How To Choose A Hand Sanitiser Dispenser For Your Business

Hand dispensers are triggered or manipulated by hand in order to dispense soap in a liquid, powder or foam form. Some are automatic, which means they are 'hands-free' and use a sensor that detects movement and dispenses the right amount of liquid or foam soap.

Choosing the right type of dispenser for your business will depend on the volume of traffic, mounting preferences and hygiene standards you require.

Whether you prefer manual and automatic dispensers, if you need them wall-mounted to save space, or free-standing, will all depend on the type of business you are running and the amount of space you have available.

Automatic Vs Manual Dispensers: Key Differences

The choice between automatic and manual dispensers often comes down to upfront costs and hygiene requirements.

Hands-free (or automatic dispensers) provide maximum hygiene as there is no chance of cross-contamination, so they are more suited for healthcare facilities, corporate offices and high-traffic retail areas.

They are easy for customers to use and deliver a fixed amount of soap, which minimises waste. However, they are more expensive to buy and install, and they will require some maintenance; sensors can malfunction if they get dirty or blocked.

Manual dispensers are cheaper to buy and don't have ongoing costs like battery replacements, making them ideal for budget-conscious small offices or back-of-house. They are highly reliable as the mechanics are simple and there is minimal risk of them breaking, and they can be mounted anywhere, regardless of any power or light.

However, they will suffer physical wear and tear over time and can break after heavy use, and with multiple people using the same button or lever, the risk of cross-contamination is high. These dispensers also require filling more often and create more waste as users can take more soap than they need.

Wall-Mounted Vs Free-Standing: Which Suits Your Space?

Often, a combination of wall-mounted and free-standing dispensers is ideal throughout a business, as they are both suited to different areas. Wall-mounted dispensers are perfect for corridors, rest-rooms and back-of-house staff areas as they are space-efficient, durable and being permanently fixed, they can help build good hygiene habits for regular staff.

Free-standing dispensers work best in main entrances, lobbies and temporary event spaces. No installation is required, so these dispensers can be placed directly in the path of foot traffic and moved as necessary. Being free-standing, they can be a trip hazard or be prone to being knocked over, and take up valuable floor space in smaller offices or clinics.

Refill Formats: Cartridge, Bag-In-Box, Or Bulk Fill

Cartridges or bag-in-box refills are both closed systems, meaning the sanitiser is never exposed to air until it reaches your hand. Cartridges are usually hard plastic bottles that fit into a specific dispenser, whereas bag-in-boxes are soft, flexible plastic bags that collapse completely as the liquid is used, avoiding any waste.

Bulk fill is an open reservoir that is refilled from 5L or 20L drums, which significantly reduces the cost per litre, and means you are not locked into one supplier or a specific brand. This method generally creates far less plastic waste, but can be messy and there is a possibility of introducing dust or bacteria when opening the lid to refill.

Where To Position Dispensers For Maximum Use

People will rarely go out of their way to find a hand sanitiser, so they must be placed at natural transition points that are easy to see. Free-standing units in entrances can be placed in the middle of the flow of traffic, and counter-top units are ideal on reception desks where visitors sign in.

Wall-mounted dispensers can be placed next to doors or shared equipment like coffee machines or printers, encouraging people to use them after touching door handles or communal apparatus.

Never hide your dispensers or tuck them into corners, they will not get used! They need to be in the direct line of sight, and the correct height (usually between 900mm and 1100mm) or they will be too high or too awkward to use.

Keeping Your Dispensers Clean And Well-Stocked

Proactive maintenance, like daily wipe downs, nozzle cleaning, and regular deep cleaning, ensures your dispensers remain hygienic and reliable for everyone to use.

At Big Clean, we offer a comprehensive range of hand sanitiser dispensers and refills to help you maintain the highest hygiene standards in your workplace.