# Motion-sensor paper-towel dispensers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 31, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435 "2006-01-31T23:48:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/21 "2006-02-01T15:48:44Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > The company will save money in the long run by buying the mechanized dispensers. Until someone like me comes in and thinks “Whoa, that’s cool! I’m gonna do that again!” Nope, doesn’t take much to entertain me. Our local IHOP installed toilets with self cleaning seats. When the automatic flusher engaged, the whole seat would rotate under a dry chemical cleaning brush. Voila! Ready for the next tushy (or the same tushy, if one was enamored of the technology). Had to eat my omlette cold that day, yes sir. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/22 "2006-02-01T16:04:16Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > The automatic towel dispensers don’t bother me at all. What really bothered me were the automatic toilet flushers. How the hell are you supposed to give a courtesy flush? You sit there and you wiggle side to side, but it doesn’t work. So then you have to do a quick, stand-up-sit-down maneuver but that doesn’t work, either. So now you stand up, do a quick little dance to get it to flush then sit down again. > > It’s a good way to solve the problem of filthy savages not flushing after a monster dump, but they need to have a manual option on there, too. Heh, for most people I think it’s the opposite problem. Damned thing always flushes when I’m not done yet! And then sometimes you get that cold water aerosol effect. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/23 "2006-02-01T19:00:31Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Heh, for most people I think it’s the opposite problem. Damned thing always flushes when I’m not done yet! And then sometimes you get that cold water aerosol effect. ☹ What I do in those situation is pretned is a bidet and feel all European. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/24 "2006-02-01T19:22:57Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > What I do in those situation is pretned is a bidet and feel all European. Yeah, but surely a bidet isn’t cold! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/25 "2006-02-01T21:47:16Z")
> [@rocking chair](#): > > i was in a fully automated bathroom once. it was in an eye hospital. toilet, water, soap, towel; all sensored. > > i really had to fight the urge to go “orchestra conductor” in there. it was rather fun. No, no, no; just stick one of [these](http://www.thedrinkingbird.com/) in there and leave. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/26 "2006-02-01T22:02:36Z")
I have those automatic paper towel dispensers at my gym. I like the idea of not having to crank out my own or touch dirty handles. But I hate when I need more than one sheet and, because it’s on some kind of timer, have to wait 2 seconds to get a second sheet. It’s not a long time, I know, but when I’m standing there shivering and wet from the shower, I suddenly become very impatient! I like the hot air blowers best. Not only are they fun, but I can turn the around and dry my hair too! ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/27 "2006-02-01T22:04:26Z")
> [@LunaV](#): > > It’s not a long time, I know, but when I’m standing there shivering and wet from the shower, I suddenly become very impatient! Surely you’re not using the paper towels to dry off from the shower…? ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/28 "2006-02-02T01:08:57Z")
I’ve seen automatic faucets run and run and run, usually because water or soap got splattered on their little sensor plate and was being mistaken for a human. I’ve seen big drools and puddles of soap in sinks with automatic soap dispensers. As someone already remarked, sometimes they keep spitting all the time you’re washing. And now, automatic towel dispensers. I figure it’s a matter of time before I walk into a bathroom and there’s an empty dispenser and a huge pile of paper on the floor, as though a ghost cat had pulled the whole roll off. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/29 "2006-02-02T01:55:54Z")
I hate it when the sensors on the paper towel dispensers and water fountains don’t work. It means I have no soul. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/30 "2006-02-02T05:51:42Z")
Our division recently moved into a new building that has all automated bathrooms… I’m pretty much OK with it. The urinals, of course, flush as you step up to them and not when you finish; but that’s to be expected. What I don’t like is the automated soap dispensing. **SPLORT** and you have a miniscule dollop of soap resting in your palm. You _can_ work up a lather with it if you put in enough effort, but seeing that tiny ejaculate of soap always makes me feel as if I just gave a hand-job to a hamster. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435/31 "2006-02-03T01:09:30Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > Surely you’re not using the paper towels to dry off from the shower…? I wasn’t clear enough, sorry! No, I bring real towels to dry off with, but I use paper towels to dry my shampoo and conditioner bottles and gather the hair from the drain. I don’t want to leave my stuff in the stall while I dry off and get dressed by my locker, so I suffer the chill for a minute and then bring my stuff with me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sensor-paper-towel-dispensers/342435.md?page=1)