Touch Less Soap pumps...do You Own One and Does It Really Work?

I got a battery powered one from Walgreens (priced at around $20) that you can set to light up AND ding when it dispenses a pump of soap! That way, if I hear a second ding, I can remind my son: "that's enough soap."

Recently, I had a flash of brilliance. I was trying to show my son that he doesn't need one whole pump for his little hands because I don't even use a whole pump! Well, since he just wants to do it anyway, I made it too difficult. I wrapped a plain (newspaper) rubberband several times around the pump so it can only be depressed so far. It works like a charm!!

I posted about the germ issue, which isn't what you asked =( Anyway, maybe just fill the pumps a tiny bit while they are learning to only use one pump of soap? I would think they may find the automatic dispense super fun and use even more. I hate the bubble sink! I don't know your kids ages, but if the oldest can fill the soap back up maybe make it their job? Might be incentive to get the smaller ones to quit with the soap-fest?

I think that they would have the same issue... only this would be more fun because it's ELECTRIC!!! lol. (That's supposed to show enthusiasm, not sarcasm...) They will just put their hands under the sensor over and over. You might try using those smaller guest/decorative soaps. I have also seen soap 'petals' that would be the perfect amount for one hand washing.

My mom has one of those, and it does work, it does limit the amount of soap being used, and the novelty of it's automatic nature replaces the novelty of the over-pumping... LOL

My son is 5, and does the same thing. He'll pump 3 or 4 pumps of Bath and Body Works hand soap into his hands to wash. The automatic dispenser gives him one little pump, and he's good!

Don't know what brand my mom's is, or where she got it, but it stands on the counter. And like I said, it does work.

My MIL has one and has for a few months. It works well and puts a fair amount of soup out. I just don't really see the point as far as germs go. If you touch the soap pump with dirty hands, your about to wash them, and the dirt away, so what difference does it make- ya know. But in your case for limiting the amount they pump out- then ya go for it. As long as they don't keep putting their hand under their because its cool that it comes out on its own! lol

It puts out alot of soap and takes alot of water to rinse it off. I had gotten the lysol one kit. HATED it! I buy dial foam soap and the big refills. Less soap is needed and your oldest can be in charge of refilling it. I have a 4 yr and 20mth old girls.

I picked up one of the Lysol pumps when the coupons made them dirt cheap (no pun intended). My kids still used way too much soap (12, 8, 7, and 3yos), but it wasn't nearly as much of a mess as usual!
I had been hoping I could find a way to refill with my own non-anti-bacterial soap (I like clean hands, I hate anti-bacterial cleansers), but the Lysol people made sure that wasn't possible, lol.

I never thought about looking for automatic dispensers elsewhere but, based on our experience with that first one, I think I may take the gamble on those mixed reviews.
I can deal with a bubbly sink. I *can't* deal with slimy pumps and counter tops!!!

I wouldn't waste money on one just because they are wasting soap,teach them till your blue in the face that they only need a small amount even if you have to do it for them several times.I hate bar soaps for the bathrooms.
Having them clean up their own messes instead of you doing it, what are you doing when they over use the soap & wasting it then your cleaning up their messes is their some sort of discipline involved other than hiding the soap??You said so yourself old enough to know better but young enough to think what they are doing is "fun" if that is the case & it continues take money from their piggy banks & have them buy their soap,teaching them the value of money & how it is earned & what it buys.
Just last night after my oldest who is 7 was out of the shower I went in to make sure their was no water on the floor I seen splatters of shampoo all over the walls he just squirted it out I asked him how'd this happen & why he said "because I wanted to" my resposnse to that was this is being wasteful we don't do things like this just because we want to if it happens again you will pay for the next bottle with your money,I then told him he is to eat his dinner,brush his teeth,& there is no TV time afterwards because he choose to do the wrong thing.Kids need to be told what they are doing is wrong what is wasteful even if they are old enough to know better they still need to be reminded.

I had one, but it kept getting clogged up, plus when it did work, the kids loved it so much, they would stick their hands under again and again!

My mom for some odd reason got me one for christmas. . . Probably because I am germ cautions. Not a germaphobe, but I'm highly aware of them.
I have the Soap Magic. It works, lights up when dispensing. It can't handle thicker soaps, like ones with lotion, but that's fine because I prefer method and then put my own lotion on afterward. We have a family friend that has a nice chrome one and it dings when it is done dispensing. I think she got it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.
As for trying to deter your boys from pumping, I don't think it would work. I think they would like to just keep making the soap dispense. It can be fun. Especially for younger kids. I am not looking forward for when my son can use it himself.

I just hide my soap under the sink to keep my 3 year old from doing the same thing, lol. If I bought an electric one, she'd just keep going, and going and going...
Don't waste your money. Never understood the "germ" thing anyway. You wash after you pump right???

We live on a fixed income so wasting money is a no no in my house. Let me ask you this 1 question - Who cleans up the mess? If you are cleaning it up for them, what life lesson are you teaching them? The 11 year old knows better, as you said. But the 8 & 4 year olds are just copying negative behaviors from their leader. Personally I would put a stop to it now. Show them a positive way to have fun that doesn't involve soap and money. I am big on teaching responsibility for your actions to my children. I have 2 girls and 1 boy. My oldest just turned 14 this month, then 12 and my son is 11. I had issues with them wasting/making a mess with toilet paper - I solved that 1 by not giving them a whole roll in their bathroom - they had to get some before they went into the bathroom. Harsh - maybe - bathroom kept cleaner/tidier - You betcha.