Grasshopper New Media Presents...

This is the gadget that started it all - Great Family Gadgets, that is. After seeing this gadget I knew I needed a way to share my knowledge of extremely useful gadgets for families with more people than I am normally in touch with.

I was once watching a show about a kitchen remodel. The couple to whom the kitchen belonged were both doctors, and they had ingeniously installed a kick bar at the base of the cabinet under their sink. Now all they had to do to wash their hands, in surgeon-like fashion, was to push the kick bar with their toes.

Voila - running water and no cross-contamination!

I stored this bit of information in the back of my mind, planning to use it when I bought my own home. Then I happened across an ever-easier solution, and one I could even use in a rental.

The EZ Faucet, by iTouchless, uses infrared sensors to make any faucet “fully automated”. Stick your hands under the faucet and it turns on by itself; pull your hands away and it automatically turns off. You don’t need to use your dirty hands to touch anything, therefore eliminating cross-contamination.

Imagine using this in your kitchen - you would stop contamination with bacteria from the raw meat you’ve been preparing. In your bathroom (and kitchen as well) - no more sharing those bacteria and viruses that have been going from one family member to another.

According to the site, the water temperature is adjustable at any time. However, they suggest you

Just set the water temparature & flow and leave it on. Override On/Off Switch lets you turn water on or off manually.

If you’re in that stage where you’re often changing diapers, as I am - this would be just wonderful! I can’t count the number of times I wash my hands in one day.

Another thing I love about this is that it saves water; water only runs while you’re using it, not before and after your done washing your hands or filling a pot. In turn, this saves you money.

And if my kids’ use of automated faucets in public restrooms is any indicator of the average child, having this in your home will mean your kids will have fun washing their hands, and kids that are still too short to turn on the faucet can wash without help (though you may still need to supervise them if they’re inclined to play wash longer than necessary ).

Paired with the Automatic Soap Dispenser, your concerns about cross-contamination are over! I look forward to when the public schools start using these automated systems in their buildings.

For some wonderful and extremely thorough information on having good hygiene in your home, read the Hygiene Fact File from Foodlink.

Enjoy the convenience of having The Guide delivered to your email! Click HERE to subscribe - no charge and 100% spam-free!