Automatic Soap Dispensers

Automatic soap dispensers for UK washrooms

Automatic soap dispensers increase the opulence of any washroom. They are the dispenser of choice for facility managers looking to increase hygiene because of their no- touch operation.

They are operated when a user moves their hands across the path of the sensor which detects the movement and delivers a shot of soap onto the user’s hands. Many of these dispensers have an anti-drip mechanism that helps to keep vanity tops and sink surfaces clean and free from excess soap.

Commercial washrooms stock a variety of automatic soap dispensers which are sensor operated from leading manufacturers, including Franke, Bristan, Dolphin Dispensers and Bobrick. Available in stainless steel, white plastic and chrome finishes and various colours, including white and black.

Our selection of automatic dispensers can be wall mounted or deck mounted and are suitable for use with liquid soap, foam soap and liquid hand sanitisers.

Many common questions and general advice on commercial soap dispensers can be found by reading our blog. Of particular relevance is the Washroom Dispensers questions and information areas. 

The Commercial Washrooms sales team boast significant experience in the specification of automatic soap dispensers. Please get in touch with any questions about our products.

Automatic soap dispensers FAQs

How does an automatic soap dispenser work?

Automatic soap dispensers (also known as sensor or touch-free soap dispensers) are very simple to operate. When the dispenser detects a person’s hands, soap will be released - there is no need to press a button to activate it (which is the case for manual soap dispensers). 

We also sell automatic hand dryers and sensor taps which work in a similar fashion. 

What are the benefits of automatic soap dispensers?

Having automatic soap dispensers in your washroom can have many benefits, including:

• You can improve hygiene as there is less chance of spreading germs by coming into contact with the dispenser. 

• They can be more cost-effective - as automatic soap dispensers release the same amount of soap each time, users are less likely to dispense more soap than is necessary.

• Their touch-free operation makes them easy to use.

• They’re more modern, making them ideal for contemporary washrooms. 

How to open up a soap dispenser

Many soap dispensers open up the same way. All you need to do is find the ‘press release’ button underneath the dispenser which will pop the cover open, letting you replace the soap bag inside. 

Where to place soap dispenser on sink

It’s important to place your soap dispenser in a convenient location so that they’re accessible and people can maintain good hygiene. A common place to mount an automatic soap dispenser is above or beside wash hand basins so that users can apply soap and rinse it off their hands in one place. 

Can you put hand sanitiser in a soap dispenser?

Yes, in theory you could put hand sanitiser in a soap dispenser, but you’ll have to check your dispenser first as it may not be suitable for all models. Check for:

• A refill tank which has a lid or is air tight - this will prevent alcohol evaporation (alcohol is found in hand sanitiser and helps to effectively clean hands). 

• A changeable tank as you may require an alcohol resistant one.

• Alcohol-resistant valves and inner tanks that will not corrode over time. 

Many of our soap dispenser products are also designed for dispensing hand sanitiser so you can always find a suitable option. 

What is the best hands-free soap dispenser?

The best hands-free soap dispenser for you will be different for all business and depends on a number of factors, including:

• What your budget is - your budget is likely to impact the soap dispensers you can afford. 

• The style of your washroom - you may wish to find a soap dispenser that suits the current theme and style of your washroom. 

• Who the soap dispenser is for - for example, if you’re looking for automatic soap dispensers to be used in schools, you might consider a ‘fun’ soap dispenser. 

• Whether your facilities are prone to abuse - some washroom environments, such as prisons or public bathrooms are more likely to be vandalised so you could consider robust, anti-vandal soap dispensers.

• How much available space you have on your vanity unit - if there isn’t much space beside your hand wash basins, wall-mounted automatic soap dispensers may be the best option for you.