How to Dilute a Cleaning Concentrate (1 Quart = 20 Quarts)

You've got a bottle of concentrate in one hand and a lot of unanswered questions in the other. How much water do I add to concentrated cleaner? Is there a specific tool you need, or can you just eyeball it with a regular spray bottle? And what actually happens if you get the ratio wrong?

This guide answers all of that directly. We'll walk through exactly how to dilute concentrated cleaner, using the 1:20 ratio as our main example since that's the standard for most multipurpose concentrates, including Advanage 20X. You'll learn the math behind the ratio, the easiest tools to use for consistent mixing, and what to do if you're working without measuring tools at all. 

If you've been putting off using a concentrate because the mixing step feels intimidating, this should clear that up in a few minutes.

Understanding What a Dilution Ratio Actually Means

A dilution ratio is written as two numbers separated by a colon, and it tells you the proportion of concentrate to water. In a 1:20 ratio, the "1" represents one part concentrate, and the "20" represents twenty parts water. The total mixture ends up being 21 parts overall, one part active concentrate and twenty parts water.

This might seem like a small detail, but it trips people up constantly. Some assume "1:20" means the final mixture is 20 parts total, when it's actually 21. That one-part difference doesn't change results dramatically at this ratio, but it matters more at stronger dilutions like 1:1 or 1:5, where the math has a bigger impact on the final concentration.

How to Make a 1:20 Dilution (Step by Step)

Here's the most practical breakdown for actually mixing a 1:20 ratio at home or at work:

• Using a standard 32-ounce spray bottle: Add roughly 1.5 ounces of concentrate, then fill the rest of the bottle with water. This gets you close enough to a true 1:20 ratio for household use.

• Using a gallon container (128 ounces): Add about 6 ounces of concentrate, then fill the remainder with water.

• Using a 5-gallon bucket: Add roughly 25 ounces of concentrate (a little over 3 cups) and fill the rest with water.

The key across all three examples is the same: measure the concentrate first, then top off with water to reach your total container size. Trying to do it the other way around, filling with water first and eyeballing where the concentrate line should be, tends to produce less accurate results.

What If You Don't Have Measuring Tools?

Not everyone has a measuring cup handy when they're standing in front of a sink or utility closet, so here's a rough substitute using common kitchen tools. One tablespoon is roughly half an ounce, so for a 1:20 ratio in a standard 32-ounce spray bottle, about 3 tablespoons of concentrate gets you close enough for general household cleaning.

This isn't as precise as an actual measuring tool, and we wouldn't recommend it for commercial or high-volume use, but for a one-off situation where you just need a working spray bottle, it's a reasonable stopgap. For anything beyond occasional home use, it's worth picking up a dedicated tool built for this exact purpose.

Tired of eyeballing your mixing ratio? Shop the Mixing Applicator →

How to Dilute 20 to 1 vs. Other Common Ratios

The 1:20 ratio is common for general-purpose cleaning concentrates, but you'll run into other ratios depending on the product and the job. Here's how the math shifts across a few common examples people search for:

If a label calls for "30 parts water to 1 part cleaner," that's the same as a 1:30 ratio, and you'd use less concentrate than you would for a 1:20 mix. The pattern holds across any ratio: divide your total container volume by the second number plus one, and that gives you your concentrate amount.

What Happens If You Get the Ratio Wrong?

Getting the ratio slightly off usually isn't a disaster, but it does affect results in predictable ways. Too much water and not enough concentrate means the mixture won't have enough active cleaning agents to properly break down grease and grime, so you'll likely need to spray more product or scrub harder to get the same result.

Too much concentration and not enough water is the more common mistake, and it doesn't actually improve cleaning performance the way people assume. Beyond the recommended ratio, additional concentrate doesn't add extra cleaning power, it just means you're using more product than necessary and, in some cases, risking a sticky or streaky residue left behind on the surface once it dries.

If safety is a concern, it's worth noting that concentrated cleaning chemicals should always be handled according to label instructions, since skin or eye contact with undiluted concentrate is more likely to cause irritation than a properly diluted mixture. The CDC's guidance on safe chemical handling reinforces this general principle across cleaning products broadly, not just concentrates specifically.

Mixing Ratios for Bulk and Commercial Use

If you're diluting concentrate for a business, restaurant, or facility rather than home use, consistency becomes even more important, since multiple staff members may be mixing solutions at different times. This is where a dilution control dispenser earns its keep, since it removes human error from the equation entirely by automatically mixing to a fixed ratio every time product is dispensed.

For businesses buying concentrate in bulk formats like drums or totes, getting the ratio right at scale also has a direct cost impact. Using too much concentrate across a large facility adds up fast, while under-diluting means your team may need to use more spray or more time to get the same cleaning result. If you're setting up a system like this for the first time, our Drums and bulk order page is a good place to start.

Setting up dilution control for a business or facility? Explore Bulk Drums & Totes →

A Few Mixing Best Practices Worth Following

• Always use a clean container. Residue from a previous chemical, even a mild one, can react unpredictably with a new concentrate.

• Label your mixed bottles. If you're preparing multiple dilution ratios for different tasks, a quick label prevents mix-ups later.

• Mix only what you'll use in a reasonable timeframe. Diluted cleaner doesn't necessarily go bad quickly, but concentrate stores better in its original, undiluted form.

• Shake gently after mixing. This helps the concentrate and water combine evenly rather than settling in layers, especially right after mixing.

If you're using scented options like Green Apple or Lavender Quarts, the same dilution principles apply regardless of scent, since the ratio is based on the concentrate's active ingredients, not the fragrance added to the formula.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make a 1:20 dilution?

Measure one part concentrate for every twenty parts water. For a standard 32-ounce spray bottle, that works out to roughly 1.5 ounces of concentrate, topped off the rest of the way with water.

How to dilute 20 to 1?

A "20 to 1" ratio is written the same way as 1:20, meaning twenty parts water for every one part concentrated. The math and mixing process are identical regardless of which order the numbers are written in, as long as you know which number refers to water and which refers to concentrate.

What is 30 parts water to 1 part cleaner?

This is a lighter dilution than 1:20, typically used for everyday, light-duty cleaning tasks. For a 32-ounce bottle, this works out to roughly 1 ounce of concentrate, with the rest of the bottle filled with water.

What ratio do I dilute?

The correct ratio depends on the specific product and the cleaning task at hand, and is usually listed directly on the product label. For general multipurpose use, 1:20 is common, while lighter maintenance cleaning may call for a more diluted ratio like 1:30.

How to make a 1:1 dilution?

A 1:1 dilution means equal parts concentrate and water. For a 32-ounce bottle, that's 16 ounces of concentrate and 16 ounces of water. This is a much stronger mixture typically reserved for heavy-duty cleaning tasks rather than everyday use.

How to calculate how much to dilute?

Divide your total container volume by the second number in the ratio plus one. For example, with a 1:20 ratio and a 32-ounce container, divide 32 by 21, which gives you approximately 1.5 ounces of concentrate, with the remainder filled with water.

Getting the Most Out of Every Bottle

We built our concentrate around a 1:20 ratio specifically because it strikes the right balance between cleaning strength and value, and Advanage has spent decades helping customers get that ratio right, whether they're mixing by hand or using a dedicated applicator. Getting the dilution right isn't just a technical detail; it's the difference between a bottle that lasts twenty times longer and one that runs out before you've gotten your money's worth.

If you're ever unsure about the right ratio for a specific job, our team is happy to walk you through it. Feel free to reach out through our Contact Us page anytime.

Ready to mix with confidence every time? Shop the Mixing Applicator →