dependable, solid foaming soap dispenser?

April 22, 2019 7:40 AM

I get Method soap refills and put them into an existing foaming soap dispenser. The dispenser stops working way too soon. I'm willing to buy a good one, but last time I tried this, it stopped working pretty soon too. Can anyone recommend one that is dependable?

I prefer glass to plastic, partly because it's less likely to fall over or get moved around even when it's empty.

I prefer a larger capacity too -- fewer refills, and again, less likely to fall over or get moved.

I found a bunch on Amazon, and one at the Container Store, but I can't tell how good they'll be in active use.

posted by amtho to Home & Garden (14 answers total)

I have an oxxo one I like for standard soap I found at Target - maybe they make a foaming one, too.
posted by tilde at 8:07 AM on April 22, 2019

I had the exact same problem and ordered these about six months ago.

No complaints so far - I haven't used the stickers because they seem superfluous so not sure if they stay in good condition if they get wet.
posted by Twicketface at 8:51 AM on April 22, 2019 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Twicketface -- Can you tell me how to match a jar to those? They look good.
posted by amtho at 8:56 AM on April 22, 2019

Best answer: Sure - I had one on hand but they do sell them with the jars too.
posted by Twicketface at 9:00 AM on April 22, 2019 [1 favorite]

Amazon has "InterDesign Foaming Soap Dispenser Pump, for Kitchen or Bathroom Countertops - Clear/Chrome" and they have held up to daily use here at the office.
posted by MichelleinMD at 9:37 AM on April 22, 2019

I have a foaming dispenser for Dawn dishwashing deterg. that gets a lot of use for dishwashing deterg. and has lasted @ 4 years. I don't love the design, but it sure has held up.
posted by theora55 at 11:07 AM on April 22, 2019

I've been putting regular dish soap + water (about 50:50) into my dawn foaming soap bottle for years, and it works better than any attractive dispenser I've ever bought.
posted by rebent at 12:56 PM on April 22, 2019

I have been using the same default plastic ones that came with the Vermont Soap. I bought a few of them , and then started buying 1-gallon refills and simply refilling the original plastic dispensers. They've worked perfectly for 6+ years. They get a little discolored but I wipe them down occasionally and they are fine.

That said, I have been researching stainless steel versions as well. I like the Simple Human brand and their hands-free (rechargeable) one looks nice.
posted by terrapin at 1:03 PM on April 22, 2019

I got these two years ago and they haven't quit on me yet.
posted by purple_bird at 1:23 PM on April 22, 2019

I got these about a year ago and they work very well.
posted by Dolley at 5:19 PM on April 22, 2019

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE
posted by rhizome at 6:18 PM on April 22, 2019 [5 favorites]

I've been using this Better Living foaming soap dispenser for over five years and it still works OK. (Within the past year or so, I feel it's not been pumping quite as well as it once did, but it's fine.) It's intended to take regular dish soap and water at a 1:3 ratio (it has markers on the inner container so you know how far to fill it), so you don't have to keep buying special foaming soap; you can buy regular dish soap more cheaply and in smaller quantities. (As rebent says, this works with other foaming dispensers too—it seems foaming dish soap is basically just diluted regular dish soap—but the printed markers on the bottle make it more convenient to mix.)
posted by Syllepsis at 12:04 AM on April 23, 2019

Response by poster: Follow up: I bought this glass bottled one at the local Container Store store and it's good -- works very smoothly and well -- but it seems to make extra light foam, so I need five pumps or it feels like nothing when I wash my hands. I'm going to try making a little more viscous soap solution next refill time (I use regular glycerine soap refill and dilute it with hot water).

I plan to order one of the mason jar pumps recommended by TwicketFace next time I place an Amazon order (I like to order a bunch of stuff at one time to reduce the number of cardboard shipping boxes).

Thanks!
posted by amtho at 7:51 AM on April 24, 2019

Can't help with the dispenser, since mine is a big industrial thing that affixes to the wall, but one thing I learned about foaming soap dispensers from that unit was that once you dilute soap for a foaming dispenser it has enough water to support microbial growth.

The rule of thumb on internet soapmaking forums seems to be that without preservatives, foaming soap solutions are only good for a month.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 12:19 PM on April 27, 2019 [2 favorites]