A how-to guide on measuring your concentrated cleaning solution

Using a concentrated detergent is a popular choice. Concentrates offer buy-in-bulk savings when compared to ready-to-use mixes, and offer the flexibility to use more or less detergent for different cleaning applications. If you have an especially active wash bay, cleaning operation or other ongoing needs, using these concentrated solutions from Hotsy Minnesota is a no brainer.

What isn’t as clear, though, is how to best use your concentrates so that you aren’t overpaying and wasting your resources. Many times mixing concentrates is “eyeballed” or measured with a “glug-glug” method. This can drive up costs, eat up supplies and end up resulting in excess foaming or insufficient cleaning power.

Rather than pour money down the drain – literally – let’s cover some of the best practices and solutions for metering out your concentrates.

On the Go

If you take your pressure washer on the road frequently, you may keep your concentrate at the shop and premix before you go. To ensure you always have an accurate clean, it helps to standardize.

One simple solution is to use portable containers with clear indications for your mix volumes. For example, using a translucent container, you could measure out the mix ratio for your concentrated solution – one line near the bottom marking where the container should be filled with detergent, and another higher up or near the top marking the water fill line. Reusing this container provides consistency in fill and in cleaning power, and helps ensure you’re not overusing your concentrate.

Another option is to keep a standardized measuring tool in your shop along with a standard chart. Knowing offhand how to quickly measure a 9:1 ratio versus a 30:1 ratio isn’t always easy, but printing off a simple chart is. Identify the mix ratios that you need, based on your concentrate and your applications, and mark it clearly near your solutions. You can also note your common container sizes and how those ratios translate.

For example, in a 9:1 ratio, it’s 9 ounces of water to one ounce of solution, but 115.2 ounces of water to 12.8 ounces of solution for a gallon container. Having a measuring tool and ready-to-read mix ratios will remove the concentration on math for your concentrates.

You can also think about training a dedicated “mixing team” – designated employees who have been educated on the proper mix ratios and dilutions. These team members can be your go-to employees for preparing all cleaning solutions, and be the only ones given access to wherever you secure your detergent. This restricts access and reduces the likelihood of someone misusing concentrates, while also ensuring your detergent mixes are consistent from job to job.