Chemical Handling & Dilution Control: the full procedure

Receive, store, label, and dispense wash chemicals consistently so the right product is used at the right strength — with all safety governed by the SDS.

• Applies to: All attendants, shift leads, owner
• Frequency: Daily handling; weekly stock check
• Scope: Covers the business process for keeping chemicals labeled, stored, and dispensed consistently. ALL handling, dilution, mixing, PPE, spill response, and hazard rulings DEFER to the product label and Safety Data Sheet (SDS), OSHA Hazard Communication, and the business safety plan. This SOP does not substitute for the SDS.

What you need

• Posted SDS binder/station
• Dilution chart
• Labeled containers and color-coded bottles
• Required PPE per SDS
• Spill kit
• Secondary containment trays

The procedure, step by step

1. Read the SDS before using any product — Confirm the SDS is on file and reviewed before a chemical is used; the SDS, not memory, governs handling, PPE, and first aid.
2. Keep every container labeled — Never use or fill an unlabeled bottle; label all secondary containers with the product name per OSHA Hazard Communication.
3. Wear the PPE the SDS specifies — Put on the gloves, eye, and any respiratory protection listed on the SDS before handling concentrates.
4. Dilute only per the posted chart and label — Match dilution exactly to the chart and label; never mix two products together — combining chemicals can be dangerous and is governed by the SDS.
5. Store by compatibility and out of weather — Store acids, alkalis, and other classes separately as the SDS directs, on containment trays, away from heat and out of public reach.
6. Respond to spills per the SDS and safety plan — For any spill, follow the SDS spill section and the business safety plan; contain and report — do not improvise or hose chemical to a drain.
7. Log low stock and damaged containers — Note near-empty or leaking containers on the inventory log so reordering and disposal follow the owner’s process.

Quality check before you finish

• SDS on file and accessible for every product in use
• No unlabeled containers anywhere on site
• PPE matching the SDS worn for all concentrate handling
• Dilution matches the posted chart and label exactly
• No two products ever mixed together
• Incompatible classes stored separately with containment
• Spills handled per SDS/safety plan, never hosed to a drain

This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Car Wash business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.

Sources

• OSHA Hazard Communication / SDS (https://www.osha.gov/hazcom)
• Chemical manufacturer label & Safety Data Sheet (https://www.osha.gov/chemical-hazards)
• International Carwash Association (https://www.carwash.org)