Vinegar (pH 3) and Soap/Bleach (pH 12/13) are in the opposite ends of the pH scale but are both used to clean surfaces effectively. Can someone explain why this is so?

Question

What is in vinegar that makes it clean well, and what is in soap/bleach that makes it clean well despite both being in opposite ends of the scale? And is it advisable to use one before the other for maximum effectiveness?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

The vast majority of life, even microscopic life like bacteria, viruses, fungus, exists near a neutral pH of 7. Going to either extreme makes life uninhabitable