Here's why:

* Soaps are made by reacting fats or oils with a strong alkali like sodium hydroxide (lye). This process creates salts of fatty acids, which are the main components of soap.

* These salts are basic in nature. When soap dissolves in water, it releases hydroxide ions (OH-), which makes the solution alkaline.

So, while pure water is neutral (pH 7), soapy water will have a pH higher than 7, indicating alkalinity.