Readers have responded to Adrian Chiles' recent article on the frustrations of pump-action soap dispensers with practical advice and alternative solutions.
Overtightened Pumps
Bridget Spencer from Sutton, London, shares a simple fix: 'I have discovered that they are usually just tightened too much when they are manufactured. If you remove the pump and grip the part just inside the bottle with a suitable implement (in my case a nutcracker from the kitchen drawer), that is usually enough to dislodge it when you twist it as instructed. It is a bit of a messy job, but it does work.'
Clogged Mechanisms
Christopher Holker from London adds another common issue: 'Even if I do manage to make the mechanism on a soap dispenser work, the tiny hole quickly becomes clogged so that, under desperate pumping pressure, an unpredictable jet of gunk ends up anywhere but on my hands.'
Alternative Solution
Gill Heritage from Stockport, Greater Manchester, suggests a timeless alternative: 'Why not use the marvellous device invented in France many years ago for use in schools? The rotating wall soap – a rugby-ball-shaped bar attached to a metal peg on the wall by the taps. Keeps the soap from getting soggy. Lasts years.'
These reader contributions offer hope to those struggling with faulty soap dispensers, from simple repairs to eco-friendly alternatives.
