Commercial Washroom Dispensers NZ | How to Choose the Right System
How to Choose the Right Commercial Washroom Dispensers for Your Business
Choosing a commercial washroom dispenser might seem straightforward, but the dispenser you install can have a surprisingly large impact on paper consumption, ongoing costs, maintenance, presentation and the overall user experience.
A dispenser that works perfectly in a small office may be completely unsuitable for a busy school, gym, hospitality venue or manufacturing facility.
The best approach is therefore not simply to choose a toilet paper, paper towel or soap dispenser based on appearance or price. Instead, consider the number of users, frequency of servicing, type of consumable, capacity and ongoing cost-in-use.
At Hygiene Direct, we help New Zealand businesses match their washroom dispensers with appropriate consumables and dispensing systems.
Explore Hygiene Direct's Commercial Washroom Supplies
Start With How Your Washroom Is Actually Used
Before choosing a dispenser, consider the washroom itself.
Ask questions such as:
- How many people use the washroom each day?
- Is usage fairly consistent or concentrated around particular times?
- How frequently can cleaning staff service the washroom?
- Is running out of toilet paper, paper towels or soap a recurring problem?
- Is excessive consumption an issue?
- Is the washroom customer-facing?
- Is storage space available for replacement consumables?
- Are you trying to reduce packaging or improve your environmental purchasing?
These questions help determine whether you need a compact dispenser for a relatively quiet workplace or a higher-capacity system designed for a busy commercial environment.
Choosing a Commercial Toilet Paper Dispenser
There is no single toilet paper dispenser that is right for every workplace.
The appropriate system depends largely on usage volume and servicing frequency.
Standard Toilet Roll Dispensers
Standard toilet rolls are familiar and easy to use, making them suitable for many smaller workplaces and lower-volume bathrooms.
They can be a practical choice where washrooms are serviced regularly and there is no need for particularly high-capacity dispensing.
Jumbo Toilet Roll Dispensers
Jumbo toilet rolls contain considerably more paper than conventional household-style rolls and are commonly used in higher-traffic commercial washrooms.
The larger capacity can mean fewer roll changes and less time spent replenishing dispensers.
Hygiene Direct also offers large and small recycled plastic jumbo toilet roll dispensers, allowing businesses to combine a high-capacity system with a dispenser manufactured using recycled plastic.
If you're deciding between different toilet paper systems, see our comparison of jumbo toilet rolls vs standard toilet rolls.
Explore Hygiene Direct's Recycled Plastic Washroom Dispensers
Centrepull Toilet Paper Dispensers
Centrepull toilet paper systems provide another option for commercial washrooms.
Paper is dispensed from the centre of the roll, providing controlled access to the paper while keeping the remaining roll protected inside the dispenser.
Hygiene Direct's recycled plastic dispenser range includes a centrepull toilet paper dispenser, providing another option when designing or upgrading a commercial washroom.
Choosing a Commercial Paper Towel Dispenser
Paper towel dispensers are another area where choosing the correct system can affect both usability and consumption.
The principal options include folded towels, roll towels, autocut systems and centrepull systems.
Folded Paper Towel Dispensers
Folded paper towels are widely used in commercial bathrooms and are simple for users and cleaning staff to understand.
A suitable folded towel dispenser keeps the towels protected and presents them neatly while allowing individual towels to be removed as required.
Explore Hygiene Direct's Commercial Paper Towels
Autocut Paper Towel Dispensers
Autocut dispensers dispense a predetermined length of paper when the user pulls the towel.
This type of controlled dispensing can be particularly useful in busy commercial environments where managing paper consumption is important.
Hygiene Direct's recycled plastic range includes an autocut paper towel dispenser, allowing businesses to consider both dispensing efficiency and the material used to manufacture the dispenser.
Centrepull and Centrefeed Systems
Centrepull and centrefeed paper systems can be useful in washrooms and other commercial environments where convenient access to paper is required.
The roll is enclosed within the dispenser and paper is drawn from the centre.
Selecting the correct system depends on where it will be installed, what the paper will be used for and the level of usage expected.
Choosing a Commercial Soap Dispenser
Soap dispensers are another important part of a commercial washroom.
Two common options are liquid soap and foaming soap.
Liquid Soap Dispensers
Liquid soap dispensers are familiar, straightforward and suitable for a wide range of workplaces.
A refillable dispenser allows bulk soap to be added to the reservoir as required rather than relying on a proprietary cartridge system.
Foam Soap Dispensers
Foaming soap dispensers mix the soap formulation with air as it is dispensed, producing foam at the point of use.
The appropriate choice between liquid and foam depends on the workplace, the soap being used and the dispensing system already installed.
Hygiene Direct's recycled plastic range includes both refillable liquid soap and refillable foam soap dispensers.
Shop Hygiene Direct's Soap & Hand Sanitiser Options
Consider an Open Dispenser System
One issue businesses should consider before installing new dispensers is whether the system requires a particular proprietary consumable.
A dispenser may initially appear inexpensive but could restrict the business to a specific paper or soap product.
An open dispensing system provides greater flexibility.
The LOSDI ECO-LUXE recycled dispenser range supplied by Hygiene Direct is designed as an open system compatible with standard consumables, allowing businesses greater freedom when selecting suitable paper and soap products.
Learn About Hygiene Direct's Recycled Plastic Washroom Dispenser Range
Think About Capacity
Capacity is particularly important in busy commercial washrooms.
A dispenser that constantly needs refilling creates additional work for cleaning staff and increases the likelihood of the washroom running out of essential products.
Conversely, there may be little benefit in installing an unnecessarily large dispenser in a small office washroom.
Consider the relationship between:
Number of users + usage frequency + dispenser capacity + servicing frequency
For example, a large commercial facility may benefit from a jumbo toilet roll system because fewer roll changes are required.
A small office may find a more compact system perfectly adequate.
Matching capacity to actual usage is usually more effective than automatically choosing either the largest or cheapest dispenser available.
Consider Cost-in-Use, Not Just Purchase Price
The cheapest dispenser isn't necessarily the cheapest washroom system.
The more useful question is:
What will this washroom cost us to operate over the next few years?
That calculation can include:
- Consumable cost
- Amount of paper or soap used
- Frequency of replenishment
- Cleaning staff time
- Product wastage
- Reliability of the dispenser
- Availability of replacement consumables
A dispensing system that helps control consumption may ultimately be more economical than a cheaper system that allows unnecessary paper usage.
Dispenser choice can also affect consumption. Read our guide to reducing paper waste in commercial washrooms for practical ways to control toilet paper and paper towel usage.
Consider the Environmental Impact of the Whole System
Businesses increasingly want to reduce the environmental impact of their workplace products.
Rather than looking at a single environmental claim, consider the complete washroom system.
That might include:
- Dispensers manufactured using recycled plastic
- Plastic-packaging-free paper products
- Bamboo paper alternatives
- Systems designed to help control consumption
- Refillable soap dispensers
- Durable equipment designed for ongoing commercial use
Hygiene Direct's Recycled Plastic Washroom Dispensers can be combined with suitable products from our commercial paper ranges to create a more considered washroom solution.
Businesses interested in alternative fibre options can also explore our Bamboo Paper Products.
You can read more about our wider approach on the Hygiene Direct Sustainability page.
Don't Forget About Appearance
Commercial washrooms are part of the overall impression customers, employees and visitors form of a business.
A mismatched collection of old dispensers can make an otherwise clean bathroom appear dated.
Using a coordinated dispenser range can provide a more consistent appearance across:
- Toilet paper dispensers
- Paper towel dispensers
- Soap dispensers
- Other washroom dispensing systems
This can be particularly valuable in customer-facing environments such as hospitality venues, offices, healthcare facilities, gyms and accommodation businesses.
Can You Get Commercial Washroom Dispensers Free?
Potentially, yes.
Hygiene Direct operates a Free Dispenser Programme for approved customers purchasing the corresponding consumables from Hygiene Direct.
Selected commercial dispensers can be supplied on a free-on-loan basis, helping businesses upgrade their washroom dispensing systems without necessarily having to purchase the dispensers upfront.
This can be particularly useful when upgrading multiple bathrooms or an entire facility.
Our team can help determine which dispensers and consumables are appropriate for your requirements.
Which Commercial Washroom Dispenser Is Best?
There isn't one answer.
The best commercial washroom dispenser is the one that suits the people using the facility, the consumable being dispensed, the servicing schedule and the organisation's operational priorities.
For a small office, that may mean compact, straightforward dispensers.
For a busy school or commercial building, higher-capacity systems may be more appropriate.
For an organisation reviewing its environmental purchasing, recycled plastic dispensers combined with suitable plastic-packaging-free or bamboo paper products may be worth considering.
The important thing is to design the system around the workplace rather than simply choosing individual products in isolation.
Get Help Choosing Commercial Washroom Dispensers
Hygiene Direct supplies commercial washroom products to businesses throughout New Zealand.
Our team can help you assess your existing system and select suitable toilet paper dispensers, paper towel dispensers, soap dispensers and compatible consumables.
You can:
Shop Commercial Washroom Supplies
View the Recycled Plastic Dispenser Range
Learn About Hygiene Direct's Free Dispenser Programme
For a detailed explanation of eligibility, installation and how the arrangement works, read our guide to free commercial washroom dispensers in NZ.