A common question and the simple answer is that soap is basic. One could express it as basic being the opposite of acidic.
What pH value does soap have?
Different soaps have different pH values, however, often you can read on the packaging or in the product's safety data sheet what pH value the product has.
What does basic mean?
In "chemistry language," bases are a group of chemical compounds that can take up hydrogen ions when dissolved in ordinary water, they should give a pH value above 7, or more generally, give away electron pairs. Such a solution is said to be basic, or alkaline. Alkaline is another word for basic.
Why would you want a basic soap?
- The advantage of a basic soap, a soap with a high pH value, is that it easily removes all dirt that comes from the plant or animal kingdom. It might sound strange?! But if you think about it, most of the dirt in our homes comes from the plant or animal kingdom. Dirt that comes in with shoes and outerwear or dirty animal paws most likely comes from nature. Dirt that we want to get rid of in the kitchen often comes from plants or animals. That is, the food we have prepared. All this is easily and naturally removed with a basic soap.
- Another great advantage of a basic soap is that it removes and prevents the regrowth of, for example, mold. Mold is a type of fungus, and it does not thrive in a basic environment. For example, have you experienced a pink, reddish, or brown coating on the bathroom tile joints? Then it is probably a fungus. Scrub with a soap that has a high pH value. Feel free to leave some soap to act on the affected areas and the mold attack will give way.
- The same applies to algae and lichens. Algae often attack things that are outdoors, such as garden furniture, window sills, pots, greenhouses, and boats. Algae also do not thrive in a basic environment and stay away longer if you use a soap with a high pH value.