Their alkalinity makes them ideal for toilets, countertops, and sinks, too. At home or in the office, these can be used on stubborn dirt and grime spots throughout the bathroom, not just in showers. The same is true for tub and tile cleaners. Ammonia is great when you’re working with stubborn dirt and grime spots. It is also corrosive, requires care and ventilation, and shouldn’t be mixed with other cleaning supplies or ingredients. Ammonia: pH 11-13Īmmonia is another common cleaning product and it lands around the same number on the pH scale. Because bleach is so strong, it’s not safe on a lot of surfaces or fabrics, but it’s great for eliminating stains and whitening the affected area. It should be used cautiously and strictly according to instructions, both for the safety of the cleaner and the benefit of the surface it’s being used on.
As a result, ventilation is important when using bleach. Its high level of alkalinity is what makes it corrosive. This particular product has a pH between 11 and 13. The Scale of Common Household Cleaning Supplies Bleach: pH 11-13īleach is one of the most common cleaning supplies in households and commercial settings. Right in the middle, dish soap is the closest to neutral, as far as cleaning supplies go. On the other side of the pH scale, acids are more effective when working on minerals like rust spots and calcium buildup. Most cleaning chemicals are alkaline (basic) because these are the types of solutions that are good for cleaning dirt stains, greases, oils, and other organics. Choosing the right cleaning supplies based on their standing on the pH scale, the type of material, amount of time you have, and the level of soiling is crucial. Zero to six is acidic, seven is neutral, and eight through 14 is alkaline. Acidic on Different Types of MaterialĪs a quick refresher, the pH scale ranges from zero to 14. But we rarely thought about these things again until we realized the impact it had on our cleaning chemicals and how much of a difference it could make in our cleaning processes.
We tested lemon juice and found it acidic, while common detergents were basic. We remember that dissolving chemicals in water alters the pH scale, either in the direction of being acidic or basic, and that pure water was our neutral base. We remember beakers and test strips, lining up the colors to see which side of the scale our test liquid would land on. Most of us remember from middle school science and high school Chemistry the very basics of the pH scale.