Customer Reviews

iTouchless Fully Automatic White Color Touchless Trashcan SX

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(31)

 

 

Just received this item (07-06-07) and I have owned the iTouchless 13 gallon trash can with the pivoting lid but it broke and I didn't replace it. These are my initial impressions of the new sliding door model.
1. My 13 gallon bags (Smart & Final Tall Kitchen Bags w/drawstring, 24 x 27-3/8 inches) don't fit because the trash can is too deep by about an inch or inch and a half. I'll have to find something about an inch or more thick to put on the bottom of the can so that my bags will reach high enough to use the bag retainer ring. Maybe other brand bags will fit properly?
2. The sliding lid looks like it will accumulate more dust than the pivoting lid. It will be harder to clean too.
3. The sliding lid mechanism has a noisy geared mechanism. The pivoting lid was much, much quieter. I'll have to see if I can get used to the noise.
4. The sliding lid opening looks like it is either larger or a more convenient shape than the pivoting lid was.

The user manual says 4 D-cells will last "up to" 10,000 uses. They don't say if an opening cycle followed by a closing cycle is 1 use or 2 uses.

Update 07-12-07.
1. None of the name brand 13 gallon bags are taller than the Smart & Final bags I am using. Eighteen gallon trash compactor bags will fit, but cost more. So much for their, "Fits any 13 or 18 gallon trash bags," statement. I'm sure a styrofoam spacer can be put on the bottom of the can so I can use my 13 gallon bags.
2. The sliding lid has malfunctioned a couple of times. I pressed the manual open button and the lid only opened partially. After opening and closing the lid a few times it appears to be a temporary problem.
3. When China can't make a reliable trash can, why is Boeing now buying aircraft parts from them?

Update 07-31-07:
1. It turns out that I can get used to the gear noise.
2. The sliding door opens too slowly. The pivoting lid model opened much more quickly. If iToucheless doubled the speed it would be about right.
3. There have been no more malfunctions.
4. Adding a spacer to the inside of bottom of the can makes 13 gallon bags fit properly.

Ok, so I've read everyone's review and will say, up front, that everyone is right about the inside of the can ripping/shredding garbage bags with its flawed design. Whoever designed the inside of the can needs to be fired. There's triangular "teeth" that serve no discernable function other than to make life miserable when it comes time to empty the trash. My solution? I just used thick duct tape around the inside of the rim to cover up the "teeth" and now everything's fine. No problems taking out the bag. As for the claims about the sticker on the can and having trouble getting it off, I ordered mine through Amazon and it did not come with ANY stickers on it. Maybe someone from the company read the reviews here on Amazon? : ) Lastly, the complaints about how "loud" it is and how slow the automatic opener is, I don't think the opening/closing noise is any worse than others that I've had, and the speed of the opening/closing door was fine once I put in brand new Duracells. I, for one, am very happy with this trash can. It holds A LOT of garbage because it's about 6 inches taller than the traditional can. Would I buy it again? Absolutely!

I just purchased this can as a replacement for the previous generation with the lid that flips up. It is a serious, and borderline unusable, step backwards for iTouchless. My family was extremely pleased with the last can. It needed to be replaced when the lid was dropped and cracked. While it was imperfect, it had served us well for a bit over a year.

The new can is not worth the money even with the current $20 promotion. The reviewers who mentioned the plastic teeth in the retaining rim are correct. While the bags have not torn for me, this is solely a testament to the fact that I slid my hand into the can to keep the snags from tearing the bag. Clearly this is absurd for a "touchless" trash can.

The opening mechanism is weak and slow. I have had the can for three days and it has stopped working a half dozen times (on brand new batteries). I had to move it with my hand to loosen it at which time it would work again for a few more openings.

The reviews that mention that standard bags are too small for the can are also accurate. Ironically, despite this, it is difficult to pull the full bag from the can.

Overall this purchase was a complete misfire. I strongly suggest you look elsewhere for a trashcan. If the touchless feature interestes you, get the previous version with the flip lid. In the end this model is in no real way touchless.

Updated February 3, 2008

Since on occasion viewpoints will change after time has passed I thought I'd update this review. After trying to live with this for several months it is now itself in the trash. Between the near impossibility of removing a bag intact and the unreliability of the opening mechanism we couldn't take it any more. It is one of the worst purchases I have ever made. It is a stunningly poor product. Amazon should stop carrying item and the manufacturer should discontinue it immediately.

As other reviewers have stated, this can is noisy, and sounds like it is struggling to open. After a few weeks, the lid began to get stuck most of the time. The manufacturer's customer service is horrible. When I finally got a response, they wanted me to return the lid to them for repairs, and pay for shipping both ways. I would recommend any potential buyers to look elsewhere for a good trash can.

This is an awesome idea. My kids love to put their trash away. Finally!

However, the problem we have had is that the black rim that the self opening top fits down on top of has teeth! 28 of them! These are 45 degree hard plastic triangles that help to secure the black rim (that holds the top) to the stainless steel. There is at least a 1/4 inch gap between the triangle and the stainless, causing it to grab the trash bags as you are pulling them out. This grabbing causes huge holes in the trash bags and leaking trash every where. We have even tried making sure that the trash can is not full each time we take out the trash... and still we have huge holes and rips in the bags. We have even tried the heavy duty lawn and leaf bags and those come out with the same huge rips. Very Frustrating and not what we expected in an $80 trash can.

This can is awesome and fits right next to my trash compactor perfectly. You will run all over the house trying to find stuff to put inside once you get it up and running. HOWEVER, you will spend a significant amount of your life trying to remove the stupid sticker from the front. I spent a brillo pad, half a bottle of orange dissolver sticker remover, a Mr. Clean eraser, two sample charge cards and half a packet of windex wipes. Oh yeah, and I sacrificed a really nice manicure and it's STILL not completely off. And I am no price tag removing amateur! So save those sample change cards - you are going to need them to make this item presentable! :)

I received the itouchess automatic black nx/sx model trashcan. I really liked the color and design. It worked fine with batteries for two days. It does make a noise as some reviews indicated but I could live with it even if my dog couldn't. I read the reviews but ignored the negative ones and ordered this trash can anyway. On the third day, it would not open except manually. I waited for the adapter thinking it would now work touchless but it will not. It slides back and then will not close. You have to manually work with the lid until you can get it closed. I am not going to return it, will just use it manually for a while until time to get a new trashcan. Very disapointed with this product, really wanted it to work.

The jury is still out on this one! This trashcan is beautiful in both the stainless steel and the black, but the tops, which slide back and forth, need work. I am not certain they will go the distance. One trashcan arrived with one of the pleats (part of the trashcan top) broken off and rattling around in the box. The top seems to be delicate, to say the least. Another trashcan was replaced because the top just stopped working in under three weeks. It had new batteries but wouldn't slide back and forth any more. Using an AC adapter wouldn't help.

The tops are ultra noisy when sliding. A lady visited us the other day, went in the bathroom and the top noisily started opening. The poor woman grabbed that big black purse, flung open the bathroom door, and flew out like Gail Devers, screaming at the top of her voice!

If only they had sturdier tops! I fear, any time I hear the tops moving, that might be the last movement. They just don't operate smoothly. I think iTouchless truly, truly needs to work on the tops of these trashcans. Also, iTouchless NEEDS TO STOP GLUING THOSE BIG NAME TAGS ON THE BINS. They are ultra difficult to remove. No one is buying the trashcans to visually advertise for iTouchless, not with the tags, at least!

The trashcans are ultra nice-looking, but I am definitely not sure these trashcan tops will operate for a year, nine months, or six months. iTouchless Fully Automatic Stainless Steel Touchless Trashcan SX, 13 Gallon (52 Liter)iTouchless Fully Automatic Black Color Touchless Trashcan SX, 13 Gallon (52 Liter)

Overall, I'm happy with it because in its most basic way, it works. My complaints are:

1. The sensor doesn't work as it the instructions state. You have to hover about 1 inch or lower in order for the sensor to tip and the cover to open. It's supposed to be about 6 inches.

2. It's LOUD! Both when it opens and closes.

3. There is a plastic lip along the inside top of the can. This causes any item in the way to tear the bag! Luckily I only have to empty once a week, but when I do, it's entirely too much effort just to get the bag out of the can.

That's about it! Would I recommend it? I think you can do better. When I bought it it was crazy cheap and free shipping, so I couldn't pass it up. I would never buy one for over $60 though.

I do not understand why the iTouchless trash can has gotten so many bad reviews. Since I have never used it or seen it prior to owning one I was very reluctant to get it based on all the negative things being said about it. This review is dedicated to anyone like me who had a lot of questions that no one really answered or discussed.

First of all, let me discuss the basic function of this trash can; the fact that it can open up on its own. It does it perfectly. All you need to do is go and throw something out and it automatically opens up. It has an electric eye right on the front of the top of the lid that will open up as soon as anything is within 5 inches of it. It's also very "smart." I have mine stationed right below a telephone and a light switch and it has never once opened spontaneously.

I also love this trash can because it is HUGE. It is very tall and very wide (but it also is slim and slender, if that makes any sense). I can get so much into it and still have extra room. This saves me on garbage bags because I don't need to get as much, and it saves time and effort because I don't need to empty the can as often.

Speaking of emptying the can, I was very afraid to do this. Again this was something that everyone said was a very poor task. I have not had this problem at all. I love the fact that it has the insertion ring because everything is completely self contained. And all I do is pull up the insertion ring and then grab the bag. It's so simple!

The installation/set is next to nothing. The can requires 4 D-batteries. You just pop the batteries in, put in the trash bag around the insertion ring and you're all set. I use larger sized bags, 30 gallon because these seem to hold a lot more and are much stronger. It's also been my experience that this is a universal type of can that will take any sized bag that is a minimum of 13 gallons.

iTouchless is the perfect addition to my kitchen. Because I am constantly cooking, preparing and baking and this is really like having an extra set of hands. I no longer have to worry if I am preparing chicken or have flour on my hands when there's something that needs to be thrown out.

The can also includes an on/off switch (on the back) and a few indicator lights. It also has manual buttons if you prefer to open it own your own or close it on your own. Speaking of closing, it knows to stay open the for exact amount of time and then closes when it's necessary, giving me enough time to throw out anything.

If you purchase it from Amazon (and frankly why wouldn't you, they have the best price and the best service) they will package it perfectly. The original manufacturer's box is packaged inside their own cardboard box. It also comes with an instructional manual and iTouchless also provides a 1-year warranty.

Cleaning the can is so easy. I simply spray it with a little Lysol spray to keep it fresh or use a soapy sponge on it. I also use Mr. Clean wipes, as well. And I keep an Arm & Hammer insert in the bottom of it (outside of the bag) since there is so much extra room. This helps keep everything even extra fresh and clean. And since there is so much extra space I keep my entire garbage bag roll inside the bottom of the can.

I also like this can because it's very attractive. The black color matches my kitchen exactly. And I like that it's totally wireless (it will also take a plug, but I like how it looks better by itself). And when the lid opens within itself it has a very futuristic look. I can remember as a child being in school many years ago and my teacher said that in the future people will have trash cans that open on their own. No one believed her. But she was right. The future is now.