I'm a clean, neat and tidy person. I am a bit overly clean when it comes to washing my hands. I like to know my hands are clean, and fresh. I cannot abide sticky or messy hands. Caring for my own needs and my toddlers I have to wash my hands several times throughout the day. I prefer to use liquid soap, as I find it more hygienic and easier to use. I had seen the Dettol No-touch hand soap dispensers when they first came out and thought that they looked a bit cheap with the price being a bit too steep.


I had avoided purchasing one of these units for that very reason. Another factor that put me off was that the refills for the dispenser are ridiculously expensive. This made me believe that you had to buy a new soap container designed for the dispenser each and every time. This made me feel like it would be wasteful, as well as expensive. I like the idea of being able to refill a soap dispenser to save on waste, and cut down on cost. I was unsure whether this would be possible with this product.


>> A bargain buy?

Recently, I had used the Dettol No-touch soap dispenser whilst away from home, and thought it was actually quite good. Seeing as they have been on offer quite a lot recently, I took the plunge and bought one. The automatic soap dispenser I already have in the bathroom cost quite a bit more, but it is ideal for the purpose. I thought the No-touch Dettol soap dispenser would be an okay unit to have, as it was a good price at the time of purchase. The original price of this is around £10, and it comes with a bottle of soap ready for use.


>> Scissors at the ready!

The product comes packaged in that rather awkward plastic that is difficult and frustrating to open even with scissors! A simple box with a hygiene seal would be preferable here. Once removed from the packaging to get started there is a pull tag at the bottom of the dispenser which is to be removed, and an on off switch on the back that is to be turned on. The soap bottle has a sticky label to be removed from the opening and placing back into the dispenser.


>> Not one to be admired

My first impression is that the unit to me is rather cheap and tacky looking. Not something to be proudly displayed in the bathroom. It is constructed from plastic that has a silver Matt finish. The bottle that holds the soap looks like a regular transparent soap pump bottle with a tacky label on it that is still visible once inserted. The bottle sits upside down in the unit, so that the small top is placed inside the unit.


>> Just keep rinsing

A hand is to be placed under the sensor several times to prime it to get started. The soap is then dispensed rapidly onto the hand. Only a small amount is released, which is good to see, as this saves on waste. The liquid soap is thick and creamy, and once water is added it lathers up well. It seems to take a bit more effort to rinse off compared to the hand wash I generally use. The clinical scent seems to remain evident on the hands for some time after, too. I find this a little off putting.


>> More than I asked for

A big downfall to this product is that the soap is incredibly drying to my skin, as well as very irritating. I have found that my skin feels very hydrated, itchy and irritated by the end of the day which feels most uncomfortable. This is rather off putting, and I will not purchase a further bottle of the soap that is specifically designed for this unit. The No-touch operation is handy, as it dispenses the right amount, and is quick and easy to use.


>> Feeling irritated!

My hands have been left in a sorry state by the end of the day, and they feel and look awful. This soap is clearly too harsh for my skin, and much stronger than regular soap. I don't find that it cleans my hands any more than a regular soap. Having antibacterial properties in a hand wash is completely unnecessary. This can only encourage people to believe they need these types of products, when in reality we don't. We have survived without them in the past, and can continue doing so.

As expected the soap bottle which it comes with cannot be refilled, which means a new bottle needs to be purchased every time. The refills are expensive at around £3 a bottle, which is more than a regular liquid soap. This makes it an expensive product, as only the Dettol refills can be used with it. For the low price of the unit it has been okay, as it dispenses the soap as expected, and keeps the dispenser and sink area clean. However, the soap which it uses is far too strong and harsh on skin which is unnecessary. A regular soap cleans my hands just as good, and leaves my hands in good condition, whereas, this soap dries my skin after a few washes leaving it looking and feeling awful.

Personally, I wouldn't buy this product again, as there are other automatic soap dispensers which are far better, and are more economical in terms of use. Whilst this is a cheap alternative, I am not prepared to sacrifice my skin, or waste time trying to continuously refill the small bottle. I think the fact that the soap is antibacterial is not good, as it promotes fear of germs. Regular soap has been effective for years, and there is no need for antibacterial hand wash.


>> Rinse and refill immediately

Good old soap and water leaves hands clean and hygienic. Encouraging the use of antibacterial soaps can have a negative effect, as it can make us vulnerable to germs. A few germs are needed to remain healthy and to keep our immune systems functioning. Besides, everything we touch has a certain amount of germs on it.


>> Back to basics

For me, I fail to see any positives in this product. It looks cheap, the dispenser is small, and the bottle is tacky. The soap that is designed to use with this product does more harm than good. My hands are in terrible condition from using this soap. I will not be purchasing this soap again, as it is far too harsh and drying, plus it costs much more than regular soaps.


The fact that it contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E does nothing for it at all. The antibacterial properties strip the skin, leaving hands looking and feeling sore. Certainly not good for a family soap, which is what it is geared towards.