Properly diluting cleaning products affects the effectiveness of your cleaning. Overdosing can damage surfaces. Underdosing can cause you to have to work even harder! So, we're going to try to make the concept of dilution super easy, and you'll also have a dilution chart you can keep in your cleaning room.
Where to find the correct dilution of products
First, each detergent manufacturer conducts several tests to determine the effectiveness of their products. This may include the surfaces on which the product can and cannot be used. For some products, you may even have several dosage options. For example:
With the concentrated degreaser Ino Kleen 7, there are 3 recommended dosages on the product usage data sheet.
• Light dirt: 1:128
• Average dirt: 1:64
• And finally, some stubborn dirt: 1:16
Warning: Always consult the safety data sheet for each product used.
If you don't have the technical data sheet with you, you can probably find it on the manufacturer's website or on the back label of the product. Another good reason to follow the recommended dilution is that you can put your own health at risk.
Instructions for use
The usage instructions are recommended by the manufacturer, who has done all the testing for you. They have tested their products to their limits. Other guidelines you might benefit from:
- On what surface to use the product or not;
- THE Product pH which will be able to tell you what degree of acidity or alkalinity the product has or whether it is neutral.
- You will know if the product is approved by the organization CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Association)
- The contact time required for the product to be fully effective. Very important, especially for disinfectants.
- The recommended accessory or equipment
- Recommended protective equipment (PPE). This may include gloves, a safety mask, safety boots or shoes, coveralls, safety glasses, or other items.
- The recommended water temperature
- Note, the last 4 points are part of the Sinner's Circle which provides all the conditions to be met for cleaning to be effective.
How to decipher the language of dilution
First, there are several ways to write the dilution. The manufacturer will choose how to write their recommended dilution. But generally speaking, you will find 3 types of writing:
1:4, 1:16, 1:32, 1:64, 1:128; 1:256, 1:516
These writings could be read as follows. Note that portions can be interpreted as ounces, ml, L, at your choice. It is important to always put the water first and then add the portion of product.
1: 4 1 part product + 4 parts water, it's as simple as the picture below!
Dilution in percentage.
In the case we put above, this also expresses that the dilution is 20%. So 4 units of water + 1 unit of product = 5 units.
So 1 unit of product out of 5 units in total is 20%
1 + 4 = 5 or 1 / 5 = 20%
Equivalence
Please note that depending on the type of products you use, the spelling may be different. Here are some equivalents:
1 liter is the equivalent of 1000ml
1 ounce is equivalent to 28.4ml, and for the United States, 1 ounce is equal to 29.5ml
Steps to Calculate Dosage
First, determine how much diluted product you ultimately want to have in your boiler. Then, you'll need to separate the parts according to the recommended dosage.
Example 1: 4:1
For example, if you want a total of 1000ml of product in total, for a dilution of 4:1, so you will have to separate your final liquid, 1000ml into 5 parts.
- Please note that if you translate this dosage into a percentage, you would have used the following equation: 1/5 units in total. This will give you a percentage of 20%
- So you will have 4 parts water of 200ml as well asa 200ml portion of product
Example 2: 1:1
- If the dosage is written like this 1:1, you will therefore need to separate your total desired liquid into 2 parts. So if you want 2 liters of liquid in total (so 2000ml), you will therefore put 1000ml of water and 1000ml of product.
- If we translate this equation into a percentage, we will say 50% (1+1 = 2, 1 part water and 1 part product)
Example 3: 1:10
- If I want 1000ml in my boiler in total, I will have a total of 11 parts (1 + 10). 1000 divided by 11 parts = 90.9ml.
- So out of 1000ml, I will have 10 parts of 90.9ml (909ml) as well as one part of 90.9ml of product.
Dilution table
Here's a dilution chart if you don't want to bother. We'll base our calculations on the assumption that you have a total of 1000ml (or 1 liter) in your boiler.
Exercise with an existing product
See the product sheet below for Ino Bio 2. Go see the recommended dilution
by the manufacturer. After having seen the table above, what would be the quantity of product and the quantity of water taking into account that you will have
- Spray 1:100 (Dilute the product for a 1000ml bottle)
- Small hand boiler 1:100 (Dilute the product for a 4000ml bottle)
- Mop: 1:120 (Dilute the product for a 20 litre or 20,000ml bucket)
Ino Bio 2 Technical Sheet from Ino Solutions
So, on that note, I wish you a wonderful day!
