7 Products That Can Make Your Kitchen a More Touch-Free Space
These kitchen tools can introduce touch-free technology to your home with ease.
If you thought hands-free appliances were reserved for the homes of the rich and famous — and fancy office spaces — think again. More kitchen brands are introducing touch-free technology to their tools, hoping to give consumers more peace-of-mind in the kitchen. The idea is that with the wave of a hand, you'll be able to turn on your faucet, dispense soap or even throw out the trash. These tools and appliances can help keep some high-touch surfaces in your kitchen space hands-free — and hopefully more germ-free, too.
One of the simplest ways to make your kitchen more touch-free is to get a sensored soap dispenser. This one from simplehuman can be outfitted with your favorite liquid soap solution and senses your fingers below the nozzle. According to the company's website, you can also fill this up with hand sanitizer.
If you have a pet or small child in the house, a foot-pedal garbage can might not be the best option. Tiny hands and close-to-the-floor hardware? No, thank you. This motion sensor trash can is designed with pets in mind and responds to the wave of your hand to open and close. Plus, it's a more sanitary way to throw out the trash. That said, we still recommend washing your hands after each use.
To really make your hand-washing experience totally touch-free, a hands-free faucet is the final touch you need. This model from American Standard can be turned on and off with the wave of a hand. Most importantly, it comes with a manual on-off handle, which you'll need if you lose power for any reason.
Moen's faucets with MotionSense technology can be turned on and off with the wave of your hand. If you're interested in even more faucet features, consider the U by Moen faucet, which can be turned on and off with voice commands. Plus, you can pre-program the U by Moen faucet to fill baby bottles, coffee pots and more with exact measurements.
If you have a Minta, Ladylux or Essence faucet by Grohe, you may be able to turn it into a touch-free faucet with a retro-fit set. Using this set, these Grohe faucets can be activated through a foot sensor instead of your hands. We recommend consulting with a plumber if you're not sure about your faucet's compatibility.
Another high-touch spot in your kitchen? Light switches. Instead if reaching for yours each time you have to make dinner, consider installing a motion sensor switch instead. This one from Lutron is affordable and easy to program.
Instead of sweeping your floor, opt for a hands-free robot vacuum to get into the areas under your cabinets and the crannies below your oven and fridge. Run the Roomba before you mop or wipe down the floors to remove any debris that might make disinfecting more difficult.
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