How to: Making detergent solution (1%) by weight or volume

Q. I am making a 1% detergent solution? How do I do this?

A. Thanks for the question.   We do get these calls from time to time and it is certainly better to be sure.  Most of our detergents are recommended at 1-2% concentrations.  Concentration is directly related to capacity or the amount of residue the detergent can remove. More highly soiled applications require a higher concentration.  We have particularly difficult or adherent residue applications that we recommend 3-5% or higher.

In making a detergent solution (1%) of powdered detergent such as Alconox® Powdered Precision Cleaner or Tergazyme® Enzyme-Active Powdered Detergent, you can make your solutions by weight or by volume.

To make solutions by weight add either 1.25 dry ounces of powder to 1 gallon of water, or add 10 grams of powder to 1 liter of water.  Alternatively, you can add a heaping 1 ounce scoop (a large coffee measuring scoop typically works) to 1 gallon of water, or add 2 rounded Tablespoons of powder to 1 liter of water.  Mix gently for 1-2 minutes until all of the powder is dissolved.

Alternatively, to make solutions by volume with liquid concentrates like Liquinox® Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent, add 1.25 fluid ounces of liquid to 1 gallon of water or 10 ml of liquid added to 1 liter of water, and mix gently for 10-15 seconds.  All of these techniques will make approximately a 1% solution for effective cleaning.  (For 2% concentrations, you would simply double the amount of detergent, while holding the volume constant.)

Note that if the highest precision of percent detergent solution is needed, you would have to take into account the total volume upon formulation.  Adding 10 ml of liquid concentrate to 1 liter would give you 1,010 mL solution volume.  If you are looking to make exactly a 1 liter volume of a 1% Liquinox solution, you would add 9.9 mL to 990.1 mL of water.  For a little more detail, refer to Dilution Precision in Concentration Measurements.

To request these or any Alconox Inc. detergents for free, please complete the questionnaire at Get Sample. For more information about any one of our Alconox Inc. detergents, consult the technical bulletin for each product. Or click here to access each of our detergent’s  Safety Data Sheets.

Do you have a critical cleaning question for the experts at Alconox Inc.?  Search TechNotes to see if it’s been answered before or Ask Alconox.