Kitchen and bathroom faucets and handles are two of the germiest surfaces in the home — even more so than the toilet seat. A survey of 35 U.S. homes, conducted by the Hygiene Council, shows the kitchen faucet handle has 13,227 bacteria per sq. in. and the bathroom faucet handle has 6,267 bacteria per sq. in., whereas the toilet seat has 295 bacteria per sq. in. In an effort to reduce the spread of germs, touchless faucets were created.
The first automatic faucets were seen in airport restrooms in the 1950s. These faucets then slowly moved to commercial buildings. According to many plumbing manufacturers, a touchless faucet — also known as hands-free faucet, electronic faucet, motion-sensing faucet or infrared faucet — can inhibit the spread of germs and help save up to 70% of water. With more states adapting low-flow codes, the initiative to reduce the amount of wasted water is becoming more important.