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You wouldn't throw a dart at a dartboard with your eyes closed. So, why would you let your customers dilute a cleaning product concentrate without measuring it correctly? Correct dilution measurement means better product performance, maximized economy of the chemical budget and decreased chance of harmful chemical exposure. Manufacturers offer a wide range of dilution control systems to satisfy customer needs and enhance a product's overall performance. These choices enable you to provide the best dilution system for your customers.
Advantages of dilution systems
Glug, glug doesn't count — It doesn't matter how many years your customer has poured and measured. Counting the number of "glugs" out of the bottle or eye-balling the amount of chemical poured into the bucket is not an accurate measurement tool.
Cost control — Every ounce of cleaning chemical costs money. The more accurate your customer's dilution, the more he/she will be able to control costs. After all, a 20,000 sq. ft. facility will remain a 20,000 sq. ft. facility, and the number of times the cleaning crew sweeps through will also remain the same. If your customer can stay consistent in dilution control, then it won't take very long to know how much product is needed each month. Having your customers think of you as a valuable tool in managing their costs is priceless.
Performance enhancement — Dilution ratios are determined by the manufacturer for a good reason . . . they maximize the product's performance. If the dilution is too weak, the product will not work as well, and may lead to more labor time. If the dilution is too strong, it may leave excess residue or, with products that have a high pH, can even damage a surface. The more efficiently your customer uses the chemical concentrate, the better his productivity.
Safety comes first — A dilution system decreases the exposure to the concentrate and the chance of a chemical splashing in the eyes. In the whole scheme of things, protecting the health of employees is the most important reason to push dispensing systems.
Types of dilution systems
Wall Mounted Dilution Systems
Manufacturers offer a variety of wall-mounted dilution systems for their concentrates. Some units are designed to hold several different concentrates and dilute each one according to the manufacturer specifics. Others are designed to dispense just one product. There are some systems that dispense a single product, but can be linked together at one water source.
Considerations for wall-mounted systems
- Water pressure — Water pressure varies and can negatively impact the performance of any dilution system. Extremely low pressure will make the chemical solution too weak, and extremely high pressure can make the chemical solution too strong. Be sure the water pressure available is within the manufacturers recommended pressure range.
- Reliability — Ask the manufacturer for test information about failure rates. Test results should include performance at different psi (water pressure lbs. per sq. in.) rates.
- Ease of installation — How easy is the system to mount? The simpler the better.
- Ease of maintenance — The best systems can be serviced on the wall and have all working components in one molded plastic body.
- Locking systems — It's wise to have a system that locks the product in place. This discourages the use of an unauthorized product being used and limits access to the concentrate.
- Controlled flow rates — Your customer should have the control to fill either small sprayers or larger application devices.
- Hose lengths — A good unit will have different length hoses for filling hand-held applicators or large auto-scubbers.
- Backflow prevention — Does it prevent backflow?
Manual dilution systems
Manual dilution systems provide flexibility and mobility while helping to assure proper dilution ratios. These systems usually include some type of plastic-molded measuring device that attaches in some way to the chemical container. The concentrate is poured or squeezed into the measuring device according to the number of ounces of use dilution desired, then fed into the applicator device.
Some considerations:
- Ease of use — Is the manual device easy to maneuver and use? Some attach to the concentrate's bottle, while others are free-standing.
- Readability — Measurement amounts should be easy to read, such as black lettering against a clear background.
Hand-held automatic systems
Hand-held automatic systems, such as the Spray Buddy™ Personal Dispensing System, provide different dilutions for cleaning "on-the-go." These handy devices can be filled from any water source . . . even drinking fountains. With the twist of a lever, the system automatically switches from a light-duty to a heavy-duty solution.
Some considerations:
- Ease of use — Make sure the reservoirs for chemical and water are easily accessible and the water vessel can be filled from any water source.
- Adjustable spray patterns — For maximum flexibility, the device should have the ability to adjust the spray pattern from a mist to single, pin-point flow.
- Instructions on sprayer — Since the device is portable, instructions should be permanently secured on the bottle.
- Ergonomic design — Constant pumping of a trigger can aggravate some repetitive-motion health issues. Choose a sprayer that provides a safe "pump-up" pressurized system with easy spray activator.
Whether your customer is responsible for large facilities or small, there is a dilution system that will fit the need and enable him to benefit from the many advantages of using a cleaning chemical concentrate.
Taylor Stewart is president of EnvirOx, LLC, Danville, Ill., exclusive manufacturer of hydrogen eproxide-based H2Orange2® Concentrate 117 and other environmentally preferred cleaning products and systems. He can be reached at info@h2orange2.com.
author: BY TAYLOR STEWART, PRESIDENT, ENVIROX, LLC