What is PH and the Effects on Your Contents and Cleaning?

7/10/2022 (Permalink)

Cleaning a Building Ceiling After a Fire Using a Neutral Rinse Solution for the Second Step

pH stands for Potential of Hydrogen. Solutions are measured on a scale from 0-14 where 7 is neutral, above 7 is alkaline and below 7 is acidic.  To give you an idea, blood is pretty neutral around 7.4. Milk is also fairly neutral holding a pH in the mid 6’s which is why it is something we often drink after consuming something very spicy.  Rainwater is slightly acidic at 5.6 with pure water being perfectly neutral (assuming a temperature of ~77F).  Yes, temperature can play a role in the pH of a solution.  As the temperature rises, the solution will slide further down the scale and become more acidic. 

Very low acidic solutions can corrode or even dissolve metals which is why it is important to be aware of what cleaning solutions are being used in your home or business.  Most cleaning solutions are on the alkaline side.  Another term for something that is alkaline is a base.  Knowing the pH is important for many industries including agriculture, medicine, water treatment, and of course general cleaning.

At SERVPRO of Southwest we do a lot of cleaning, whether it is keeping a jobsite clean on a daily basis or cleaning contents or structure after a fire or ducts or carpets.  It is almost always a good idea to use a neutral cleaner or bring the pH back to neutral after cleaning.  Neutral cleaners are safer for the environment, create less skin irritation, and have lower risk of toxic fumes.  In addition to being safer, they are less likely to create damage to surfaces especially when it comes to natural or untreated surfaces like stone, tile or wood. 

If you need assistance with cleaning, don’t hesitate to give us a call at SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas 214-463-5880.