This is the OG of pH testing. You can grab a pack of litmus strips at any drugstore, grocery store, or online for less than a latte. The kit usually comes with a little color chart and a roll of paper strips that look like tiny, fragile fortune cookies.
Here’s the fun part: dip a strip into your liquid (or press it into damp soil) for a few seconds. Then, pull it out and wait for it to change color. It’s like watching a chameleon have a freakout—except way less stressful and way more scientific.
Match the strip’s new color to the chart on the box. If it turns red, you’re in acid territory. If it turns blue or purple, you’re dealing with a base. Pro tip: don’t dip your fingers into the liquid if you’re not sure what it is. Your taste buds are not a pH meter, and your safety is better than a science experiment gone wrong.
