For many people life is more the hard way than the easy. Any product or technology that makes life a bit easier is usually more than welcome. A popular response after we have tasted the convenience a mechanical helping hand provides, is the "I can't live without it" feeling, and we then prefer not to digress back to former “caveman” times.

 

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Overview

 

This product - the simplehuman Automatic Liquid Soap/Lotion Dispenser - is elegantly designed and engineered to provide simple, no touch, automatic dispensing of a liquid soap or lotion.

 

Features

• Brushed nickel finish - elegant and modern in appearance;
• Silicone valve - helps prevent drips and clogs;
• High-efficiency pump mechanism - provides quick and precisely measured dispensing of soap;
• Quality Sensor - sensor is very sensitive, so no "waving" hand under sensor or hitting the unit is necessary to get it to work properly;
  
• +/- Buttons - easy-to-use buttons allow user to control how much soap is dispensed; also used for manual dispensing and turning off the unit;
• LED indicator - lights up green when sensor is active; turns red when batteries are low and when turned off;
• Capacity - 13 fluid ounces;
• Clear Soap Chamber - indicates when a refill is needed;
• Wide Fill Top - makes filling and refilling fast, easy, and mess-free.
  

How to Use

 

This product is intended for countertops. It is not recommended by the manufacturer for use in a shower.

1. Initial setup: The first thing to do is insert 4 "AA" batteries.

2. Next, fill the soap chamber with your preferred liquid soap or lotion (see note).

Note: This product is designed for regular liquid soap, NOT soap for foam dispensers. Also, avoid soaps with exfoliants (gritty substances) or beads. The manufacturer does offer several type of soaps including moisturizing liquid soap, fragrance free, antibacterial, or a pack of all three.

3. Place your hand under the sensor, hold down the "+" button until soap comes out. Adjust the amount dispensed by pressing the "+/-" buttons (see tip). After that, it’s all automatic, as in “Place hand underneath - get soap."

Tip: If the soap doesn't flow, lightly flick the valve opening to release any trapped air.

4. Scrub hands together, rinse under water.

5. To clean the unit: Turn off the unit by pressing the "-" button until the LED turns red. Wipe pump with a damp cloth - do not submerge in water.

Who Will Benefit?

• In general, anyone with dirty hands;
• Anyone wanting to have an auto-dispenser for soap and/or lotion;
• Anyone who enjoys automated technology that makes life easier;
• Germ-a-phobes and those not wanting to touch things others have touched;
• Anyone challenged by fragrances and other chemical sensitivities and who want the freedom to choose their own scented, non-scented, or hypoallergenic products;
• Children who have mastered the art of getting dirty and are stubborn and hate washing their hands; because this product may actually make hand washing fun.
• People who have noticed how messy an area is after the hand washing is done; soap and sudsy water on and around the faucet, countertop, even on the floor... Using an automatic dispenser can help keep dirty hands over the sink, minimizing potential messes and making sink and countertop cleanup easier.
  

Ratings

• Design - My first impression is that it's quite pleasing to the eye and would look great in any bathroom or kitchen. The 13 ounce size of the soap reservoir means I'm not constantly refilling every week; I like that!
• Cost - It sells for $45 on Amazon.com and on the simplehuman.com website.
• Value - When asked if they would go back to manual press dispensers or the old-fashioned bar of soap, the test family I spoke to were quite resolute on keeping this product. They said, "the convenience is well worth the expense."
• Durability - The test family would not let me try a drop test. But when holding the product in my hands, it does feel sturdy and well put together. It does not look like a cheaply made product.
  

Overall Thoughts

 

Does just as it was intended to do: automatically dispense soap or lotion with virtually no mess. It is easy to set up, easy to use, and overall a nice, well put together product.

(Note: The views expressed in this blog post are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of The Housekeeping Channel, LLC.)

 

About Robert Shindeldecker

Robert Shindeldecker has been a small-business owner in the janitorial field for 19 years.  He has hands-on experience cleaning windows, carpets, stripping and waxing tile/linoleum floors, and in general building maintenance.   He uses products that are neutral to those with chemical sensitivity, and is experienced in germicidal cleaning at a hospital level.