Soap is an essential tool in our day-to-day life that we assume has to be one of the safest products around. After all, we use it on our skin, dishes, and our clothes with the assurance that it will do us no harm. But, what about soap as a fire risk?
Generally, soap is not flammable. It does have a melting point, however, and the effect of soap can differ depending on its form. Generally speaking, it is pretty safe to store and be around. However, many people confuse soap and hand sanitizer, and it is important to remember that, unlike soap, hand sanitizer is flammable.
With all this in consideration, I want to look at the flammability of soap and its ingredients in more detail. We’ll start with the safety of general soaps in day-to-day life, look at the risk from that melting point, and then discuss the dangers in soap making and the fire bubble experiment.
While soap isn’t considered flammable, it can catch fire at extreme temperatures. With that said, it requires such a high flash point that it doesn’t really burn.
While this is better than bursting into flames in some ways, you still don’t ever want to be in a situation where it gets this hot.
Specific hazards during fire fighting : Not flammable or combustible.
Is Hand Sanitizer Flammable?
We can’t talk about hand soap without mentioning hand sanitizer.
We all used a lot more of this in our homes in recent years, and probably still have bottles in the bathroom ready as needed.
This is a different substance to soap because of the alcohol content, which allows for that effective germ-killing power.
This alcohol means that hand sanitizer is flammable and more dangerous in contact with an open flame.
So, you want to be careful where you store it and to keep it away from open flames.
Is Bar Soap Flammable?
There aren’t too many risks with a bar of soap out on the bathroom counter. The high melting point means that it will take a lot for this to burn and melt away.
One consideration here, however, is the composition of the soap and the additional ingredients included.
Some artisan makers will add dried botanical ingredients to the outside of the soap to make them look pretty.
These would add an organic fuel source that could ignite in contact with a flame. But, they are also so small that they would burn away very quickly and not pose too big a risk.
Burning Hand Fire experiments / Liquid dish soap / Butangas / Water / Kitchen lighter
FAQ
Is liquid dish soap flammable?
Are dish soap bubbles flammable?
Is soap flammable?
Why not to use liquid soap?
Is liquid hand soap flammable?
Liquid hand soap can be flammable but is not always. It will depend on the type and brand. In fact, this safety sheet for a particular brand of liquid hand soap says it’s not even combustible under ordinary circumstances. Also read: Is Hair Gel Flammable? Sometimes… What Happens If You Burn Soap?
Can soap catch fire?
It means that it will easily catch fire from open flame, sparks, or heat (such as from cigarettes). So when it comes to soap, it never can be flammable. However, this does not mean it cannot catch fire. If you want to burn your soap, you can technically “burn” it, but it will most likely melt it into a blob before it starts burning.
Is gel soap flammable?
Gel soap is not flammable. It is considered a non-flammable liquid, so it will not burn. This is because gel soap is made mostly of water and detergents with low flammability. However, using gel soap to clean surfaces, you should always take precautions to prevent a fire. While gel soap is not flammable, it can still be a fire hazard.
Are soap bubbles flammable?
Finally, we need to talk about that fire bubble experiment. This is where you see some of the confusion over the flammability of soap bubbles, and therefore soap as a liquid. If you are unfamiliar with this trick, there are videos online of people holding flaming soap suds in their hands with no ill effect.