Paper Towels VS. Hand Dryers: Find the Proper Way to Fight Bacterias

Paper towels VS. Hand dryers: How to choose it?

When considering installing hand dryers in a public washroom, people usually ask the question, "is the paper towel better than the hand dryer?"

We all know washing hands is the best way to prevent the transmission of diseases. Appropriate hand washing can remove the most harmful microbes, germs, and viruses on our hands. This is a common idea during the coronavirus pandemic time.

Drying hands is crucial

However, actually drying hands thoroughly is even a crucial part of the whole hand-washing process because damp hands spread 1,000 times more bacteria than dry hands! Some experts agree that all the benefits of washing hands can be erased if you fail to dry your hand properly.

This is because viruses, germs, and microbes love moisture. If your hands are still damp after you leave the sink, you’re providing a place for germs and bacteria to thrive. Viruses can hide in moisture between your nails and fingers, which facilitates their transfer from the skin to other surfaces.

The proper way to dry your hands

So, what is the proper way to dry your hands?

Some studies argue that paper towel is better than hand dryers because hand dryers may carry more germs on their nozzles and spread them everywhere when you dry the hands.

But even so, the WHO (The World Health Organization) still approved the use of hand dryers as a way of drying hands throughout the COVID-19 pandemic:

Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus? No. but you still need to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and then "once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer"

Why the WHO can approve the use of hand dryers? So as to US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and Europe ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control).

Reason 1. The research is on the extreme situation and can’t be applied to real life. Also, the research can't prove paper towel is better than hand dryers.

The experts indicated the amount of the virus that such researchers put on is far above what one would reasonably expect to encounter in a normal environment. Thus, there is no sufficient evidence that shows hand dryers allow for a greater risk of contracting the virus.

Actually, hand dryers don’t create microbes and there's usually only minimal bacteria on their nozzles, too. In some cases, air dryers can even be fitted with HEPA filters with other technology that help clean and remove contaminants from the air.

The most important thing is to ensure that we prevent our freshly cleaned hands from contaminated surfaces, including a paper towel dispenser or a hand dryer.

Reason 2. Paper towel has its problems

Paper towel also has some problems. The first issue is about waste. In the US, around six million tons of paper towels end up in landfills each year. Although air hand dryers create carbon emissions, paper towel is not more friendly to the environment.

Other issues are maintenance and management.
When you use the disposable paper towel, they can cause plumbing problems if flushed down the toilet, which requires time and money to fix. Additionally, if you are the manager, paper towels need to be continuously purchased, restocked, and disposed of as waste — all of which leads to increased costs.

Therefore, to weigh all the factors, we should just follow the WHO suggestion to protect ourselves:
To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.

More product link:

Hand Dryer

Hand Dryer - High Speed

Hand Dryer - Special Range

EcoHygiene High Speed Hand Dryer