It sounds like you've already done the most important thing: rinsed off the excess soap right away. That should prevent most of the possible damage from things like clogging the stomata (tiny pores). If you can do it without running the risk of making things too soggy, you might give them another good rinse today. Your concern about having lost the bloom is legitimate. You might need to move those plants to a less sunny location, and re-acclimate them to full sun. The bloom is pretty much gone forever, but given time, most of the plants should have no problem adjusting to full sun even without the protection of the bloom. Not that it helps your plants, but mistakes made in the course of proper action are always forgivable. It's only mistakes made in the course of neglect that haunt you.

First time I dealt with Aphids on pepper plants, I bought some insecticidal soap and sprayed it once a day for three days. Then I took it to the shower and rinsed it off quick after about an hour each time. It worked. No more aphids that season. The next year I got the little bastards, I couldn't find the soap, so I made my own with home made hand soap (My wife makes it the old fashioned way with lye and oil). I just heated up some water and soaked a chunk of soap in it. I then put the soapy water in a spray bottle and went at it. I didn't bother to rinse the plant after the three days (once Per day) of treatments. It did the trick. Plants didn't miss a beat, even without rinsing them each time. Last year, same thing, home made insecticidal soap (I am told any soap will work, including dish soap). Same results. No rinsing, Dead aphids, no return infestations and no harm to the plant. Just today, I sprayed my Mom's Twilight pepper with some home made insecticidal soap. The little bastards were so thick that they were clearly doing damage. It looked like a fungus all over the plant except it moved. hahaha. I told her to do the spraying once a day for three days. I am sure it will work once again and I am sure the plant will be fine. Even with the damage from the aphids. Bruce

I agree with srosen. Organic doesn't necessarily mean pH neutral. Just think what would happen if stuck a slice of lemon on a marble counter. For example, citric acid is a natural organic acid found in some personal care products. Actually organic soaps generally have a higher pH than non-organic. Good luck finding the pH information on personal care products. I have learned that the vast majority don't state this sort of information so the only real way to know is by testing each product or requesting the information from the manufacturer. Some people have skin/hair issues that require they use certain products to maintain a healthy pH balance. Some have posted what they have learned about specific products online. I did find one with lots of haircare pH level information ( www.thenaturalhavenbloom.com). As you will see most shampoos and conditioners are around pH neutural or just below. It will be harder to find pH neutral soap as I am pretty sure that "soap" is, by definition, alkaline. Agree with staying away from bar soap. Dove I believe is pH 7 since it technically isn't soap - that's why it's called a beauty bar and it doesn't say soap anywhere on the package. As srosen stated - most likely an issues you have will be around etching, not staining (unless you wash out hair dye...which obviously I would not recommend). Just be dilgent about cleaning the shower (best is to clean/wipe down after every shower) and you should be fine. Congrats on the new marble shower. I am sure it looks stunning.

I've had this happen with ANYTHING made of stainles steel, when it's been scrubbed, for at least the last 30 years. My kitchen sink, cookie sheets, skillets, etc. I've had many of the things for over 30 years, so it's not because they're "new" or "coated". After scrubbing I always wipe then with paper towels until the black residue is more or less gone, and then rinse and dry once more. I don't want whatever it is in my food. I contacted Scotch-Brite because their green scrubbers are what I usually use, and I hope to hear back from then in a couple of days. Somebody somewhere must know... I'm just so glad to see this thread about it. I haven't been able to find an answer -- or even find it mentioned -- anywhere else.