Are Hand Dryers Sanitary?

The has been lots of negative press surrounding hand dryers but is this justified? – if you take a closer look, this buzzword is usually frenzied together in the media by the paper towel industry, who throw all their might at painting hand dryers as unhygienic products. Why, because hand dryers have been severely reducing paper hand towel sales.

But then again, are paper towels that hygienic? The media doesn’t tend to focus too much on this, but there are independently-sourced studies out there who have found that paper towels and their dispensers actually harbour a number of bacteria.

It makes sense, these products aren’t exactly made in sterile areas and they live in the same place that hand dryers do – our washrooms. Neither hand dryers or paper towels will do you harm when drying your hands, but paper towels can’t really be considered the more hygienic choice.

So, could this just be an attempt by powerful corporations to manipulate the public and keep its profit machine turning, even if it means altering the facts and pushing false headlines? Surely, it’s a consumer’s right to be able to choose one product over another, without the unduly influence of these altered facts and false headlines?

Which is better - hand dryers or paper towels?

We’re not here to slate or discredit paper towels that is unprofessional, even though there of course will be some bias. All we want to do is highlight that hand dryers are receiving some bad press, and set the record straight. A few facts to get us started off:

"Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. Why? Germs can be transferred more easily to and from wet hands; therefore, hands should be dried after washing. However, the best way to dry hands remains unclear because few studies about hand drying exist, and the results of these studies conflict. Additionally, most of these studies compare overall concentrations of microbes, not just disease-causing germs, on hands following different hand-drying methods. It has not been shown that removing microbes from hands is linked to better health. Nonetheless, studies suggest that using a clean towel or air-drying hands are best."

Concerns – as the world becomes more environmentally conscious, people are becoming more aware of the negative impact paper has on the planet. Hand dryers did used to be quite inefficient, but as they are now comparable on dry times with paper towels, that constant source of profit for the paper towel industry is at risk.

Why hygiene? - Due to the fact that the environmental impact and costs cannot really be disputed, the paper towel industry has to take a different angle to create doubt around hand dryers.

And hygiene does tend to really interest people and makes headlines – so this is the angle they have chosen to create a buzz around both paper towels and hand dryers.

The research that the media use for these big headlines doesn’t tend to be looked into in that much detail by the general public, and so they are not informed of the poor methodology or biased interpretation of results. And this all adds up to the fear factor!

We need to re-focus onto the harsh reality of climate change. The paper towel industry is diverting public opinion away from this so that people do not look too closely at the environmental impact of paper. Hand dryers use a minimal amount of energy and so are better for the environment. They are also big money savers, so are ideal for schools, hospitals, etc. which may need the money elsewhere.

Yes, they do. As mentioned above, they are perfect for any locations that need no noise or minimal noise.. Drying your hands is the key to general hygiene, so there obviously needs to be some method in place for this.

In the end, it comes to preference and suitability for your location. However, there are now hand dryers that function just as well and it is now a strong option for those in search of a low waste and environmentally friendly drying method.

If you read the headline and not the conclusion you may become fearful of had dryers, but like all headlines they are designed to provoke a reaction so you read it, normally these articles end with a conclusion that isn't scary at all. The paper towel funded research normally shows that there is bacteria in the airflow of the hand dryer which is x times more than usual. Well, obviously the hand dryer uses the same air as you a breathing in and walking round in but lots more of it flows over your hands. This would be a problem if all this bacteria is deposited on the hands, however the reality is that it isn't, its touching surfaces where you generally pick up bacteria. So washing and drying your hands thoroughly with a hand dryer will always reduce bacteria, never increase it! You are far more likely to touch the hand towel dispenser than you will the hand dryer. HEPA filters also take out the majority of airbourne bacteria but this is not essential to hygienic hand drying.