Hand dryer or paper towels - which option is more hygienic?

Effective hand washing is now being talked about much more and more often than ever before. However, it seems that the issue of proper hand drying is still not being addressed enough, even though it is equally important! A moist environment promotes the growth of microorganisms. At home, a soft towel is usually used. But what should be used in public spaces? The most popular options are paper towels and hand dryers. Find out which one is more hygienic.

Paper towels - the classic way to dry your hands

Paper towels are one of the simplest solutions for quickly removing excess water from freshly washed hands. They are designed to be hygienic, as they are only used once and then thrown away. In addition, the physical act of wiping not only removes moisture from the skin, but also any remaining impurities or microorganisms. Furthermore, paper towels are valued for their convenience and versatility - they can be used not only for drying hands, but also for faces, clothes, and various surfaces.

However, this does not mean that this solution is without flaws. In practice, using paper towels does not always allow for proper hygiene to be maintained. In order to achieve this in a public restroom, it is necessary to:

• use a tight and functional paper towel dispenser,
• frequently clean the dispenser (including the inside),
• application of a mechanism that facilitates the extraction of the desired length of towel from the dispenser (e.g. a button or even better touchless system),
• maintaining order (removing wet and scattered towels in the toilet)

In addition, paper towel dispensers placed in bathrooms always generate a large amount of waste - especially since few people pay attention to saving them. Usually, the material they are made of is not recyclable (except for special biodegradable types). In addition, ensuring a constant supply of towels in the toilet can be a problem, and when they run out, visitors are left with no choice but to use their own tissues or leave the bathroom with wet hands.

Hand dryers - more modern, but are they better?

The appearance of hand dryers using warm air has led to the farewell of paper towels in many places, along with a significant amount of waste. It cannot be denied that in this aspect, dryers seem much more environmentally friendly, although on the other hand, they require electricity to operate. However, they are becoming increasingly energy-efficient, and the development of technology that allows for the use of renewable energy sources further benefits the environment.

Most of these devices operate touchlessly, which has a positive effect on maintaining hygiene, as it is the casing that collects the most bacteria. Thanks to the lack of need to touch the machine, hands can be safely and comfortably dried after washing. However, some studies on this topic indicate that traditional warm air dryers may contribute to the spread of microorganisms. Only when they heat up to a sufficiently high temperature can they effectively kill bacteria. For this reason, there is a growing trend towards more modern pocket dryers.

Pocket dryers - one hundred percent hygiene

Currently, pocket dryers are considered the most hygienic method of drying hands in public places. This type of equipment produces cool air at high pressure, literally blowing the water off the skin in just a few seconds. This makes it convenient to use, while also being more economical.

Most modern pocket dryers are equipped with HEPA filters, which capture over 99% of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This means that the air blown out by the device is almost completely free of microorganisms. The air flow is automatically activated when hands are inserted into the device's slot, which means that the entire process is touchless. This is why this method is considered the most hygienic.

Paper or dryer - which one to choose?

According to current reports, pocket dryers are the most hygienic choice for public toilets, but this does not mean that using paper towels or a traditional warm air dryer is harmful. It is enough to choose the right equipment and take care of its proper operation to ensure the safety of all people using the bathroom.

Ryszard Kurek