Hot or Not: simplehuman Sensor Soap Pump

I rubbed a whole chicken with salt yesterday, prepping it for roasting, and as I awkwardly pumped my soap bottle with the back of my hand, trying to keep all that germ-y chicken juice away from my countertops, I remembered this simplehuman soap pump. It always seemed more appropriate to an airport bathroom than a kitchen, but it may also be great for those moments when you're splattered in something particularly messy.

Do you have one of these pumps? Do you think they're overkill, or a good application of technology in the kitchen?

This pump automatically senses your hand and dispenses soap. It extends over the sink and it also has a volume dial to control how much is dispensed at one time. It takes four AA batteries. too.

I'm not a big germ-phobe, but I do wonder if this is a practical tool for some kitchens? What do you think?

• Buy it: simplehuman Sensor Soap Pump, $49.95 at Williams-Sonoma

(Image: Williams-Sonoma)

Comments (7)

you still have the problem of having germy hands when you turn the water on, so unless you also have a sensor for that as well, it's not as useful.

posted by jumpyfroggy on March 5th 2009 at 2:25pm
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maybe this design works better than the one i got at Crate & Barrel, the soap didnt seem to come out (maybe i used thick soap?) - but I tried to change the batteries and it started to leak. :(

-Ruth

posted by cptnruthless on March 5th 2009 at 2:41pm
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Really? Putting a battery power soap dispenser next to a sink you frequently fill with water and wash dishes in?
This goes on my list along with 'electric hand lotion' and 'automatic toilet flushers' as pointless crap that no normal person needs in their home.

posted by Rolen the Great on March 5th 2009 at 3:43pm
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My pump hand dispenser has a larger surface area to press down on. When I have chicken-y hands I use my fore arm to press down on it. I would rather not add another gadget that is battery operated to my household.

posted by SoSue on March 5th 2009 at 4:08pm
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I imagine the sensor working even less well than the one in the bathroom at work. No, thanks.

posted by marisab on March 5th 2009 at 4:11pm
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Sigh, yet another thing that doesn't need to have batteries that will end up in the landfill.
Somehow it doesn't bother me much that my soap dispenser will get germy. I'll wash my hands after each time I touch it anyway, and I don't imagine it's ever much dirtier than my sink, since I wipe it down each time I wipe down my sink.
I get the sales pitch, just not the need.

posted by fib on March 5th 2009 at 4:17pm
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I have a similar dispenser from the same manufacturer, and when it works it's very nice... It dispenses a bit more soap than I would prefer.... It's especially nice when you are hand washing dishes and need more soap on the sponge... The main problem I have is that the batter compartment opens on the bottom, and the battery contacts get wet and rust.

posted by pidgeon92 on March 8th 2009 at 12:55pm
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