March 22, 2021
Are Paper Hand Towels Hygienic?

It is essential to practice good hand hygiene by thoroughly washing and drying the hands to prevent cross-contamination. Electric hand dryers are commonly used in public washrooms. Hand dryers, on the other hand, disperse bacteria even more than paper hand towels, according to reports.
Our hands are one of the most important tools we have in our everyday lives; no matter what we do, we touch surfaces and pick up bacteria from the environment. Hand hygiene isn’t just about how you wash your hands; it’s also about how you dry your hands afterwards.
Since not all bacteria die when you wash your hands with rinsing water and soap, dry skin is essential. Dry skin, on the other hand, prevents bacteria from developing. You reduce the chance of cross-contaminating other surfaces, individuals, or yourself by leaving the toilet with dry hands.
Electric hand dryer systems have been installed in many public toilets, baths, and kitchens as a modern and more effective alternative to the conventional paper hand towel solution. The use of hand dryers, sadly, has a detrimental effect.
Compared to traditional paper hand towels, hand drying systems have been shown to disperse bacteria over a much wider radius. This indicates that the safest product to use to prevent and control infection is paper hand towels.
Paper hand towels are the preferred way of hand drying
Paper hand towels are a safe product to use if you don’t want bacteria to spread. Single-use paper hand towels are the end user’s favourite hand drying process, in addition to being the most hygienic option.
The European Tissue Paper Association (ETS) observed and polled nearly three to four thousand people to find out how they like to dry their hands. According to the report, 89 percent of men and 90 percent of women choose to use paper hand towels instead of electric hand dryers.
Another compelling reason to go for the paper hand towel solution is that it is simple to set up and maintain. You only need to consider the following criteria if you don’t have a paper hand towel solution in your washroom, kitchen, or other places where hand hygiene is essential:
High-quality paper hand towels
Paper for hand towels is available in various qualities, each of which affects the paper’s ability for suction. The cost of high-quality paper hand towels is always higher than the price of a low-quality paper hand towel.
As a result, a higher-quality paper hand towel can be more cost-effective in the long run and is proved to be more hygienic. If you want to build or maintain a green profile, you can look for organic paper hand towels certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the Westminster report, paper hand towels disperse germs from hands the least into the surrounding area. Following the handwashing process, disposable paper hand towels also help remove any bacteria that may have remained on the hands. Paper hand towels may be used for a variety of tasks, including shutting off faucets and opening doors.
Paper Hand Towels Reduce Germs in the Washroom
By pressing air over the user’s palms, air dryers extract water and moisture. Any residual water and bacteria are sprayed into the air and onto nearby surfaces such as countertops and doorknobs by the user. Pathogens bind to people’s hands and exit the bathroom when those surfaces are touched, raising the possibility of cross-contamination.
The movement of pathogens from one section of the building to another is known as cross-contamination. Pathogens from the bathroom, for example, will remain on staff’s hands and end up in the kitchen if proper wash and dry procedures are not followed. Hand dryers can hit speeds of more than 370 miles per hour (mph), spreading pathogens up to five feet away from the drying machine. These pathogens can also last up to 15 minutes in the air. Opening the bathroom door with a towel
Paper hand towels reduce the risk of bacteria spreading through the air and contaminating surrounding surfaces. Paper hand towels collect bacteria and moisture from the user’s hands, which can then be discarded in a nearby bin. Paper hand towels can also be used to close doors and turn off faucets, so that building occupants don’t have to touch these high-touch surfaces.
Are Paper Hand Towels Hygienic?
Even after washing their hands with soap and water, pathogens will stay on people’s hands. According to a Michigan State University survey, nearly 95 percent of adults do not wash their hands long enough to remove bacteria and viruses entirely. Using paper hand towels to dry your hands will help kill any of the bacteria that are still on them. The physical motion kills pathogens while also removing them from the user’s hands.
Also, paper hand towels and electric dryers are both commonly used in washrooms but, when given the option, 75% of people would instead use paper towels than hot air dryers.
Facility managers should offer visitors their preferred hand drying method while providing a safer, healthier atmosphere by providing paper towels in public washrooms. Although it can seem to be a myth, paper towels can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to dry your hands.
Air dryers contribute to energy waste compared to paper hand towels and, with sustainability high on the agenda for many organisation.
Talk to us today about paper hand towels and how you can have a clear, safer, more cost-effective and sustainable solution for your visitors.