Automatic Soap Dispenser | Reviews and Information

Automatic Soap Dispenser – simplehuman Sensor Pump Review

The Simplehuman Sensor Pump describes itself by being an easy-to-use and simple to setup automatic soap dispenser. This pump has a nice minimalistic, modern feel and is a consistent above average performer in the touchless soap dispenser category.

In addition to being an overall attractive accent to virtually any countertop, it comes equipped with a clear reservoir that makes it a breeze to plan for a refill that is generous in regards to the volume of soap it can hold. Just keep an eye on it and watch for when the reservoir empties, and refill with your desired liquid soap or sanitizer as needed.

There are four convenient modes available on this hands free pump. You can toggle between the four modes via a rotary switch that is attached to the base. The four modes are available to control how much soap is dispensed when the touchless sensor is activated. The first and second positions will distribute less soap, where as position three and four will dispense a larger volume. It’s important to consider the consistency of the soap you are using when applying this setting. It is recommended to use the first two settings for thinner liquid soaps or sanitizers and leave the third and fourth setting for thicker soap.

This automatic soap dispenser unit has a nice LED indicator that is well placed on the dispenser that activates when your hand enters the sensor field and activates the pump for soap dispensing. This LED serves a triple purpose however. Not only does this LED act as a low battery indicator, but there is an option to utilize the light as a timer. When enabled, the LED will begin to blink for a period of twenty seconds after soap is dispensed to let you know when you should stop washing your hands. Twenty seconds is supposedly a best practice for hand washing – luckily they leave it up to the owner to enable or disable this feature.

While not a major deciding factor, this dispenser loses points for having a poorly designed battery compartment. Not only does it require a Phillips screwdriver to open, but the battery compartment cover on this hands free dispenser has the positive and negative labels on it and is confusingly labeled with the word “Up” on it. It isn’t clear if this means Up pointing on the unit itself or Up” when you are holding it. Even more surprising is the fact the batteries will just fall out by gravity once the cover is removed, as they rely on the cover to keep them in place. Regardless, it’s a relatively minor flaw in an otherwise solid automatic soap dispenser solution. For clarity, you should add the batteries to the compartment facing toward yourself and the cover. You can expect to replace the batteries about once every ninety days with regular use for a family of four.

Here is a word of warning about this dispenser. It is not entirely clear in the directions or documentation that air bubbles can become trapped in the pump during shipping, and that this can frequently cause problems when the pump is initially being primed. Somewhere deep on the Simplehuman support site the manufacturer suggests locating the notch on the dispenser nozzle and turning it with a screwdriver or fingernail and priming again, or to tap the automatic soap dispenser on the counter surface to allow the air bubbles to escape.

It’s worth mentioning the notch they describe is actually a very small slit in the very center of the nozzle, and that the soap nozzle doesn’t actually move itself but the notch sits on a sort of rubber disc that can be manipulated to turn left and right. Try using your screwdriver to first spin the disc or secondly pull it out slightly but be careful not to force it out too much, the notch can stick out a few millimeters. It’s quite difficult to get a grip onto, so luckily if your device isn’t priming or dispensing enough soap this adjustment should only have to be made once.

You may also want to take note this problem can appear after it seems like your unit has been working great for a few days. This can definitely be frustrating as it takes away from the hassle-free “works-right-out-of-the-box” experience, but like most things in the home that are mechanical, may require some simple maintenance.

Some owners have also reported a popping sound when activating the soap dispenser and getting no soap on the attempt in which the noise was made. After frequent tries, significant enough soap for a single wash may be dispensed. This can happen if a strong vacuum develops while the reservoir cap is on. This can be mended by loosening the cap and tightening it back up or making a tiny hole in the cover to prevent the creation of a vacuum. You may want to contact customer service if this happens for suggestions regarding a permanent solution.

If you buy the unit and have any problems with it, you can contact Simplehuman customer service at 888-988-8880. (Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm PST)

If it wasn’t for these commonly reported flaws in the product, I could have possibly given it 5 stars in the automatic soap dispenser category. It’s difficult to tell what sort of problems you may have when your unit is shipped, and luckily the product support is pretty decent. Typically if your pump doesn’t work as intended out of the box, a simple adjustment can be made to permanently remedy whatever the problem might be.

Our Rating: 4/5

Automatic Soap Dispenser

Everyone should consider owning an automatic soap dispenser for their home or business.

Not only is an automatic soap dispenser a classy accent to any bathroom or kitchen area, but it is also a very hygienic hands-free option to hand washing. Think about this: Everytime someone pushes down a hand-pump for soap after they’ve soiled their hands, they are spreading harmful germs all over the surface and area where you would normally wash your hands.

Not a pretty thought.

The more people in a household or bathroom the more important it becomes to go hands free on the soap to ensure a safe and hygienic environment for your family or for any guests who may be entering and leaving your bathroom, kitchen, or washroom.

More and more, automatic soap dispensers are become a vital accessory to every sink and counter. Everyone understands the importance of washing their hands and keeping their hands clean. Every day we encounter millions of sickness causing germs, and it’s been proven time and time again that the number one way to reduce the spread of infection and bacteria is to wash your hands. Whether you’ve just finished up in the bathroom or handled raw meat, the inclusion of a touchless system is a great way to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria and disease.

When should you wash your hands with hands free soap?

Directly before and after preparing any kind of food
Always before a meal or snack
When finished with a toilet or urinal
When changing a soiled diaper or cleaning a child or infant
When helping and assisting someone who is sick
After you blow your nose
After you cough or sneeze into your hands
When touching another person or animal
Any time after handling garbage
After handling anything dirty or possibly germ infested
Especially when handling raw meat like poultry
When treating any kind of sore, cut, or wound

If you have to manually touch your bar soap or soap dispenser every time you do one of these tasks, does it really make sense to be touching the bar or pump in germs if you could be automating the task with an automatic soap dispenser?

Of course not. Hands free hand washing should be considered an essential addition to every area where hand washing takes place, not as a luxury item, but as an important means to preventing illness and promoting a clean environment for everyone.

So what exactly does an automatic soap dispenser do?

Most likely if you haven’t seen one of these cool devices in action at someone’s home, you’ve most likely seen one in use at a business or restaurant.

The concept is simple. A stand-alone device is filled with a liquid or foam soap specific made for an automatic soap dispenser releases a pre-measured amount of soap or foam in a quick squirt when a user places his or her hands underneath the motion sensing part of the device. This results in an entirely convenient and hands free operation and distribution of hand soap for your use.

How does it work?

These types of touchless soap dispensers work by the use of infrared wavelength sensors and usually run on batteries or can be wired into your home or facilities electricity. When the infrared wavelength is interrupted and movement is detected, it triggers a mechanical reaction within the dispenser to release the exact amount of soap the unit is configured to release. The process happens in real-time meaning very little time elapses from the time you disrupt the infrared wavelength to the time that soap is actually released onto your hands. This promotes a cost effective, convenient, and hygienic way of promoting hand washing safety at both home, the office, or any commercial environment.

These convenient devices are also very easy to refill. While the refill method varies model to model, typically you can expect a cap or bag that is attached to a reservoir that is easily replaced or refilled with a larger container of ready-to-use soap liquid, powdered soap, or premixed ready-to-use foam.

OK. I get it! But what different kinds can I choose from?

There are a wide variety of automatic soap dispenser units in production. They can be found in simple and small plastic or stainless steel counter-top models, built-in counter-top models, wall mounted models, there is literally an offering for any type of automatic soap dispenser deployment. Commercial automatic soap dispensers usually offer a bulk tank reservoir so that they will need to be refilled less often or a cartridge style chamber that can replace the entire unit for a simple and quick refill.

More often than not, most of these soap dispensing units can actually be used for more than just soap. Many models also support distribution of hand sanitizer or lotion depending on your needs. Refer to the documentation that comes with your chosen device for details regarding alternative uses.

More now than ever, adapting an automatic soap dispenser for your washroom, home, or business is an easy and affordable choice. Why not look into one today?

Watch this resourceful video on How-To Use an Automatic Soap Dispenser