Health & Safety The pH Scale and You

Have you heard of the pH Scale? If you are involved in the cleaning industry in any way then it is a good idea to have a basic understanding of it's purpose.

The pH Scale is a method of measuring by comparison the acidity or alkalinity of all solutions that contain water. Alkalines are sometimes called bases.
Solutions that do not contain water such as petrol do not have a pH.
This scale does not measure Toxicity or DG class.

It is important to remember that each step of 1 unit on the scale, in either direction from 7, is ten times more (acidic or alkaline) than the previous step.
Examples are Seawater with a pH of 8 on the scale is ten times more alkaline than pure water with a pH of 7. Baking Soda with a pH of 9 is 100 times more alkaline than pure water. The same is true in the other direction on the scale towards 0 from 7, where 0 is extremely acidic such as battery acid.

Here are some common liquid examples placed on the scale to give perspective and
assumes the pH of a cleaning product type will usually be similar between manufacturers.

0	Battery acid, Strong Hydrofluoric acid	Very Acid
1	Acid in your stomach, Acid based toilet cleaners
2	Lemon juice
3	Orange juice
4	Tomato juice, acid rain
5	Black Coffee
6	Urine, Saliva, Shampoo
7	PURE WATER	Neutral
8	Sea water, Neutral floor cleaners
9	Baking Soda, Hand dishwash liquid, Moss kill
10	Salt, Carpet spotters
11	Ammonia solution, Glass cleaners
12	Degreasers, Shower cleaners
13	Bleaches, Oven cleaner, Machine dishwash
14	Caustic drain cleaners, Beer line cleaners	Very Alkaline

Be sure to read the Use and Safety instructions on the chemical solution container before you dilute or use the product, it only takes a minute and may well mean you avoid injury.