Study Shows Paper Hand Towels Most Hygienic Way to Dry Hands

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The European Tissue Symposium (ETS), Brussels, Belgium, has conducted two studies related to hand drying in public washrooms. The first preference study by Interfere on behalf of the ETS focused on finding out which drying method people prefer in public toilets. The second study was a hygiene study by University of Westminster measuring the effectiveness and hygiene of warm air dryers and paper hand towels.

The hygiene study investigated drying efficiency, changes in the numbers of bacteria on the hands after drying, and potential contamination of other users and the washroom environment. Results showed that the warm air dryer was considerably less efficient (i.e. slower) than the five types of paper towel. After washing and drying hands with the warm air dryer, the total number of bacteria was found to increase on average on the finger pads by 194% and on the palms by 254%. After washing and drying hands with a paper towel, the total number of bacteria was reduced on average on the finger pads by up to 76% and on the palms by up to 77%.

In the preference study, the majority of respondents (96%) believed that paper hand towels are the most hygienic way to dry their hands. Results showed that 88% of Europeans will always dry their hands with whatever drying system is available. Hygiene is considered the most important factor when choosing the ideal drying device by almost all (95%) of the respondents. When offered the choice, 63% of respondents chose tissue hand towels as their preference. More information about the study is available on University of Westminster website.