Cleaning chemicals: dilution, pH & COSHH

Match the pH to the soiling

Chemistry does the work. Pick the wrong pH and you scrub twice as long or damage the surface.

• Alkaline (pH 8–14): grease, fats, oils and protein — kitchens, floors, degreasers.
• Neutral (pH 6–8): daily surfaces and sealed floors where you want zero residue or damage.
• Acidic (pH 1–6): limescale, rust and washroom mineral build-up — never on stone or terrazzo.

Concentrates beat ready-to-use on cost

Ready-to-use (RTU) bottles are mostly water you're paying to ship. A dosing/dilution system pays for itself fast and removes the guesswork that wastes product and risks under-cleaning.

Get dilution right every time

Over-dosing leaves sticky residue that attracts dirt; under-dosing fails to disinfect. Use a wall-mounted dilution control, colour-coded trigger bottles and clear staff labelling rather than 'a good glug'.

COSHH is a legal duty, not paperwork

Every hazardous product needs a COSHH assessment and an accessible safety data sheet (SDS). Store concentrates securely, never decant without re-labelling, and keep acids and chlorine-based products well apart — mixing them releases toxic gas.