Pump Sprayer Directions: Mixing, Spraying Distance & Technique
Last reviewed 2026-08-20
The half-gallon pump sprayer is the everyday tool of the ArkGuard system: big enough to do a room of kennels, small enough to carry one-handed, and pressurized so you get steady, even coverage instead of trigger-finger fatigue.
The two mixes that matter
The sprayer holds up to 64 fl oz — exactly half a gallon — which makes the label math clean:
| Job | Concentrate per 64 oz fill | Equal to |
|---|---|---|
| Routine clean + disinfect + deodorize | 1 oz | 2 oz per gallon |
| Heavy-duty cleaning | 2 oz | 4 oz per gallon |
| Canine Parvovirus / Rabies protocol | 4.5 oz | 9 oz per gallon |
Add the concentrate first, then fill with water to the 64 oz line — adding water second mixes the solution as it fills and keeps foam down. Cap, give it a gentle rock, pump, and go.
Technique, straight from the label
- Spray 6–8 inches from the surface. That distance wets thoroughly without bounce-back.
- Do not breathe spray. Angle away from your face; ventilate tight spaces.
- Pre-clean first. Visible soil — food, hair, droppings — must be removed before disinfecting. A disinfectant applied over grime is disarmed before it starts.
- Keep it visibly wet for 10 minutes (3 minutes for sanitizing-level jobs). The adjustable nozzle’s mist setting is good for re-wetting a surface that dries early; the stream setting reaches kennel corners and drain edges.
- Air dry. Rinsing floors isn’t necessary unless they’re to be waxed or polished — but food and water bowls, feeders and waterers always get a potable water rinse before animals use them.
Where the pump sprayer wins
Exam rooms and grooming stations between animals. Runs and crates during turnover. Litter areas. Vehicle interiors after transport. The isolation ward, where you want a dedicated, labeled sprayer that never leaves the room. For big outdoor areas, the hose-end sprayer covers ground faster; for filling trigger bottles, use the transfer funnel.
Care and feeding of the sprayer
Empty it at the end of the day — the label says fresh solution daily, and quat solutions that sit collect soil that eats their strength. Rinse the tank, pump a little clean water through the wand, and store it open. Mark the tank with a paint pen: product, dilution, date. When an inspector or a new hire picks it up, the answer to “what’s in this?” should be written on it.
Frequently asked
How much ArkGuard goes in the half-gallon pump sprayer?
For routine disinfection at 2 oz per gallon, add 1 oz of concentrate and fill to 64 oz with water. For the parvovirus protocol at 9 oz per gallon, add 4.5 oz of concentrate and fill to 64 oz.
How far from the surface should I spray?
The label says 6 to 8 inches. Close enough to wet the surface thoroughly, far enough for even coverage — and never breathe the spray.
How long does mixed solution last in the sprayer?
Prepare a fresh solution daily, or sooner if it becomes visibly dirty. Label the sprayer with the contents and mix date.