Touchless and motor-sensor options for the house

Touchless and motion-sensor options for the home can add efficiency, convenience and safety, Anita Murray writes.

The driverless car has been hogging all the automated news lately, but there’s been a quieter revolution in smart technology happening at home, too. Everything from the almost common hands-free faucets and vacuums to the lesser-known smart locks and dishwashers are poised to take over our homes and make everyday living less taxing.

It’s easy to see why. Touchless and motion-sensor gadgets and appliances can be a boon for our aging population, but even for everyone else, the convenience of a door that opens automatically when your arms are full and a light that comes on when you enter a dark room adds a touch of efficiency to busy lives.

There’s also the health factor — at least in the kitchen and bathroom. Less touching of faucets and fixtures with dirty hands means fewer germs being shared. Anyone who has handled raw chicken can appreciate the benefits of being able to wash hands without having to pump a soap dispenser or turn on a tap.

Here are some hands-free options for the home. Some are innovative and practical, some are adapted from commercial applications, and some are just plain fun.

WATER WORKS

Cleanup is easy (and more hygienic) with the Delaney motionsensing faucet by Moen. Simple hand movements, under the spout or above it, will turn water on and off again without having to touch a handle — reducing dirt and germ accumulation. Find it for $439.99 at Home Hardware.

FLUSHED AWAY

Also helping to keep the germ count down is Kohler’s San Souci touchless flush toilet. The sleek one-piece unit is activated by holding your hand over the tank sensor. The seamless design makes for easy cleaning, and the low-flush feature uses just 4.8 litres per flush. It starts at $1,205 at Kohler dealers such as Plomberie Déziel et Design, 368 Ch. Industriel in Gatineau. Don’t want to replace the whole toilet? Kohler also makes a retrofit touchless flush kit that fits most toilets. Find it for $66.99 at wayfair.ca.

TOWEL TRICK

The automatic paper-towel dispenser often found in public washrooms makes its way home in stylish fashion with the Towel-Matic by iTouchless, which makes several hands-free gadgets. An infrared sensor in front of the roll activates the battery-operated device while an optical sensor detects and stops at the perforation line for easy tearing. It will dispense full sheets, half sheets and customset lengths, with no need to touch the rest of the roll — minimizing the spread of germs. Available in stainless steel with black accents, it’s $74.99 at wayfair.ca.

WHO LET THE DOG OUT?

No one, actually. But if you need to and your hands are full, the Hands-Free Pet Gate by Richell lets your feet do the action instead, thanks to a double-sided foot pedal that’s strong enough to keep your pooch from applying enough pressure to open it. Standing almost a metre tall and with a door that swings both ways, it’s good for small to large dogs (up to 40 kilograms) and fits openings 71 to 94 centimetres wide. Find it for $179.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond.

SUCK IT UP

Hate having to scoop up the dirt pile when you sweep your floors? Let the EyeVac do it for you. The stylish yet unobtrusive appliance is the home version of commercial units used in hair salons, vet clinics and more. Standing just 45 cm (18 inches) high, it automatically vacuums debris that’s swept up to it while returning clean air to the room thanks to a HEPA filter. It’s $144.99 at amazon.ca.

HIDE AND SEEK

These double-duty containers make great decor accents that also offer hidden storage space for serviettes, cookies, small toys, office supplies or whatever else you want to tuck away. A 360-degree sensor will automatically open the lid when your hand is within five cm. Made by iTouchless, the apple is $95.99 and the globe is $106.99, at wayfair.ca.

HANDY CANDY

No coins are needed to get this machine to give up its goods. Simply place your hand under the spout of the Magic Snack Candy Dispenser to get a treat. The batteryoperated gadget from Final Touch holds three litres of hard or semi-hard candy, has four pre-set serving sizes, and has a removable lid with a large opening to make refilling easy. It’s $29.99 at amazon.ca.

CUT DOWN ON SOAP WHEN YOU LATHER UP

Another gadget that has migrated from the commercial bathroom to the home counter is the touchless soap dispenser, like this one by Better Living Products. Minimizing the spread of germs and dispensing a set portion of soap, it offers a stylish option. Holding half a litre of soap and standing 22 cm (8.5 inches) high, it’s $56 at lowes.ca.

BRIGHT IDEA

Remember the days of The Clapper? This 1980s attempt at hands-free lighting, which used the sound of clapping hands to somewhat successfully turn a light on or off, has improved greatly over the years. Today there are lots of options for touchless illumination, including the motion-sensor table lamp by LED Concepts. It runs on batteries for easy portability and can be set to manual, motion sensing or night light mode. It has a hook for hanging and includes an LED bulb. It’s $19.99 at amazon.ca.

FEEL THE HEAT

You don’t have to touch your patient to use this thermometer, so your sleeping baby or child isn’t disturbed. Made by ReMEDies, this forehead thermometer has an infrared sensor that gives an accurate reading in about a second, as long as you’re within five centimetres. It can also be set to record room and surface temperatures and give you a verbal readout in Celsius or Fahrenheit. Find it for $115.09 at amazon.ca.

TRASH TALK

Make tossing the trash a little easier with this battery-operated garbage can by iTouchless. Streamlined in stainless steel with black accents, it has a UV-coated lid to reduce bacteria growth and a motion sensor to open it. Standing 47 cm (18.5 inches) high and holding 30 litres, it’s one of several sizes available. Find it for $133.99 at wayfair.ca.

OPEN SESAME

There are a few smart locks on the market now. One is the August Smart Lock, which gives you easy access to your home without the need for keys or codes. Installed on the inside of your door so that you don’t have to change the hardware or the exterior look, this device lets you use your smartphone to control who has access to your home and for how long. It can also automatically unlock the door when it senses your approach, so you don’t need to fumble for your keys. It works with most standard deadbolts, can be turned on and off, and can track who comes and goes from your home. Available in silver, red and black, it starts at $199.99 at amazon.ca.