What is the pH of soft soap?

pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. When cleaning, pH plays an important role—because different types of dirt require different pH levels to dissolve effectively. Acidic cleaning is effective against limescale, salt, and rust, while alkaline cleaning is good for stains and dirt from plants or animals.

 

Last edited on May 8, 2024

 

So what is pH?

 

pH is a measure of how acidic something is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14:

- Low pH (0–6) = acidic

- Neutral pH (7) = neither acidic nor alkaline

- High pH (8–14) = alkaline

If you measure pH and get a low number, it means that what was measured is acidic. Lemon, vinegar, stomach acid, and battery acid are acidic and have a low pH.

If you measure the pH of a tomato, coffee, or rainwater, you will probably get a result between 4 and 6. Tap water has a pH of approximately 7.

Alkaline substances, on the other hand, have a high pH. Apples, baking soda, and milk are alkaline and have a high pH.

What is the pH of soap?

 
The pH of soap varies depending on the manufacturer and recipe, but most superfatted soaps have a pH of 9 or higher. This means that soap is alkaline, making it particularly effective against:

- Stains from plants or animals

- Dirt from skin, food, and other organic sources

- Grease stains (especially if the soap is superfatted—“like dissolves like”)

Limescale, salt, and rust can be removed with acidic agents—examples of acidic “cleaning products” include citric acid, vinegar, or wine vinegar.

 

Acidic or alkaline—which should you use?

Understanding the difference between acidic and alkaline substances helps you clean more effectively without harsh chemicals:

Type of dirt	Correct cleaning pH	Examples of products
Limescale, salt, rust	Acidic	Citric acid, vinegar, wine vinegar
Organic dirt, stains, grease	Alkaline	Soap, especially superfatted

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Frequently Asked Questions 

 

1. What does a low pH indicate, and which examples of acidic substances are mentioned?
A low pH indicates acidity. Examples of acidic substances include lemon, vinegar, stomach acid, and battery acid.

 

2. What does it mean if a solution has a high pH, and which substances are alkaline?
A high pH indicates alkalinity. Alkaline substances include apples, baking soda, and milk.

 

3. Why is it important to understand pH when cleaning?
Understanding pH is important when cleaning because different substances require different pH levels for effective cleaning. Acidic cleaning is suitable for removing limescale, salt, and rust, while alkaline cleaning is effective against stains and dirt from plants or animals.


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