Clorox Bleach Dilution Calculator

Clorox bleach dilution depends on which bottle you have

Bleach amounts depend on strength, and Clorox sells more than one. For general disinfecting, Clorox's own guide lists 1/2 cup of regular-strength Disinfecting Bleach per gallon of water with a 5 minute contact time, and 1/3 cup of concentrated bleach per gallon with 6 minutes. Clorox says to identify which bleach you have by the UPC number on the bottle, and the concentrated versions carry a higher percent of sodium hypochlorite. Pick the row that matches your bottle.

The CDC gives a general household recipe for 5 to 9 percent bleach: 5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) per gallon of room-temperature water, with the surface visibly wet for at least 1 minute, after cleaning visible dirt first. An older EPA-registered Clorox label for 5.25 percent bleach lists 3/4 cup per gallon for disinfecting hard surfaces with 10 minutes of contact, and 1 tablespoon per gallon (about 200 ppm) for sanitizing food-contact surfaces. Current bottles may differ, so use them only if your bottle matches.

Bleach solution loses strength quickly, so mix it fresh each time you clean and do not store it. Use only cold or room-temperature water, since hot water speeds up breakdown and fumes. Ventilate the room, wear gloves, and do not use bleach on wool, silk, leather, marble or other sensitive materials.

Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, acids or any other cleaner. Bleach with ammonia makes chloramine gas and bleach with acids such as vinegar releases chlorine gas, and both can badly harm your lungs. If it already happened, leave the area for fresh air, open windows, and call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US); call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain or collapse.

Formulas and label directions change by product version, so confirm on your bottle before you mix. The label always wins over this page.

One more habit worth building is measuring bleach with a dedicated cup or a labeled measuring spoon that is never used for food. Add the bleach to the water, not the other way around, avoid splashing, and never store leftover diluted bleach in an unlabeled container. Keep the room ventilated during use and for a few minutes afterward.

Where these numbers come from

The formulas and default values in this calculator are based on:

• Clorox 'How to Make a DIY Disinfectant Solution with Bleach' and 'Bleach Dilution Ratio for Disinfecting' pages (clorox.com)
• EPA-registered Clorox Bleach label for 5.25% bleach (Reg. No. 5813-1, 2010 and 2011 versions)
• CDC cleaning and disinfecting with bleach guidance
• America's Poison Centers. Note: current bottle strengths and food-contact amounts were not confirmed, so confirm on your bottle's label

This is general household-cleaning guidance and planning math, not medical or professional advice. Product formulas change, so the label on your bottle always wins: follow its directions and warnings, test a hidden spot first, and never mix cleaning products. For a poisoning emergency call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or 911 if someone has trouble breathing.