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See why.The Best Automatic Hand Soap Dispensers
Whether you’ve been handling raw chicken or buttery dough, there’s an easy way to lather up without dirtying your soap dispenser.
Recently, our top two automatic hand soap dispensers, both by Simplehuman, were discontinued. We tested the latest model from Simplehuman, which is rechargeable, and a new battery-powered dispenser from Secura. We like and recommend both models but prefer the Secura 17oz / 500ml Premium Touchless Battery Operated Electric Automatic Soap Dispenser, which is our new favorite automatic hand soap dispenser.
Top Picks
What You Need To Know
Handwashing is imperative during cooking—and sometimes problematic. If our hands are coated in grease or if we’ve been handling raw meat or poultry, we need soap. But we don’t want to contaminate our soap dispenser. It’s a culinary catch-22: Our dirty hands are the reason we need soap and an obstacle to getting it.
Automatic soap dispensers are designed to help. These hands-free, battery-operated dispensers help you lather up without pressing a pump. Instead, they have sensors that, when activated, prompt the dispensers to squirt soap. We hadn’t previously tested automated dispensers, so we were curious to find out if they made cleanup easier.
We selected four motion-activated hand soap dispensers, ranging in capacity from 6 to 17 ounces. After filling each model with the nationally best-selling hand soap, we conducted two separate tests, repeatedly handling raw chicken and coating our hands in olive oil, using soap from every dispenser to wash our hands after each handling of chicken and application of oil. We also assessed the stability, sensor activation range, and durability of each model.
When we finished our testing, we had clean hands and a clear winner. Here’s what we discovered: First, some dispensers were harder to fill than others. Some of the dispensers had too-small openings, and one was especially difficult to fill because the sides of its soap chamber were opaque; we couldn’t see how much soap it held, and the soap overflowed while we were filling it. Our favorite was especially easy to fill, owing to its completely transparent chamber that allowed us to monitor the soap level as we poured.
We also looked at the amounts of soap the dispensers released by activating each model 15 times and calculating the average amount of soap per squirt. One dispenser averaged 1 gram of soap per use, which was sufficient, and another gave us a more generous 1.5 grams. Our favorite allowed us to choose the soap amount—from 1 gram up to 6 grams, and to set that amount with a volume dial. Another model we liked let us choose amounts from 1 gram to 3 grams by placing our hands nearer or farther from the spout according to a simple graphic on the front of the device.
Next, we looked at how well each dispenser, well, dispensed, based on two rating criteria: speed and soap release. Our top performers emitted soap in less than 1 second. The slowest models took about 4 seconds, meaning that we had to stand and wait before we could wash our hands. Two dispensers neatly released soap, and two gave us soap that left a trail of messy, wispy threads. Both of the poorly performing models had open, circular nozzles. The two models with ...
Everything We Tested
Highly Recommended
- Speed: 3 stars out of 3.
- Filling: 3 stars out of 3.
- Soap release: 3 stars out of 3.
Very easy to set up and fill, with a large transparent body that lets you see how much soap it contains at a glance, this model was reliable and dispensed soap quickly. A volume dial lets you adjust the amount of soap it dispenses, which can range from a tiny dot of less than 1 gram of soap to a heaping 6 grams. It uses four AA batteries, which are not included. We liked that the battery chamber is in the column behind the dispenser rather than underneath, so it won’t get wet (which causes batteries to corrode and leak). We also liked that the device’s grippy silicone base sat securely and didn’t threaten to topple or slide, even on a wet countertop near the sink. Random motions near and beneath the spout do not easily trigger spurts of soap; you have to deliberately hold your hand underneath, and then it dispenses soap in less than 1 second. It performed consistently throughout testing, and its generous 17-ounce soap chamber needed no refilling after nearly two months of frequent daily use.
Recommended
- Speed: 3 stars out of 3.
- Filling: 3 stars out of 3.
- Soap release: 1.5 stars out of 3.
This sleek, compact device lets you customize the amount of soap dispensed according to how closely you place your hand to the spout, a feature we especially appreciated when cooking with messy foods. It’s powered by a lithium battery (included), which recharges via a proprietary cable, offering a good alternative to buying and replacing regular batteries. The cable detaches between uses, so you do need to keep track of it. (After its initial charge, it didn’t need recharging during nearly two months of testing.) The dispenser is relatively easy to fill since the top pops off, but its soap chamber’s funnel-shaped opening narrows to just ½ by ¾ inch, and thicker soap can drip in a bit slowly. The device is steel, so it can also be difficult to judge how full it is at a glance. It works best with a viscous but not overly thick soap, such as liquid Softsoap. At about $70, it’s a bit pricey, but it’s a solid performer.
Not Recommended
- Speed: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Filling: 3 stars out of 3.
- Soap release: 1.5 stars out of 3.
This dispenser was easy to fill, thanks to its wide chamber opening, but it was much slower than our top performers. After activating the sensor, it took about 4 seconds until the soap detached. And while the soap usually released well, it sometimes clung to the nozzle, which gave us stringy soap strands that took longer to release.
- Speed: 1.5 stars out of 3.
- Filling: 1 stars out of 3.
- Soap release: 1 stars out of 3.
We didn’t like much about this dispenser. First, its narrow opening made it hard to fill. There was a small window on the opaque soap chamber, but it was positioned so low that it was practically useless for observing soap level—so the soap snuck up on us, overflowing. This model also had terrible soap release—it took about 4 seconds and didn’t release neatly. Instead, we got wispy threads of soap stretching from our fingers to the nozzle, and those spider web–like threads of soap often blew back onto the dispenser. Finally, this dispenser sometimes went rogue, squirting soap when we weren’t anywhere near the sensor.
DISCONTINUED
- Speed: 3 stars out of 3.
- Filling: 3 stars out of 3.
- Soap release: 3 stars out of 3.
This model was literally the clear winner—its transparent plastic soap chamber with a wide opening made it easy to fill. It was fast, and it neatly released soap with no wisps trailing behind. Finally, we liked that this dispenser was the shortest in our lineup, making it less obtrusive. One complaint: It had “plus” and “minus” buttons that allowed us to adjust the soap amount, but the settings weren’t marked, so we didn’t know which one was selected.
- Speed: 3 stars out of 3.
- Filling: 2.5 stars out of 3.
- Soap release: 3 stars out of 3.
This dispenser, made by the same company as our winner, performed just as well—it gave us soap in less than 1 second, with excellent release from the nozzle. But this model was harder to fill because of its narrower opening and hinged lid that blocked part of the opening. As with our winner, we could adjust how much soap this model dispensed—and again, there were only “plus” and “minus” buttons, so we didn’t know which setting we were on. This product also had a rechargeable lithium battery that came with a small USB cord, which meant we’d need to buy fewer batteries—as long as we didn’t lose the cord.
Reviews you can trust
Reviews you can trust
The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them.
Lisa McManus
Lisa is an executive editor for ATK Reviews, cohost of Gear Heads on YouTube, and gadget expert on TV's America's Test Kitchen.