By now, you’ve probably seen the headlines: We’re having one of the worst cold and flu seasons in recent memory. And I, for one, want no part of it! I had the flu once, nearly 20 years ago, and it totally wiped me out. Most memorable were the backaches and being too tired to watch TV — never again, please. To avoid a repeat performance I got my flu shot months ago, and to ride out the rest of the season I’m relying on this clever home upgrade parked next to my bathroom sink.
Automatic soap dispensers are a hallmark of public bathrooms in part because it’s one fewer surface that’s touched with unwashed hands, and the Simplehuman Liquid Sensor Pump brings that hygienic practicality home. I’ve been using the soap dispenser in my bathroom for a year-and-a-half, and I can’t recommend it enough to anyone who will listen. The touch-free soap dispenser reduces any friction one might have with hand-washing — and in fact, it actually makes me want to wash my hands more.
What Is the Simplehuman Liquid Sensor Pump?
You may have come across Simplehuman before by way of its trash cans, whether that’s the step version our team loves or the sensor can that opens with the wave of your hand. But in my opinion, Simplehuman’s automatic soap dispenser should be getting way more shine. The device dispenses soap as soon as the sensor under the nozzle detects your hand (or any object), and how much it releases depends on where your hand is: a little if it’s close, more if it’s farther away. It also makes this satisfying little mechanical noise as it’s working, which I think adds to its futuristic appeal.
The soap dispenser holds 9 ounces of the liquid soap of your choosing, including alcohol-based hand sanitizer (I prefer to stock up on the brand’s own soap via Amazon). It measures just under 3 inches in diameter, meaning it can fit on even the smallest of bathroom countertops like mine. I love its sleek look. Powered by a lithium ion battery, it can last for up to four months on a full charge. I can’t even guess how many handwashes that powers — a few thousand, or maybe even more?
Why I Love the Simplehuman Liquid Sensor Pump
In all my time with Simplehuman’s sensor pumps, I have yet to find an issue with how they look, feel, or work. That’s “pumps,” plural, because shortly after I received my bathroom soap dispenser (courtesy of the brand to test), I purchased the kitchen-friendly setup with one pump for hand soap, another for dish soap, and a removable sponge caddy — all of which sit on a magnetic base. I’ve also purchased five as Christmas gifts for family members! And although they weren’t the direct recipients, my niece and nephews are the ones most enamored of the device. They actually get excited to wash their hands before dinner, calling its contents “magic soap.”
One downside I thought I’d experience more often is the pump running out of battery — because honestly, I don’t need one more thing to remember to charge! But the battery life really does last for several months, and a little warning light flashes before the pump totally dies. If I plug it in each time I give my bathroom a deep clean, I never have to worry about it running out of power.
In short, Simplehuman’s touch-free soap dispenser turns one of the most mundane activities every single one of us has to do (especially right now) into a luxury. Who knew disease prevention could be this fun? Simplehuman offers quick delivery and free shipping, but you can also find the soap dispenser at Amazon, Crate & Barrel, Sur La Table, and other retailers you already shop at.