Our handy bleach dilution calculator is designed to help users determine the correct proportions of bleach and water for various disinfecting purposes.
Suppose you need to create a 0.1% sodium hypochlorite solution using household bleach with 5.25% concentration. The calculator helps determine that you need to mix 1 part bleach with 51 parts water. This means for every 1 mL of bleach, you’d add 51 mL of water.
Bleach Dilution Calculator
| Initial Concentration | Desired Concentration | Total Volume | Bleach Volume | Water Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.25% | 0.05% | 2000 mL | 19.05 mL | 1980.95 mL |
| 8.25% | 0.1% | 1500 mL | 18.18 mL | 1481.82 mL |
| 6% | 0.5% | 3000 mL | 250 mL | 2750 mL |
| 5.25% | 1% | 500 mL | 95.24 mL | 404.76 mL |
| 5% | 10 ppm | 1 gallon (3.8 L) | 2/3 cup (160 mL) | 3.8 L – 160 mL = 3.64 L |
| 6% | 25 ppm | 1 gallon (3.8 L) | 1/3 cup (80 mL) | 3.8 L – 80 mL = 3.72 L |
| 5.25% | 100 ppm | 1 liter (1000 mL) | 19 mL | 981 mL |
| 8.25% | 50 ppm | 1 liter (1000 mL) | 12.12 mL | 987.88 mL |
| 5% | 200 ppm | 500 mL | 50 mL | 450 mL |
| 6% | 150 ppm | 2 liters (2000 mL) | 100 mL | 1900 mL |
| 5.25% | 500 ppm | 1 liter (1000 mL) | 38.46 mL | 961.54 mL |
| 8.25% | 300 ppm | 1 liter (1000 mL) | 36.36 mL | 963.64 mL |
Bleach Dilution Ratio Chart
| Desired Concentration | Bleach (5.25%) | Water |
|---|---|---|
| 0.05% | 1 part | 104 parts |
| 0.1% | 1 part | 51 parts |
| 0.5% | 1 part | 9 parts |
| 1% | 1 part | 4 parts |
| 2% | 1 part | 1.6 parts |
Bleach Dilution Formula
The bleach dilution formula is:
C1 * V1 = C2 * V2Where:
- C1 = Initial concentration of bleach
- V1 = Volume of bleach to be added
- C2 = Desired final concentration
- V2 = Total volume of solution
To determine the volume of bleach needed:
V1 = (C2 * V2) / C1Example
Let’s say you want to create 1 liter of a 0.1% solution using 5.25% bleach.
V1 = (0.1% * 1000 mL) / 5.25% = 19.05 mLYou’d need to add 19.05 mL of 5.25% bleach to 980.95 mL of water to create 1 liter of a 0.1% solution.
How to Calculate Bleach Dilution?
Calculating bleach dilution involves several steps:
- Determine the desired concentration based on your application.
- Identify the concentration of your bleach (usually stated on the bottle).
- Decide on the total volume of solution you need.
- Apply the dilution formula to calculate the required amount of bleach.
- Subtract the bleach volume from the total volume to get the water amount.
Creating 2 liters of a 0.5% solution using 8.25% bleach:
- Desired concentration: 0.5%
- Bleach concentration: 8.25%
- Total volume: 2000 mL
- V1 = (0.5% * 2000 mL) / 8.25% = 121.21 mL
- Water needed: 2000 mL – 121.21 mL = 1878.79 mL
Mix 121.21 mL of 8.25% bleach with 1878.79 mL of water.
How Much Bleach to 1 Liter of Water for Disinfecting?
For general disinfection (0.1% solution) using 5.25% bleach:
Required bleach = (0.1 × 1000) ÷ 5.25 = 19mL
Add to 981mL waterThe amount of bleach needed for 1 liter of water depends on the desired concentration and the initial bleach strength.
Using 5.25% bleach to create 1 liter of a 0.1% solution:
V1 = (0.1% * 1000 mL) / 5.25% = 19.05 mLAdd 19.05 mL of 5.25% bleach to 980.95 mL of water.
What is the Ratio of Bleach to Water for Disinfecting?
Standard disinfecting ratios:
- Light disinfection (0.05%): 1:100
- Standard disinfection (0.1%): 1:50
- Heavy-duty disinfection (0.5%): 1:10
For general household disinfecting, a common ratio is 1:50 (1 part bleach to 50 parts water), which creates approximately a 0.1% solution when using 5.25% bleach.
To make 500 mL of solution with a 1:50 ratio:
- Bleach: 500 mL / 51 ≈ 9.8 mL
- Water: 500 mL – 9.8 mL = 490.2 mL
How Much Bleach to Add to a 32 oz Spray Bottle?
To determine the amount of bleach for a 32 oz (946 mL) spray bottle, consider the desired concentration. For a 0.1% solution using 5.25% bleach:
V1 = (0.1% * 946 mL) / 5.25% = 18 mLAdd 18 mL of 5.25% bleach to 928 mL of water in the spray bottle.
What is a 1:20 Dilution of Bleach?
A 1:20 dilution means 1 part bleach is mixed with 19 parts water, creating a total of 20 parts. This ratio typically results in a solution with about 0.25% concentration when using 5.25% bleach.
To create 1 liter of a 1:20 dilution:
- Bleach: 1000 mL / 20 = 50 mL
- Water: 1000 mL – 50 mL = 950 mL
Mix 50 mL of 5.25% bleach with 950 mL* of water.
Sources / References
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – List N Tool: COVID-19 Disinfectants: https://cfpub.epa.gov/wizards/disinfectants/
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