09 October 2020

Reading time: 3 minutes / Updated: June 10, 2022

Commercial soap dispenser maintenance is a necessary routine procedure for any Facility Manager to ensure their commercial washroom is kept clean, hygienic, and fully functional for the users. Whether the soap dispenser is stainless steel or plastic, the same principle should be applied to each.

Providing quality and effective handwashing facilities not only encourages efficient hygiene practices, but it reduces the risk of serious maintenance issues down the line. An empty, tarnished, or rusting soap dispenser causes maintenance headaches which can be avoided by implementing simple preservation measures.

Read on for some tips on commercial soap dispenser maintenance best practices.

Corrosion resistant automatic soap dispenser in black finish

1. Install a corrosion resistant soap dispenser

Quality soap dispensers are manufactured to high standards which include functionality and consideration for future maintenance. Reputable commercial washroom companies strive to provide quality products to guarantee top performance, hygiene qualities, and corrosion prevention.

The starting point should be choosing a soap dispenser made up of the right material for corrosion prevention: Different types of soap dispensers come with different measures and efforts to clean them. These are the factors to consider:

  • Strong and durable material
  • Pump type
  • Soap container
  • Manual or automatic
  • Countertop or mounted
  • Plastic or stainless steel
  • Bottle refill or soap dispenser cartridge
  • Rust-proof material such as aluminium and some grades of stainless steel

2. Choose the right soap

The difference between foam soap and liquid soap plays a significant role in your commercial soap dispenser maintenance. Popular choices are foam and spray soaps as they do not clog the pump tube or coagulate around the spout. It is far easier to wipe away any excess foam or spray from the nozzle compared to a liquid or gel-based soap.

Soaps to avoid:

  • Chemical or alcohol-based disinfectant soaps
  • Soaps with acid content
  • Soap that forms a residue

If your soap is liquid or gel-based, cleaning the dispenser requires a lot more effort to reduce the risk of bacteria forming in the soap dispenser.

Refill commercial soap dispensers properly

3. Refill commercial soap dispensers properly

The refill process for manual soap dispensers requires considerable rinsing out, cleaning and drying before topping up. Soap that congeals in your dispenser is a clear indicator of contamination inside the appliance which means users are essentially washing their hands with infected soap.

Ways to effectively clean your refill soap dispenser:

  • Ensure personal protective equipment is worn during the cleaning process.
  • Flush out the pump and rinse the soap dispenser.
  • Use a mild commercial cleaning chemical.
  • Ensure the soap dispenser does not come into contact with environmental factors such as dust or laying it on a dirty surface.
  • Ensure the dispenser is completely dry before refilling.
  • Avoid spillage in or on the dispenser during refill as this may seep between gaps which makes it harder to reach and clean. This may result in corrosion if not thoroughly wiped and dried.

4. Clean soap dispensers properly and regularly

Although it is a small fitting in the washroom, cleaning a soap dispenser should be included in the regular housekeeping schedule. Daily is the most ideal as surfaces and fixtures harbour germs. Preventing a build up of congealing soap, dust or water splashed onto the dispenser will greatly reduce future problems like rusting or leaving the dispenser vulnerable to contamination from the environment.

  • Wipe your soap dispenser with a soft damp cloth.
  • Dry the soap dispenser with a paper towel to prevent rust from forming on the pump, mounting box, screws, or O-rings and collar nuts.
  • Test any stainless steel cleaner on a small area first as there is a chance that some products may negatively affect the finish.

5. Hiring technicians to fix a broken soap dispenser

No maintenance = increased maintenance costs.

Be prepared for blockages and breakage if the housekeeping or facilities team does not regularly check or clean the washroom appliances thoroughly. Although most commercial washroom providers offer warranties on their products and can dispatch technicians to fix any issues, those warranties are not long-lasting.

To reduce the time and money spent on hiring external technicians due to a lack of maintenance procedures, ensure you create a maintenance calendar and educate housekeeping and maintenance personnel about suitable cleaning methods.

The Dolphin soap dispenser product range