🧴 Record Cleaning Solution Ratio Calculator
Enter your desired total cleaning solution amount and the concentrate-to-water ratio (check your cleaner's label) to see exact amounts of each.
How the split is worked out
The ratio box takes two numbers separated by a comma - concentrate first, water second. The calculator adds them to get the number of parts, divides your total by that, then scales each side:
total parts = concentrate parts + water parts
per part = desired total / total parts
concentrate = concentrate parts × per part
water = water parts × per partAt 500 ml with a ratio of 1,4 that is 5 parts, so each part is 100 ml: 100 ml of concentrate and 400 ml of water. The ratio is stated against the water, not against the finished bottle, so 1:4 is one fifth concentrate - 20 percent, not 25 percent.
Mixing a 500 ml bottle
Concentrates sold for record cleaning usually sit between 1:3 and 1:20. These are the figures the tool returns for a 500 ml batch:
| Ratio | Concentrate | Water |
|---|---|---|
| 1:3 | 125 ml | 375 ml |
| 1:4 | 100 ml | 400 ml |
| 1:6 | 71 ml | 429 ml |
| 1:10 | 45 ml | 455 ml |
| 1:20 | 24 ml | 476 ml |
Use distilled or deionised water for the water half. Tap water carries dissolved calcium and magnesium that dry into the groove as a fine residue, which is the surface noise you were cleaning the record to remove.
Frequently asked questions
How much concentrate do I need for 500 ml at 1:4?
100 ml of concentrate and 400 ml of water. One plus four is five parts, and 500 divided by 5 is 100 ml per part.
Can I use tap water to dilute record cleaning fluid?
No. Tap water leaves dissolved minerals behind in the groove as it dries, which adds surface noise. Distilled or deionised water evaporates clean.
Does a 1:4 ratio mean 25 percent concentrate?
No, it means 20 percent. The ratio compares concentrate to water, so one part of concentrate ends up in five parts of finished solution.