No touch liquid soap dispensers....

[Wingedharpy]

any use or a waste of money?

Waste waste waste waste waste waste...

Definitely a waste. I don't know why anyone would want one.

If you have a no touch sink then go for it!

Stupid idea. Why waste money

I almost fell for this... then I thought about it - the only time you really touch your soap dispenser is when you're just about to wash your hands, so surely even if it's dirty, your hands will be clean.

I don't get the concept at all - what do you do after dispensing soap - wash your hands! and there is no need to touch the soap dispenser once your hands are washed.

I work in labs where they have no hands taps - but the soap dispensers are normal

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I thought this was great and bought one, but never bought a refil as every time I got near it it would squirt soap out onto the worktop! Also is slower than pressing a normal one.

Waste of money, playing on our desire for gadgets. As others have said, it doesn't matter if your soap dispenser is not clean - you are just about to wash your hands anyway, so why worry.

What matters far more is technique - making sure that you soap all of your hands properly, including finger tips and between the fingers, and rub it all well before rinsing. It is amazing how many people completely miss parts of their hands when they are washing them.

Thank-you for your thoughts.
The only reason I was considering one was so that I could put it on a small shelf located near my cloakroom sink.
The sink is so tiny that a normal soap dispenser doesn't sit on the side in a stable fashion.
My DH DIY skills aren't great and from past experience anything that he has screwed(!) becomes unstable over time.
I was trying to avoid the shelf from eventually being wobbled off the wall due to the constant pushing down motion needed to get soap from dispenser and onto hands.
jennimoo has confirmed my fears - that it will squirt soap at us whether we want it or not.

Ok well I'm obviously in the minority but I love them!!

A while ago, there were lots of coupons and special offers making them about £2 each so I bought shedloads. Not because I have a phobia of touching a manky soap dispenser but because they were cheap.

Above my kitchen sink, I have one filled with hand wash, one with washing up liquid and one with cheap hand lotion. They're very easy to refill and the batteries last for ages.

I wouldn't be without them as they save me time and irritation having to faff about as it just takes one hand wafted under the spout thingy to dispense. :)

Are they good for toddlers? Mine can wash her hands with water but struggles with our hand dispenser. At £2 I'd give then a shot.

It's not just the pointlessness of them that makes me cross, it's the price and the amount they dish out at a time. I don't know about anyone else, but I really don't need that much to wash properly and DD and DS need even less!

So you end up needing to fill them more often...

I don't want to say this (as I love gadgets and anything to do with cleaning - I know :/) but they're a waste. I bought 2 (kitchen and bathroom) used the bottle that comes included with the machine and NEVER bought a refill.

I just prise the top of the refill off with a blunt knife and pour in new (cheaper) stuff.

I tested them for a mumsnet product test ages ago and found they spewed forth soap when you didn't want it to and there was much too much soap at once.

If you had included what you wrote in your second post, in your first post, you might have got some different replies.

I think the way they were advertised - as an anti-germ thing, is pointless - you are about to wash your hands, what different does it make if you touch the soap dispenser?? Weird concept.

However - they are handy in other ways and I'd say for what you need, it would be well worth giving it a go. I like them if I have been gardening or baking or painting - it just saves all the faff of having to wash & dry the soap dispenser afterwards.

Unless you've got an automatic tap then I really don't see the point
Anyway, I bought some handwash from savers the other day, carex strawberry laces and chocolate orange for a quid each, you'd be missing out! I want to eat my hands after I've washed with those. And it encourages ds to wash more frequently too.

For the purpose you need it for then I'd try it, for less germs/Mess then not

ChippingInHopHopHop - I did start to explain in my OP but felt I was getting too waffly and the good folk of MN wouldn't want to know about my domestic problems - such as they are - so editted it.
Having seen one of these dispensers in the flesh now, they are far too big and cumbersome for my new shelf.
I'll just have to hope DH's screwing skills are improving with age/practice.

yeah, just get a normal wall=mounted one and you do the screwing in! then it'll be your fault if it comes loose.

I like mine. Actively buy the refills (when they are on offer!)

I'll just have to hope DH's screwing skills are improving with age/practice

Most men improve with age