Ratio's , The 5 gal. bucket mentality

Rance

Active member
When we make up a mixture of water and a chemical and the ratio is a 5 to 1 ratio that means 5 parts water to 1 part chemical. If you're mixing gallons that would be 5 gallons of water to 1 gallon of chemical which equals 6 gallons. Which also means a 5 gallon bucket isn't big enough! A 5 gallon bucket has nothing to do with a 5 to 1 ratio outside of the fact that it's not big enough! The good Lord knows I never was that good with math but if my thinking on this subject is wrong, someone please let me know!
 
I am glad you finally got it.
 
Chris, what do you mean you're glad I finally got it? I always had that part of it. LOL. A lot of guys don't get it and that's why I thought it would be a good topic for the day! When you guys see on a label a 4 to 1 ratio that means you have a 5 gallon mix! Don't be relating a 5 gallon bucket to a 5 to 1 ratio. DROP the 5 GALLON BUCKET MENTALITY!!!
 
People commonly say "1 to 5 ratio" which is wrong. It's correctly stated "1 in 5" or 1 out of 5". Either way the total amount is 5. 1:5 = 20% or 1/5 (.20).

The total parts are 5 but 1 of those parts is something else.
 
By default many use the first smaller number as the chemical, and the larger # as water. (unless 1:1, then everyone wins)

Mixing chems can quickly get more in depth than ratios if you're dealing with liquids to powders, etc.

Educate on up, and be safe everyone!
 
People commonly say "1 to 5 ratio" which is wrong. It's correctly stated "1 in 5" or 1 out of 5". Either way the total amount is 5. 1:5 = 20% or 1/5 (.20).

The total parts are 5 but 1 of those parts is something else.
Sorry Derrel but I respectfully disagree. 5 to 1 is 5 parts of one ingredient to 1 part of another making a total of 6 parts. We all need to be on the same page when it comes to mixing the soaps and chemicals we all use. There needs to be an understanding throughout the industry.
 
Sorry Derrel but I respectfully disagree. 5 to 1 is 5 parts of one ingredient to 1 part of another making a total of 6 parts. We all need to be on the same page when it comes to mixing the soaps and chemicals we all use. There needs to be an understanding throughout the industry.

You're correct Rance... I completely misread your post.
 
5 to 1 is 5 parts of one ingredient to 1 part of another making a total of 6 parts.

This is how I've been doing my mixing. A 1:1 ratio being one part, and one part something else, making two total, etc.

This is a handy chart for just a one gallon (128 fl oz) at a time. For detailing I mix small, many of you will have to just adjust for 5gal,20gal,100gal.
http://www.janitorialstore.com/docs/dilution-chart.pdf
 
Oh how I love the metric system. You guys working with Gallons, pints, quart, Fluid ounces are so in the past. 5 litres of water with 1 litre of detergent is a 5:1 mix or a ratio of 5 of part A to 1 of part B. Or in US Gal 18.92706 litres :3.785412 litres or 5 US Gals :1 US Gal. Which ever way you add it up it's 6.
 
Talking about 5 gallon buckets is probably confusing people so don't do that.

Ratios have been talked about dozens and dozens if not hundreds of times here on PWI throughout the years, just do a search and you will find all kinds of examples.

It does not matter what the ratio is but when you start talking about container sizes to people that are not that familiar with ratios as it is, you might confuse them more, keep it simple and don't talk about 5 gallon buckets or bucket mix or anything else like that, that is not important at all, it just confuses people because you don't know what they are mixing or the quantity, only they will know when they are mixing their chemicals.

Ex. A 5:1 ratio or 1:5 ratio is most of the time meaning that the 1 part is the chemical and the larger number is the water typically, things change but most chemical containers will tell you what they mean on the label, info page, instructions, etc.... so you would have 5 parts of water in the container and add in the 1 part of chemical (like with most chemical mixing, add the chemical to the water, not the other way around, that is why you already have the 5 parts water in the container waiting for the chemical).

Depending on what size amounts you are using, quarts, gallons, buckets, drums, etc....... that will tell you what size container to use for mixing, always have a much larger container than what you need in case you have to stir or mix, none will splash out and make a mess.

Let's keep this simple for those that are learning, confused or have not grasped the concept yet or got it all down yet.

Like always, if you have questions just ask if you cannot find it using the search button.

Hopefully this helps.
 
I have a sheet very similar I was going to upload that we keep in the trucks as well, cant remember where I got it from but it is somewhat identical to the link. Thanks for sharing!
 
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