The science is clear: single-use paper towels are a more effective and hygienic way
to dry your hands after washing.
| Jet air dryers | Paper towels | |
Using a jet air dryer dispersed 1,300 times more germs particles then drying with paper towel. | Drying your hands with paper towel can reduce bacteria on hands by up to 77%. | |
The inner surfaces of jet air dryers can harbour up to 48 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. | The rubbing process of paper towels physically removes bacteria along with moisture. | |
| Coliform bacteria were found on 52% of jet air dryers tested | Faced with choice of drying methods, 90% of people chose paper towels over jet air dryers in the restroom. | |
| Jet air dryers can increase the bacteria on fingers by up to 42% | Paper towels are the recommended hand-drying method of the World Health Organisation (WHO) “Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care’. | |
| When drying your hands with a jet air dryer, water droplets that could contain bacteria and germs are expelled into the air, travelling as far as 6.5 feet and lingering in the air for up to 15 minutes | Given the strong preference for using paper towels, hand hygiene adherence would possibly decrease if paper towels are not available in washrooms, according to a review article in the Mayo clinic proceedings. |
