Choosing paper towels over hand air dryers improves the safety and hygiene of your facility.
By now, we all know that proper handwashing is critical to reducing the spread of germs. But as research proves, so is hand drying. The science is clear—after washing your hands, single-use paper towels are the most effective way to remove lingering viruses and bacteria, and prevent the spread of germs.* To help reduce cross-contamination and contribute to a more hygienic facility, it’s time to unplug those hand air dryers, and install LoCor no-touch paper towel dispensing systems.
The World Health Organization’s global guidelines on hand washing recommend single-use paper towels over other hand drying methods.*
Hand air dryers recirculate germs on bathroom surfaces—causing viruses and bacteria to become airborne and spread to unsuspecting guests.*
Single-use paper towels disperse the fewest microbes of all hand drying methods, while jet air dryers disperse the greatest amount.*
The friction created by paper towels helps to dislodge any germs that may still be lingering on hands after washing.*
In locations where health and safety are most essential—like hospitals and clinics—doctors recommend using single-use paper towels instead of hand air dryers.*
High-speed jet dryers disperse 20 times more microbes than warm air dryers, and over 190 times more microbes than paper towels.*
When hand air dryers recirculate germs, they spread the highest concentrations a distance of 2 to 4 feet—about the same height as a young child.*
Even if the inside of an air dryer contains a HEPA filter, the airflow moving out causes microbes on hands and bathroom surfaces to be dispersed and recirculated.*
Compared to air dryers, paper towels dry hands more efficiently, remove more bacteria and cause less contamination than jet air dryers.*
Installing LoCor® paper towels and dispensers is a smart step toward improving the hygiene of your facility.
Our high-capacity paper towel products and no-touch manual pull or electronic dispensers—available in both recessed and surface mount options—are a safe, sustainable alternative to hand air dryers.
It's not just “hot air.”
The science speaks for itself. Review these studies to find out why single-use paper towels are superior to hand air dryers when it comes to keeping restrooms clean and preventing the spread of viruses and bacteria.
This study compared a variety of hand drying methods and measured how much they each contribute to cross-contamination in restrooms. The study confirmed that single-use hand towels disperse the fewest microbes of all hand drying methods, while jet air dryers disperse the greatest amount.
This research used petri dishes to measure the amount of bacteria dispersed and circulated by hand air dryers. Without the hand air dryers on, the dishes had less than one colony of bacteria. But after 30 seconds of exposure under a dryer, they had an average of 18 to 60 colonies—with one dish growing over 250 colonies.
The World Health Organization published global guidelines for hand washing in healthcare settings. Following thorough hand washing and rinsing, their recommendations advise users to use single-use paper towels to prevent the transmission of microbes.
This study tested different drying methods to see which dispersed the most microbes into the surrounding environment. The results found that high-speed jet dryers disperse 20 times more microbes than warm air dryers, and over 190 times more microbes than paper towels. Even if a hand air dryer contains a HEPA filter, the airflow causes microbes on hands and bathroom surfaces to be dispersed and recirculated—spreading the highest concentrations a distance of 2 to 4 feet.
A team from The Mayo Clinic reviewed several studies that measured the hygiene of various hand drying techniques. They determined that compared to hand air dryers, paper towels dry hands more efficiently, remove more bacteria and cause less contamination than jet air dryers. The friction created by paper towels also helps to dislodge any lingering germs after washing. The report’s authors also recommend using single-use paper towels instead of air dryers in hospitals and clinics.