Chemical Dilution Rate Guide

Often, you will come across cleaning chemical concentrates that require dilution with water prior to use. If you are new to diluting chemicals (and mathematics was never your strong point), understanding and calculating recommended chemical dilution rates can be a challenge. However, it is crucial that the dilution instructions provided on product labels and manuals is adhered to for a number of reasons. First and foremost, using too little of a chemical in a ready-to-use solution can render the solution ineffective in tackling the job at hand. Conversely, using too much chemical in the solution can be a waste of product at best and potentially dangerous to the user in a worst-case scenario. With that in mind, Dalcon Hygiene have compiled a handy step-by-step chemical dilution rate guide to assist in the process of diluting chemical solutions.

Step 1: Calculate the Total Solution Required for your Job.

Many of our products can be used for either mop and bucket cleaning, bucket and sponge cleaning or spray bottle application. So, how much solution do you need? Are you filling a 16L mop bucket or a 750mL spray bottle? Maybe you’re filling an 11-litre bucket halfway. Whatever the application, understanding how much of the final solution you need is an important first step to determining the amount of concentrate required in your mixture. For the sake of this example, let’s say we are using an 11-litre mop bucket and want to fill it to 10 litres.

Step 2: Find the Recommended Dilution Rate

As mentioned earlier, the product label or manual will almost certainly outline the recommended dilution rate for the product. Chemical dilution rates are generally expressed in ratio format and, for the most part, list the chemical component on the left and the amount of water required on the right. For example’s sake, we will refer to our Ammoniated Floor Cleaner for this guide. It is recommended that Ammoniated Floor Cleaner is diluted 1:40 – that is 1-part Ammoniated Floor Cleaner to 40 parts water.

Step 3: Grab the Calculator

Using the equation above, we can determine that for a 10L solution we require 244mL of Ammoniated Floor Cleaner with the remaining 9,756mL of the solution being water. Simple!

However, while diluting chemicals to the correct ratio is an important step in safely using chemical products, there are other precautionary steps you should take to ensure that your safety is never compromised.

Make sure you are working in units that make sense. In most cases with chemical solutions, this will require working in millilitres as opposed to litres.

10 Litres = 10,000 Millilitres

2. Add the components of the ratio together to determine the total number of parts in the solution.

1:40 – 1 + 40 = 41

3. Now, divide the total solution required (10,000mL) by the number of the parts (41).

10,000 / 41 = 244 (Rounded to the nearest whole number).

Step 4: Make your Solution

Using the equation above, we can determine that for a 10L solution we require 244mL of Ammoniated Floor Cleaner with the remaining 9,756mL of the solution being water. Simple!

Always Add Water First: By placing water in your bucket or bottle first, you can avoid any potential chemical splashes that may occur as a result of pouring concentrates into an empty bucket.
Always Use the Correct PPE: Many cleaning chemicals are harsh on skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract – even when diluted. To avoid any issues, always use gloves, goggles and any other required protective clothing or items.
Consider Preparing your Equipment for Re-Use: If you are always using the same container to hold the same chemical, consider making marks with permanent markers outlining the level of concentrate required and the level of water required.
Look into Automated Chemical Dispensing Units: Dalcon Hygiene carry a range of automatic chemical dispensing units that can control the dilution rate of different chemicals so that you get the right ratio every time. To find out more, click here.
Use an App: Both Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store have a number of applications that can be used to calculate chemical dilution rates.

Chemical Dilution Chart

If you are ever in doubt as to how much chemical is required for your solution, refer back to this chemical dilution rate guide. Additionally, feel free to download our Chemical Dilution Chart, which provides solution amounts to many of the more common chemical dilution ratios you will encounter. For more information on any of our products and their dilution rates, please contact Dalcon Hygiene via email at admin@dalconhygiene.com or by phone on (02) 9604 1155.