Spotlight On: Washroom Dispensers

Dispensers are one of those organisational God sends. They keep your washroom free from clutter and maintain the smooth sharp lines of modern design. In many cases, they can also improve hygiene and make cleaning and maintenance of the room much easier. In this feature, we take a look at some of the styles and options that are currently available.

Soap, toilet paper and hand towel dispensers often fall pretty far down the priority list when planning a new washroom refurbishment. However, it’s the attention to detail that often leaves the most lasting impression on guests and visitors to your business; be it a hotel, office, or leisure environment. 

Paper towel dispensers
Paper hand towels have long been essential in commercial washrooms and having them in an easy to use dispenser is an absolute must. Without the aid of a dispenser, paper towels can not only become damp and unusable, but quickly find their way across the vanity units and onto the floor. No one likes a cluttered, messy washroom.

Today, there are various options available. The classic wall-mounted paper towel dispenser is still a popular choice and comes in a variety of finishes enabling you to match it into your washroom design. Sensor activated options significantly increase hygiene and usability and also make for easy cleaning. You’ll also find sprung loaded, counter mounted paper towel dispensers, where towels are taken from the top of the pile. These prove very discreet and are excellent at maintaining a minimalist feel to your wash space.

For the height of sophistication and enabling the slickest of finishes, there are paper towel dispensers that fit behind the mirrors above the washbasins. These dispensers are a great way to make the best use of space and functionality.

Loo roll & tissue paper dispensers
You can’t have a washroom of any kind without a toilet roll or tissue paper dispenser. Most often, the common loo roll holder is sufficient, but for busy washrooms, conventional toilet paper rolls can need replacing frequently. In this case, large commercial loo rolls are a great choice. More than twice the size of normal loo rolls, they’ll need replacing much less often. The Brushed Jumbo Toilet Roll Holder is a fine choice for these large rolls and with it’s fixed back plate offers high durability. Alternatively, you can go for a toilet roll dispenser that holds two or even three rolls. As one roll comes to an end, the next simply drops down to replace it. 

Soap dispensers
Liquid or foam soap dispensers come in a wide variety of styles. This means you have a lot of options available to you and limits the risk of having a dispenser that stands out too much and contrasts against your chosen style of washroom.

Panel mounted soap dispensers are very discreet and the only part that is seen by the user is a spout that protrudes from the wall behind washbasins. Usually, push activated, these dispensers pull soap from a reservoir that can be accessed beneath the vanity unit, or behind the wall panel. A similar option that also offers a slimline finish is a recessed wall mounted soap dispenser. These usually flip down to reveal a soap reservoir and in some cases have a lock to prevent tampering and to increase durability.

Deck mounted soap dispensers vary in style, but most are filled from an under-counter reservoir and all need to be incorporated with a vanity unit, as opposed to wall-hung washbasins. Most often, these are also push activated, but sensor options are available which can vastly improve hygiene in your washroom as they never need to be touched.

Combination dispensers
Some are averse to the thought of having several dispensers mounted throughout the washroom and would like to have as few fixtures and fittings in the room as possible. In this scenario, combination dispensers can be a great idea. They most often combine paper towel and soap dispensary but in some cases also include waste bin and even a hand dryer.

Soap and paper towel combo’s work perfectly when sited directly above washbasins and recessed options are widely available. This type of dual-purpose dispenser is also a great option for those working with limited space.

Bag dispensers
Hygienic bag dispensers are a great addition to washrooms that offer baby changing facilities. These bags not only improve hygiene but reduce smells from dirty nappies that accumulate in the waste bin. Wall mounted, bags from this dispenser can be taken easily one handed and should be mounted in a convenient location close to the changing unit or surface.

Choosing your dispenser
Finally, when selecting the dispensers for your washroom, there are a few key factors to bear in mind.

Volume & footfall – If you are in a high traffic environment, then bear in mind how much soap, loo roll and paper towels you are likely to get through. Perhaps it would be worth investing in large volume dispensers such as twin loo roll holders and high capacity soap dispensers.

Durability – Most dispensers are available in either stainless steel or plastic. However, in public washrooms and areas where the risk of vandalism is increased, steel options are advantageous and models that include locks are available. Recessed options also improve durability as do soap dispensers where the soap reservoirs are hidden.

Finish – Particularly when incorporated into a washroom refurbishment project, it’s worth taking the time to select dispensers that are in keeping with your design. Dispensers are often overlooked in the planning stages and the foresight of how you want the end result to look prevents the overall appearance being compromised.

As always, our team are at the end of the telephone for all your queries and questions and have a wealth of knowledge they’re happy to share with you. So if you need some guidance, or would like to talk over your options, you can give them a call on 01202 650900.