How often should you refill soap dispensers?
Keeping hand soap dispensers topped up is a simple yet essential part of washroom maintenance… It is also one that often gets overlooked. In any workplace or public facility, ensuring that soap is always available promotes good hygiene and helps businesses meet hygiene standards. But how often should you refill soap dispensers, and what happens when they run out?
In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of washroom maintenance, how frequently soap dispensers should be replenished, and how phs can help businesses stay on top of their hygiene responsibilities.
Why is it important to refill hand soap dispensers regularly?
Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. But without soap, handwashing loses much of its effectiveness, putting employees, customers, and visitors at risk.
Failing to keep hand soap dispensers topped up can lead to:
• Hygiene risks – Without soap, people are less likely to wash their hands properly, increasing the spread of germs.
• Disgruntled customers and employees – Running out of soap creates frustration, leading to complaints or a negative perception of the business.
• Non-compliance with hygiene standards – Many industries, including hospitality, healthcare, and food service, must meet strict hygiene standards. Failing to provide soap could lead to regulatory breaches.
To avoid these pitfalls, businesses must have a plan in place to ensure hand soap dispensers are refilled regularly.
How often should you refill hand soap dispensers?
The frequency of refilling hand soap dispensers depends on several factors, including the level of foot traffic, the type of business, and the capacity of the dispenser. Below is a general guideline for different environments.
In office environments, the demand for soap may be lower than in public spaces, but it is still crucial for maintaining hygiene.
• Recommended refill schedule: Check and refill hand soap dispensers at least once per day, and more frequently in high-traffic areas such as communal kitchens and break rooms.
• Best practice: Assign a cleaning team to check dispensers during routine washroom maintenance.
Strict hygiene standards require employees and customers to wash their hands frequently to prevent cross-contamination.
• Recommended refill schedule: Soap dispensers should be checked multiple times per day, particularly during busy service hours.
• Best practice: Ensure all kitchen and customer washroom dispensers are checked between meal services.
Educational settings see high numbers of students using facilities throughout the day. Younger children may also use excessive amounts of soap, increasing refill frequency.
• Recommended refill schedule: At least twice daily, with additional checks after breaks and lunchtime.
• Best practice: Use bulk-fill dispensers to reduce the frequency of refills.
Hand hygiene is critical in healthcare settings to prevent infections and maintain patient safety.
• Recommended refill schedule: Soap dispensers should be checked and refilled several times per day to ensure constant availability.
• Best practice: Implement an automated washroom maintenance system to monitor dispenser levels.
Public washrooms in high-traffic areas like shopping centres must accommodate thousands of users daily.
• Recommended refill schedule: Multiple times per day, especially during peak hours.
• Best practice: Combine hand soap with automatic dispensers that control soap usage, reducing waste and ensuring availability.
Fitness facilities must maintain high hygiene standards, as people wash their hands before and after workouts.
• Recommended refill schedule: At least twice daily, with additional checks during peak hours.
• Best practice: Use antibacterial soap to support hygiene efforts in shared spaces.
What happens when soap dispensers aren’t refilled?
When businesses fail to keep their hand soap dispensers refilled, there can be many consequences, such as:
• Increased spread of germs: Without soap, people may skip handwashing, allowing bacteria and viruses to spread easily.
• Customer complaints: If customers experience empty soap dispensers, it reflects poorly on the business and may lead to negative reviews.
• Staff dissatisfaction: Employees expect a clean and well-maintained workplace. Inadequate washroom maintenance can reduce morale.
• Compliance Issues: Many industries are legally required to meet hygiene standards, and failure to do so could lead to fines or enforcement actions.
By implementing a structured washroom maintenance routine, businesses can avoid these risks and ensure a clean, hygienic environment for all.
What type of soap dispenser is best for your business?
Different environments require different types of hand soap dispensers. Some of the most effective options include:
• Automatic soap dispensers: Reduce contact and control the amount of soap dispensed, reducing waste.
• Bulk-fill dispensers: Ideal for high-traffic areas, allowing businesses to refill from larger soap containers.
• Foam soap dispensers: Help reduce soap usage while providing an effective handwashing experience.
• Wall-mounted push dispensers: Space-saving and easy to maintain in busy washrooms.
Choosing the right dispenser can help businesses manage soap usage more efficiently while maintaining high hygiene standards.
How phs can help with washroom maintenance
phs provides comprehensive washroom maintenance services to help businesses stay on top of their hygiene responsibilities. From supplying hand soap dispensers to regular refilling and servicing, we make it easy to keep your facilities clean and compliant.
Why choose phs?
• Scheduled refills and a range of products – We offer scheduled refilling services to ensure your soap dispensers never run empty. Our range of soap consumables includes antibacterial soap spray, alcohol-free hand foam sanitiser and liquid soap.
• High-quality soap dispensers – Our range includes automatic, bulk-fill, and push-soap dispensers to suit all business needs.
• Compliance support – Our expert team ensures that your business meets all relevant hygiene standards.
Dispense with the hassle and partner with phs
Regularly refilling hand soap dispensers is a crucial part of washroom maintenance. The frequency of refilling depends on the type of business and the level of foot traffic, but businesses should always have a structured plan to ensure soap is available at all times.
At phs, we help businesses maintain high hygiene standards with reliable washroom maintenance services, including soap refills and dispenser supply. Speak to one of our expert sales team to learn more about our hand hygiene solutions and how we can support your business in keeping washrooms clean and well-stocked.
