Hand dryers vs hand towels: Which is more hygienic?

If you are looking to improve your hotel cleaning services for the bathroom, the choice between hand dryers and paper towels is a key consideration. The hygiene implications of both methods are likely something you’ve already thought about, as they play an important role in maintaining cleanliness and guest satisfaction.

However, this is mainly narrowed down to personal preferences, as both sides of the argument have been able to make strong scientific standpoints. Furthermore, this article will address the pros and cons of both methods.

Hand dryers

Hand dryers are perhaps seen as the most advanced form of drying your hands. Especially with some being designed by the biggest technological companies in the world, this method looks more modern and clean, perfect for a public bathroom. 

Paper Towels

If you are in a rush, paper towels might seem the better choice. You can quickly grab a bit of paper to dry your hands rather than standing by a dryer for a few seconds. In fact, on average, it takes around 20 seconds to dry your hands with a dryer, whereas with a paper towel, it is almost instant. 

Eco-friendliness

Unlike paper towels, hand dryers do not require cutting down trees to produce materials. However, they do consume electricity, typically around 1.5 kW per hour. Despite this energy usage, their CO2 emissions are significantly lower than those of paper towels, especially when considering the resources and transportation involved in the production and supply of paper towels. Furthermore, hand dryers do not require ongoing materials for maintenance or restocking, making them a more environmentally sustainable option in the long term.

Cost

Surprisingly, paper towels tend to be the more expensive option, as they cost around three times more per month than hand dryers. The environmental impact of paper towels can also result in a higher cost as well, for example, there is a chance that paper towels get flushed down the toilet, resulting in clogged-up plumbing and more expensive bills to pay. However, there are additional maintenance costs for hand dryers that come into play, which don’t exist for paper towels. For paper towels to be a more viable choice, hand dryer usage would need to be exceptionally low to justify their ongoing cost and environmental impact compared to the long-term savings and sustainability offered by hand dryers.

Which is more hygienic?

To answer this somewhat controversial question, research has found that paper towels are considered more hygienic. However, this is mainly the result of people not drying their hands properly with a hand dryer. They often don’t dry their hands completely and use all the time they are supposed to, which leads to damp hands. Damp hands result in a higher transmission of germs and bacteria. On the other hand, paper towels are more effective at absorbing moisture, which means that hands are drier, decreasing the risk of passing on germs more quickly.  However, if hand dryers were used for the period required, they would be dried just as effectively as a paper towel. 

Do hand dryers blow out dirty air?

Studies suggest that some hand dryers can blow out dirty air, including bacteria and other contaminants. When these dryers are in use, they can draw in air from the surrounding environment, which may contain bacteria, viruses, and dust particles. The air can then be blown onto the user’s hands, potentially increasing exposure to these contaminants. 

Research has found that warm air dryers and older models, in particular, may spread more bacteria compared to newer, high-efficiency hand dryers, which are designed to minimise this risk. High-speed dryers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are more effective at filtering out contaminants before the air is blown onto the hands.

So, what’s the verdict?

With all this being said, it is still not crystal clear which method of drying your hands is considered more hygienic. There are strengths that paper towels have, such as the ability to absorb more moisture, however, a hand dryer can also be just as effective if used for the prescribed time. Also, some hand dryers are built in with advanced technology, helping to transmit less bacteria through the airflow. Consequently, it all whittles down to the effectiveness of both drying methods, for example, the costs, practicality and eco-friendliness that come into play. 

Donau provides high-quality hotel cleaning services to ensure your interior is delivering on both cleanliness and practicality. If you need help with any hygienic questions for your premises, contact our knowledgeable team today.