When it comes to cleaning your car, achieving that professional-quality shine is all down to ensuring you’re using the right products at the correct dilution ratio. Whether you’re working with pre-wash, car shampoos or wheel cleaners, creating the right balance between product and water is essential to getting a showroom-worthy finish. Understanding the correct dilution ratios not only helps to achieve optimal results but can also be critical to protecting your vehicle's surfaces.
To ensure you keep your vehicle in peak condition both inside and out, keep reading as we break down how to calculate the correct dilution ratios for commonly used car cleaners, why they matter, and how the perfect dilution ratios can transform your car cleaning routine to be the most safe and effective.
Why are dilution ratios important in car detailing?
When detailing your car, ensuring you have the right dilution ratios is crucial in determining the effectiveness of the cleaning products as well as how safe they are for your car’s surfaces. Whether you’re using snow foam to tackle tough dirt and grime in the pre-wash stage, car shampoo or sealants, proper dilution ensures your chosen cleaning product performs as intended. Overly diluted solutions may be too weak to effectively break down dirt, while overly concentrated solutions may leave behind residues or may impact the finish and paintwork on your vehicle.
Getting the dilution ratio right can also determine how cost-effective each product is. Most car cleaning solutions are designed to be diluted, meaning that you get more uses out of each bottle. Therefore, following the recommended ratios helps you avoid potentially wasting products and ensures you're getting the best value for your money with every wash. In addition to this, it's important to note that overly concentrated cleaning solutions may increase the risk of harm to your skin when handling the product.
How do I calculate dilution ratios?
Calculating the correct dilution rations for car cleaning products will vary depending on the product you are using. However, most car cleaning products that need to be diluted prior to use will have clear instructions on the label on the ratio you should be using such as, ‘1:10’ which means that for every 1 part chemical, you should mix it with 10 parts water. The amount of chemical that counts as a ‘part’ will again depend on what is outlined on the label of the individual product. For example, with the 1:0 ratio mentioned, if the car cleaning product states to use 100ml of the chemical, then you would need to mix this with 1000ml of water to create the correct concentration.
Although calculating dilution ratios will vary from product to product, the most commonly used car cleaning products are typically suggested to be diluted to the following:
- Car Pre-Wash (Snow Foam) - Due to the intensity of the job of a pre-wash, this product is typically used with a 1:10 ratio depending on the product and the amount of grime on the vehicle.
- Car Shampoos - Usually follow a dilution ratio of 1:100, although if you are cleaning a heavily soiled vehicle, then a 1:50 ratio may be best to tackle the grime. However, it’s important to read the label of your specific product first to see if this is a safe concentration.
- Tyre and Wheel Cleaners - Dilution for wheel and tyre cleaners will depend on the acidity of the product you’re using. It’s important to always err on the side of caution with this product in order to protect your alloys.
- Glass Cleaners - The dilution of glass cleaners can vary depending on the brand, however, they typically range between a 1:2 and 1:5 dilution ratio.
How to safely dilute car cleaning chemicals?
When diluting car cleaning products, it’s vital that you do so safely to ensure your car is not damaged and to keep yourself and others safe when handling chemicals. It's important to remember that your car’s surfaces are delicate and any product used should be diluted properly to protect paintwork, trims and glass so that there is no potential for damage or discolouration to occur. Below we have outlined a few of the most important things to remember when diluting car cleaning products so you can do so safely and accurately to achieve optimal results and prevent damage to your vehicle or harm to yourself.
Read the label and dilution instructions carefully
The most important part of diluting chemicals is to read the label or safety sheet of each product carefully so that you ensure you are getting the correct chemical-to-water ratio. Most car cleaning products will have clear instructions written on the container or box and some may come with a separate safety sheet.
Use the appropriate tools
Ensure when measuring out the chemicals you have the appropriate tools at hand so you can accurately and safely create the correct product ratios. We recommend using a measuring cup, syringe or graduated cylinder to give you the most accurate liquid measurements. Make sure you have a clean bucket, spray bottle or mixing container that is chemical-resistant and suitable for the products you are using.
Remember to always wear protective gloves, goggles and a mask if needed to reduce exposure to any potential fumes and to prevent skin irritation.
Choose the right water
When diluting your chosen cleaning product, ensure you choose clean, cold or lukewarm water. If you use hot or boiling water this may cause some chemicals to react or evaporate too quickly and can also cause more fumes to be created.
Label the chemical mixture
Once you have diluted your cleaning solution we recommend labelling the container accurately to prevent accidental misuse. If your cleaning solution is in a bucket and will be discarded after use this step is not necessary, however, if you are keeping this solution in a spray bottle for later use, write on the chemical name, dilution ratio and date of mixing for future reference. If keeping any amount of product, you should ensure the container you store it in is safe for this purpose.
Apply safely and clean up
When it comes to using your diluted solution, make sure you use the correct equipment such as a foam gun, spray bottle or wash mitt and apply it to your vehicle safely and according to the instructions. If required, rinse off the product thoroughly and then dry.
Remember to rinse all of the tools and equipment used to mix the cleaning solutions together after use and dispose of any unused solutions as instructed by the manufacturer on the product label.
What is the right snow foam dilution ratio?
One of the most commonly asked questions surrounding car detailing is what the correct dilution ratio for snow foam is. Snow foam is a vital part of any car cleaning routine and requires careful dilution in order to achieve the most effective clean every time. Below we have outlined the process for diluting snow foam that ensures you get the perfect consistency and a thorough pre-wash every time.
Each snow foam product will come with a recommended dilution ratio range specific to that brand, typically presented as ‘1:10 to 1:20’. This recommended ratio can vary significantly between different snow foams, therefore we advise you to dilute each product as instructed on the label as the same ratio may not work for each brand.
Adjusting the dilution ratio of snow foam will not only impact the thickness of the foam that is produced but also the cleaning power. If you don’t follow the recommended ratio on the label and instead opt for a higher concentration, this may have a negative effect on your car’s paintwork and any applied waxes or sealants over time, particularly when using an alkaline snow foam. The majority of snow foams will follow the common ratio of 1:10, meaning that you would add 100ml of the product to 1000ml of water before adding to your foam cannon. However, some products may also use a Panel Impact Ratio (PIR).
What is a Panel Impact Ratio?
This ratio is expressed as a percentage typically ranging from 1% to 4% and refers to how much-concentrated product is needed for the car’s surface. The PIR method is more precise as the degree of dilution can vary depending on the snow foam cannon and pressure washer you use, but by utilising the PIR dilution method you ensure a more consistent quantity for optimal usage.
To calculate the PIR ratio you must first fill the cannon you’re going to use with water, then dispense it from the cannon into a bucket and measure how much you have. Then read the label of your product for the recommended PIR and calculate accordingly. For example, if the snow foam cannon dispenses 10 litres of water into the bucket and the recommended PIR is 4% then you would calculate 4% of 10 litres which would be 400ml, and this would be the amount of snow foam chemical you would add to the water to achieve the correct ratio.
Keep in mind that each brand of snow foam will require different dilutions and will produce varying foam thicknesses. Some snow foams such as Bilt Hamber Auto Foam will never achieve a "thick" foam consistency, even if you increase the concentration due to the composition of chemicals. However, other foams such as the Autobrite Magifoam can maintain an incredibly thick foam texture even with the lowest recommended dilution ratio.
Generally, a thicker snow foam will adhere to your car for a longer duration which will allow for a more effective clean, however, some thicker foams may also dry quicker, causing them to slide off the car more rapidly. In this instance, it may be worth using a lighter dilution ratio to reduce the weight of the foam and prevent it from reducing dwell time on your vehicle.
Get a thorough and safe car detail with My Car Cleaning
Now that you know how to safely dilute your car cleaning solutions, browse through our full collection of car shampoos, snow foam and wheel cleaners to find the right products for your car to help you achieve that showroom-quality shine.