Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Five Reasons To Go "Touchless" In Your Restroom

  • By Neal Duffy
  • 07/01/14

If there were a magic bathroom experience utopia, users wouldn’t need to touch a single surface — which isn’t as unattainable as it seems.

The concept of touchless has been around for more than 10 years. Touchless not only limits users from coming in direct contact with germs, but reduces time spent on refills and maintenance — all while saving money. Here’s a breakdown of some of the benefits:

Prevent the spread of bacteria
Viruses and bacteria such as staphylococcus, E. coli, hepatitis A, the flu and the common cold lurk on bathroom surfaces like doorknobs, countertops, soap pumps and toilet seats. Offering touch-free alternatives helps keep users healthy.

Waste reduction
Touchless controls the amount of product used, which reduces waste. An automated towel dispenser, for example, delivers a specific amount of paper, reducing waste and time on refilling.

Efficiency
People don’t want to spend more time in a public bathroom than they have to. Touchless systems create a smooth-running bathroom by delivering the right amount of product without direct contact.

Cost reduction
Touchless helps save money. By limiting the amount of product used, you spend less time on refilling and less money ordering new product. Facility managers can manage spend, and maintenance staff will spend less time cleaning and refilling, saving money.

Convenience drives compliance
When people encounter soiled, bulk-fill soap dispensers or non-automated fixtures, they may not wash their hands. Providing a sealed, sanitary and touchless solution encourages them to do so. This better accomplishes your goals and will reduce absenteeism.

Automated towel, soap, sanitizer dispensers, as well as touch-free fixtures such as automatic flushers and sinks can help. These will reduce touch points in the most germ-filled parts of a restroom. For facilities that have not gone touchless yet or are only partway there, consider why the upgrade warrants the investment.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Neal Duffy, senior manager, Facility Solutions, Staples Advantage (www.staplesadvantage.com), is a 30-year veteran of the janitorial and sanitary maintenance industry with manufacturing and distribution experience.

Featured

  • Houston-Area High School Receives Best Project Award from ENR

    Tomball West High School near Houston, Texas, recently received a K–12 Education Best Project Award in Engineering News-Record’s 2026 Texas & Southeast Best Projects Awards, according to a press release. The new facility was completed in May and opened its doors to students for the fall 2026 semester.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.

  • Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

    Portland Public Schools in Portland, Ore., recently announced that construction has begun on a modernization project for Cleveland High School, according to a news release. The existing building will be replaced with a new, 300,000-square-foot facility at the same site.

  • University of Washington Opens New Broadcast Studio

    The University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., recently announced the opening of Sundodger Studios, a new broadcast, production, and content facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with Anthony James Partners for the design and development of the studio, which will host about 100 live broadcasts and 120 live videoboard shows per year.