ASTM's soaps and polishes standards are instrumental in the preparation and evaluation of surfactant products that are usually used in conjunction with water for washing, cleaning, and polishing. Such products include soaps, detergents, bleaches, waxes, and polishes. These standards help identify the certain physical and chemical properties of soaps and polishes such as particle size, pH, cloud point, recoatability, glide adhesion, freeze/thaw resistance, cleaning efficiency, and foaming properties among others. These soaps and polishes standards help guide product manufacturers in the proper methods of producing and testing such products to ensure quality towards safe use.

Soap Standards and Polish Standards

ASTM's soaps and polishes standards are instrumental in the preparation and evaluation of surfactant products that are usually used in conjunction with water for washing, cleaning, and polishing. Such products include soaps, detergents, bleaches, waxes, and polishes. These standards help identify the certain physical and chemical properties of soaps and polishes such as particle size, pH, cloud point, recoatability, glide adhesion, freeze/thaw resistance, cleaning efficiency, and foaming properties among others. These soaps and polishes standards help guide product manufacturers in the proper methods of producing and testing such products to ensure quality towards safe use.

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Analysis and Specifications of Soaps, Synthetics, Detergents and their Components

D2959-95(2017) Standard Test Method for Ethylene Oxide Content of Polyethoxylated Nonionic Surfactants

D1767-89(2017) Standard Test Method for Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetate (EDTA) in Soaps or Synthetic Detergents

D4608-89(2017) Standard Test Method for Citrate in Detergents

D4337-89(2017) Standard Test Methods for Analysis of Linear Detergent Alkylates

D4711-89(2017) Standard Test Method for Sulfonic and Sulfuric Acids in Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acids

D5547-95(2017) Standard Test Method for Clay and Zeolite in Powdered Laundry Detergents by Atomic Absorption

D4954-89(2017) Standard Test Method for Determination of Nitrilotriacetates in Detergents

D5806-95(2017) Standard Test Method for Disinfectant Quaternary Ammonium Salts by Potentiometric Titration

D4252-89(2017) Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Alcohol Ethoxylates and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates

D2180-17 Standard Test Method for Active Oxygen in Bleaching Compounds

D1569-05(2014) Standard Test Methods for Detergent Alkylate (Withdrawn 2023)

D1681-05(2014) Standard Test Method for Synthetic Anionic Active Ingredient in Detergents by Cationic Titration Procedure (Withdrawn 2023)

D460-91(2014) Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Chemical Analysis of Soaps and Soap Products (Withdrawn 2023)

D1568-05(2014) Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Chemical Analysis of Alkylbenzene Sulfonates (Withdrawn 2023)

D6174-01(2006) Standard Test Method for Inorganic Sulfate in Surfactants by Potentiometric Lead Titration (Withdrawn 2015)

D800-05(2014) Standard Test Methods of Chemical Analysis of Industrial Metal Cleaning Compositions (Withdrawn 2023)

D6173-97(2014) Standard Test Method for Determination of Various Anionic Surfactant Actives by Potentiometric Titration (Withdrawn 2023)

D5070-90(2014) Standard Test Method for Synthetic Quaternary Ammonium Salts in Fabric Softeners by Potentiometric Titrations (Withdrawn 2023)

D500-95(2023) Standard Test Methods of Chemical Analysis of Sulfonated and Sulfated Oils

D501-03(2023) Standard Test Methods of Sampling and Chemical Analysis of Alkaline Detergents

D502-89(2023) Standard Test Method for Particle Size of Soaps and Other Detergents

D820-93(2023) Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Soaps Containing Synthetic Detergents

D1570-95(2023) Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Chemical Analysis of Fatty Alkyl Sulfates

D1768-89(2024) Standard Test Method for Sodium Alkylbenzene Sulfonate in Synthetic Detergents by Ultraviolet Absorption

D928-03(2024) Standard Specification for Sodium Bicarbonate

D2022-89(2024) Standard Test Methods of Sampling and Chemical Analysis of Chlorine-Containing Bleaches

D2023-89(2024) Standard Test Method of Analysis for Sodium Toluene Sulfonate in Detergents

D3048-89(2024) Standard Test Method of Assay for Alkaline Protease

D2357-11(2024) Standard for Qualitative Classification of Surfactants by Infrared Absorption

D2358-16(2024) Standard Test Method for Separation of Active Ingredient from Surfactant and Syndet Compositions

D3049-89(2024) Standard Test Method for Synthetic Anionic Ingredient by Cationic Titration

D3598-89(2024) Standard Test Method for Citrate in Synthetic Detergents

D3673-89(2024) Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Alpha Olefin Sulfonates

D4251-89(2024) Standard Test Method for Active Matter in Anionic Surfactants by Potentiometric Titration

Chemical and Physical Testing

D3716-14(2020) Standard Test Methods for Use of Emulsion Polymers in Floor Polishes

D4095-97(2020) Standard Practice for Use of the Refractometer for Determining Nonvolatile Matter (Total Solids) in Floor Polishes

D3430-95(2021) Standard Test Method for Clarity and Yellowness of Liquid Water-Based Clear Floor Polishes

D1290-95(2021) Standard Test Method for Sediment in Water-Emulsion Polishes by Centrifuge

D1791-93(2022) Standard Test Method for Accelerated Aging of Liquid Water-Emulsion Floor Polishes

D2834-95(2022) Standard Test Method for Nonvolatile Matter (Total Solids) in Water-Emulsion Floor Polishes, Solvent-Based Floor Polishes, and Polymer-Emulsion Floor Polishes

D3209-93(2023) Standard Test Method for Freeze/Thaw Resistance of Polymer Floor Polishes

D5678-17(2023) Standard Test Method for Freeze/Thaw Resistance of Wax Emulsion Floor Polish

D6827-02(2023) Standard Test Method for Zinc Analysis of Floor Polishes and Floor Polish Polymers By Flame Atomic Absorption (A.A.)

Hard Surface Cleaning

D930-89(1996)e1 Standard Test Method of Total Immersion Corrosion Test of Water-Soluble Aluminum Cleaners (Withdrawn 2001)

D6215-98a Standard Guide for Removal of Oily Soils from Metal Surfaces (Withdrawn 2004)

D5343-06(2018) Standard Guide for Evaluating Cleaning Performance of Ceramic Tile Cleaners

D7225-13(2019)e1 Standard Guide for Blood Cleaning Efficiency of Detergents and Washer-Disinfectors

D4488-95(2001)e1 Standard Guide for Testing Cleaning Performance of Products Intended for Use on Resilient Flooring and Washable Walls (Withdrawn 2009)

D3565-89(2001) Standard Test Method for Tableware Pattern Removal by Mechanical Dishwasher Detergents (Withdrawn 2007)

D1280-14 Standard Guide for Total Immersion Corrosion Test for Soak Tank Metal Cleaners (Withdrawn 2023)

D3556-23 Standard Guide for Deposition on Glassware During Mechanical Dishwashing

D4009-92(2023) Standard Guide for Foam Stability of Hand Dishwashing Detergents

D8549-24 Standard Guide for Testing Cleaning Performance of Hand Dishwashing Detergents

Nomenclature and Definitions

D459-16 Standard Terminology Relating to Soaps and Other Detergents

Performance Tests

D6625-13(2020) Standard Practice for Conducting a Test of Protective Properties of Polish Applied to a Painted Panel Using Fluorescent UV-Condensation Light- and Water-Exposure Apparatus

D3836-13(2021) Standard Practice for Evaluation of Automotive Polish

D4955-89(2021) Standard Practice for Field Evaluation of Automotive Polish

D1455-17(2023) Standard Test Method for 60° Specular Gloss of Emulsion Floor Polish

D1792-17(2023) Standard Test Method for Long-Term Removability Properties of Emulsion Floor Polishes

D3210-95(2023) Standard Test Method for Comparing Colors of Films from Water-Emulsion Floor Polishes

D4002-81(2023) Standard Practice for Evaluation of Buffable Shoe Polish

D1793-23 Standard Test Method for Water Spotting of Emulsion Floor Polishes

D2048-23 Standard Test Method for Powdering of Floor Polish Films

D3052-23 Standard Practice for Rating Water-Emulsion Floor Polishes

D3153-23 Standard Test Method for Recoatability of Water-Emulsion Floor Polishes

D3206-23 Standard Test Method for Soil Resistance of Floor Polishes

D3207-24 Standard Test Method for Detergent Resistance of Floor Polish Films

D1436-24 Standard Test Methods for Application of Emulsion Floor Polishes to Substrates for Testing Purposes

D3543-24 Standard Test Method for Metal Glide Adhesion

D3758-24 Standard Practice for Evaluation of Spray-Buff Products on Test Floors

D4330-24 Standard Practice for Evaluation of Fiberglass Boat Polish and Wax

D3751/D3751M-10(2024) Standard Practice for Evaluation of Furniture Polish

Physical Testing

D4265-21 Standard Guide for Evaluating Stain Removal Performance in Home Laundering

D5548-13(2020) Standard Guide for Evaluating Color Transfer or Color Loss of Dyed Fabrics in Laundering (Not Suitable for Detergent or Washing Machine Rankings)

D1173-23 Standard Test Method for Foaming Properties of Surface-Active Agents

D2024-09(2023) Standard Test Method for Cloud Point of Nonionic Surfactants

D1172-15(2024) Standard Guide for pH of Aqueous Solutions of Soaps and Detergents

D2281-10(2024) Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Wetting Agents by the Skein Test

D3050-07(2024) Standard Guide for Measuring Soil Removal from Artificially Soiled Fabrics (Not Suitable for Detergent Ranking)

D4008-19(2024) Standard Guide for Measuring Anti-Soil Deposition Properties of Laundry Detergents

D5237-14(2024) Standard Guide for Evaluating Fabric Softeners

D8179-18(2024) Standard Guide for Characterizing Detergents for the Cleaning of Clinically-used Medical Devices

Raw Materials

D1387-89(2019) Standard Test Method for Saponification Number (Empirical) of Synthetic and Natural Waxes

D7389-07(2019) Standard Test Method for Acid Number (Empirical) of Maleic Anhydride (MAH) Grafted Waxes

D3837-95(2019) Standard Practice for Preparing a Solution of Alkali–Soluble Resins

D1342-92(2002) Standard Test Method for Paraffin-Type Hydrocarbons in Carnauba Wax (Withdrawn 2007)

D3642-13(2021) Standard Test Method for Softening Point of Certain Alkali-Soluble Resins

D1986-14(2021) Standard Test Method for Determining the Apparent Viscosity of Polyethylene Wax

D1386-15(2022) Standard Test Method for Acid Number (Empirical) of Synthetic and Natural Waxes

D3643-15(2022) Standard Test Method for Acid Number of Certain Alkali-Soluble Resins

D3644-15(2022) Standard Test Method for Acid Number of Styrene-Maleic Anhydride Resins

D3954-15(2022) Standard Test Method for Dropping Point of Waxes

D4283-98(2022) Standard Test Method for Viscosity of Silicone Fluids

Slip Resistance

D4103-17 Standard Practice for Preparation of Substrate Surfaces for Coefficient of Friction Testing

D2047-17 Standard Test Method for Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces as Measured by the James Machine

D6205-20 Standard Practice for Calibration of the James Static Coefficient of Friction Machine

Specifications

D3440-13(2019) Standard Guide for Preparing Specifications for Water-Emulsion Floor Polishes

D4078-02(2021) Standard Specification for Water Emulsion Floor Polish

D3564-22 Standard Practice for Application of Floor Polishes to Maintain Vinyl Composition Tile or Flooring

D4386-24 Standard Practice for Application of Floor Polishes to Maintain Multilayer Composite Tile or Flooring

D3757-16(2024) Standard Guide for Preparing Specifications for Solvent-based Floor Polishes

Terminology and Editorial Review

D2825-21e1 Standard Terminology Relating to Polishes and Related Materials