“To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.”
Hand Dryers vs Paper Towels – The Facts
Since the widespread adoption of electric hand dryers in public washrooms over 50 years ago, a persistent question has lingered—what’s the superior choice, paper towels or hand dryers? The ongoing debate was reignited by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting society to scrutinize hand hygiene practices more closely.
There is no straightforward answer to this question, and the decision-making process for washroom providers often boils down to personal preference. However, it is crucial that both providers and end users are well-informed, considering various factors such as hygiene, noise, environmental impact, and cost.
While some businesses lean towards using paper towels due to what they perceive as a simpler option, we find that this decision is often made without exploring the broader implications, including economic and environmental impacts. Hand dryers prove to be a cost-effective solution, requiring less maintenance and avoiding the creation of hazardous mess and waste in washrooms, unlike paper towels. Moreover, they contribute to schools and businesses achieving their carbon reduction targets.
In the following discussion, we will delve into the key considerations when deciding between paper towels and hand dryers. Let’s start with:
Hygiene
Various studies have suggested that paper towels may be considered a more hygienic drying method compared to electric hand dryers, citing a reduced risk of bacterial dispersal into the atmosphere. However, the effectiveness of this method depends on how towels are disposed of and stored. Damp paper towels left uncovered in warm environments pose a significant risk of becoming breeding grounds for germs.
It is essential to note that health professionals emphasize that preventing bacterial spread relies heavily on thorough handwashing, and hand drying alone has limitations in ensuring optimal hand hygiene. While proper hand drying practices can contribute to minimizing bacterial transmission, they are not a standalone solution.
Our hands are continuously exposed to various bacteria, and our immune systems play a crucial role in maintaining our health. The prevailing consensus is that studies highlighting paper towels as more hygienic are largely theoretical, with minor fluctuations in bacteria having negligible impacts on overall health. Ultimately, whether one opts for a paper towel or an electric hand dryer after using the washroom is a matter of personal preference and is unlikely to have a significant impact on hygiene, provided proper handwashing practices are followed initially.
Noise
Many businesses opt for paper towels over hand dryers due to the sound levels emitted by most modern hand dryers. As electric hand dryers have become more powerful and more efficient at drying our hands, they have also become louder and more intrusive, which is especially noticeable when they are used in locations such as libraries and schools.
Airdri was the first-hand dryer manufacturer to be awarded the Quiet Mark™ by the UK Noise Abatement Society in 2012, and we continue to innovate in this area, creating some of the quietest hand dryers on the market.
The prestigious Bodleian Library at Oxford University recently fitted their washrooms with the quiet Airdri Quad hand dryer, which speaks to its exceptionally low sound levels, and it has also been customised with a child-friendly cartoon dragon fascia, for specific use in schools and nurseries.
Restroom owners no longer need to be concerned with the effects of loud hand dryers. Airdri has a wide range of quiet hand dryers for you to choose from.
Environment
It’s often overlooked that paper towels are non-recyclable, inevitably winding up in landfills. The manufacturing process of paper towels renders the material unsuitable for recycling, leading to tons of waste accumulating in our ever-expanding landfill sites.
In contrast, nearly all components of an electric hand dryer can be recycled at the end of its life cycle. Moreover, the production and operation of an electric hand dryer consume significantly less energy over a 5-year period compared to the equivalent use of paper towels.
Our hand dryers, awarded the GreenSpec designation, ensure your contribution to a more sustainable future. Our consultants are ready to assist you in meeting your carbon reduction targets by guiding you in selecting the ideal Airdri hand dryer for your environmental needs.
Cost
We find that base costs can at times be hidden from business owners among monthly contract fees so they are often unaware of how much money could be saved by switching to a hand dryer.
The Airdri EnviroDRI runs at just 200 watts – this is the most energy efficient hand dryer on the market. It will cost $9 per year to run based on 200 washes per day, 365 days per year.
The Airdri PowerDRI runs at just 800 watts – and has a dry time of 10 seconds for optiumun efficiency. It will cost $20 per year to run based on 200 washes per day, 365 days per year.
Use our cost calculator to compare models and see how much you will save by switching from paper towels to an Airdri electric hand dryer.
Studies show that the average washroom users grabs 2-3 paper towels at once when dryer their hands, which can cost the owners of a busy washroom over $1,800 per year to supply and replace.
So, which is better?
The decision to equip the washroom with paper towels or an electric hand dryer is always the owners to make, but with many businesses facing tighter budgets and there being more emphasis on the protection of the environment, switching from paper towels to hand dryers has never been more appealing.
Explore the EnviroDRI
It’s a high-speed jet dryer that boasts the lowest energy consumption on the market – just 200 watts – and has a life expectancy of around 10,000 drying hours.
Looking to compare running costs based on usage?
Use our Running Cost Calculator to get an accurate picture of how much you can save by choosing an Airdri electric hand dryer v.s. opting for paper towels.