It is a common misconception that using extra cleaning products will make a surface safer and more hygienic. In reality, exceeding the manufacturer’s recommended concentration can reduce the product’s effectiveness, damaging surfaces, leaving residue that attracts more dirt, and in some cases, pose health risks such as skin irritation or respiratory discomfort.
Conversely, diluting products too much can reduce their germ-killing power, leaving harmful microorganisms behind. Following correct dilution guidelines is therefore essential to achieving both safe and effective cleaning.
“These ratios are carefully tested by manufacturers to ensure the right balance between effectiveness and safety. Overdosing increases costs and risks, while underdosing can create a false sense of hygiene security,” said marketing manager for Unilever Professional, Jeffrey Madkins, confirming that dilution ratios lie at the heart of professional hygiene.
A recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health tracked over 300 professional cleaners at different daycare centres.
Frequent exposure to disinfectants, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces, was directly linked to increased respiratory symptoms, underscoring the importance of safe, correctly dosed cleaning solutions – especially in high-traffic, high-touch environments such as daycare centres, schools, hotels, restaurants and healthcare facilities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA tracked and reported a significant increase in calls to poison control centres related to exposure to cleaning agents and disinfectants.
These calls often stemmed from improper use, such as mixing chemicals, inhaling fumes, or applying disinfectants to skin or food surfaces – driven by heightened concern over transmission.
So now you’re possibly wondering, what are the correct cleaning product ratios? And do you need a chemistry degree to figure it out? Madkins said you need not! “It’s easier than you think, and once you know the right proportions, you not only get a more effective clean but also safer and more sustainable results.”
He explained that if a product calls for a 1:20 ratio, it means one part product to twenty parts water.
“For example, if we use utensils found in any kitchen, like a tablespoon, this would mean that if one part equals one tablespoon, the correct mix is one tablespoon of product with twenty tablespoons of water.”
So how does the maths work in practice? For common dilution ratios, the correct mixes are:
- 1:10 – 100 ml of product (about 6 ½ tablespoons) to 1 litre of water
- 1:20 – 50 ml of product (about 3 ½ tablespoons, or ⅕ of a cup) to 1 of litre water
- 1:50 – 20 ml of product (about 4 teaspoons) to 1 litre of water
- 1:100 – 10 ml of product (about 2 teaspoons) to 1 litre of water
When it comes to Unilever Professional products like Domestos, the Handy Andy range, and Sunlight Liquid, smaller quantities are all that’s needed for most of their professional-grade cleaning products to perform effectively.
According to Madkins, businesses can avoid waste and health risks due to incorrect dilution ratios by:
1. Training staff so that they:
- Understand why dilution accuracy matters.
- Always check the label for the correct ratio.
- Use a tablespoon or cup rather than estimating/measuring ‘by eye’.
2. Conducting regular audits to ensure that cleaning staff apply products correctly.
With staff and customer well-being in mind, and sustainability increasingly important, proper dilution practices are essential.
And when businesses get the maths right, everyone wins: healthier staff, surfaces that are protected for longer, and savings from reduced waste.
“You needn’t be a mathematician,” concludes Madkins, “but every business can think like one when it comes to cleaning with precision.”
