The present disclosure pertains to a method of improving the grinding of a bauxite containing slurry during the grinding stage of an alumina extraction process. Specifically, an effective amount of one or more non-ionic surfactants, polyglycols, polyglycol ethers, anionic surfactants, anionic polymers, or a combination thereof are added to said bauxite containing slurry during the grinding stage of an alumina extraction process to achieve an improved effect.