- Per 100ml water10ml
- Per 1 litre water100ml
Dilution Ratios Explained — Module 2
Module 2 of 3
Dilution Ratios Explained · Module 2
Calculating Dilution Ratios
A quick reference for common ratios, one simple rule to work out any amount, and how to scale up for buckets and larger batches.
- Free taster
- Module 2 of 3
- About 5 minutes
Free taster micro-course. This is a short introduction to the topic, not full professional training. For in-depth courses with assessments and certificates, see the CCMTec® Academy.
What you'll learn in this module
- How much chemical to add to 100ml or 1 litre of water
- How to use a quick reference on the job
- How to scale up for larger volumes
Quick reference for common ratios
The easiest method is to fix the amount of water, then work out how much chemical to add. The two most useful amounts are 100ml for a small top-up and 1 litre for a standard trigger spray bottle.
- Per 100ml water5ml
- Per 1 litre water50ml
- Per 100ml water2ml
- Per 1 litre water20ml
- Per 100ml water1ml
- Per 1 litre water10ml
The quick rule
To find how much chemical to add to each litre of water, divide 1000 by the second number in the ratio.
1:20 → 1000 ÷ 20 = 50ml per litre of waterScaling up
For larger amounts, just multiply. For 5 litres of water at 1:20, you need 5 × 50ml = 250ml of chemical.
Worked example: 5 litres at 1:20
5 × 50ml = 250ml of chemical added to 5 litres of water
Always add chemical to water, not water to chemical
Put the water in first, then add the measured chemical. This reduces the risk of concentrated product splashing or reacting.
Want to go further?
Our full Academy courses cover topics like this in real depth, with practical guidance, assessments and certificates.
Explore full coursesDisclaimer: This micro-course is a general introduction to dilution ratios for cleaning chemicals and is not a substitute for full professional training. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and current HSE guidance for your workplace.