensively the recycling and effective treatment of waste water.