These days, you can often see hand dryers installed in public restrooms. This encourages people to dry their hands with air rather than using multiple paper towels. You might think that this method, which uses warm air and UV light, would be more sanitary for removing bacteria, but that’s not actually the case. Let’s look at how vulnerable hand dryers are to bacteria and how to dry your hands properly after washing.
The misconception that hand dryers are more sanitary
Hand dryers are installed in countless buildings, such as shopping malls, restaurants, and airports. However, these hand dryers have been found to hinder the main purpose of hand washing, which is to remove bacteria. Research has shown that compared to hands dried with paper towels, those dried with hand dryers have more viruses left on them.
This can spread viruses and bacteria
The process of drying your hands is just as necessary as the process of washing them. You can dry your hands at home with a clean towel, but it’s not easy when you’re out. Hand dryers remove moisture from your hands with strong air, but this air can disperse moisture and virus particles from your hands into the air.
Paper towels are the most sanitary
The research results show that paper towels are a better method for keeping away bacteria than hand dryers. Paper towels trap virus particles without dispersing them within a limited space in the towel. Additionally, drying your hands with a paper towel is faster and removes bacteria due to friction, making your hands cleaner.
Won’t viruses stick to paper towels?
So, won’t viruses stick to paper towels? While it can’t be said that there’s no chance of them adhering to the surface of a paper towel, the number is significantly less compared to a hand dryer. As proven by multiple studies, paper towels are less contaminated and superior in hygiene. When disposing of used paper towels, avoiding exposure to viruses by crumpling them up and throwing them in the trash can is good.
How to use a hand dryer correctly
If you have no choice but to use a hand dryer, following the correct usage method is essential. First, place your hands in the dryer and adjust the hand position so that all surfaces of your hands are exposed to the airflow. Then, allowing enough time for hands to dry completely is crucial. If you rush the drying process, your hands can stay damp, increasing the risk of bacterial growth. Lastly, rub your hands together in the dryer and ensure the airflow goes through every part of your hands. This action helps to remove as much moisture as possible from your hands, aiding in complete drying.
What about the effectiveness of UV sterilizers?
Have you ever seen a UV sterilizer in a restroom? Apart from hand dryers and paper towels, what about the effectiveness of UV sterilizers? The World Health Organization warns against using UV lamps to sterilize hands or skin as they can cause skin inflammation. Since the soap has already sterilized your hands, there’s no need to sterilize them with a dryer again. It’s important to remember that dryers with UV features can damage your skin.
Proper hand washing is also important
Hand washing is one of the best ways to protect yourself from viruses and harmful bacteria. Surprisingly, many people don’t know how to wash their hands properly. First, wet your hands with warm or cold water, then turn off the tap and apply soap. Lather up and scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails for at least 20-30 seconds. Then dry your hands with a clean towel or let them air dry, making sure to dry them completely.
Incorrect hand-washing methods
If you wash your hands incorrectly, you can’t altogether remove bacteria and viruses; the remaining germs can multiply even faster. Washing your hands only with water because there’s no soap, washing only part of your hands, or washing your hands too fast is incorrect.
You must completely remove moisture from your hands
If you wash your hands thoroughly but don’t dry them well, bacteria can proliferate. Bacteria thrive in moist environments, which means wet hands can be even more dangerous than unwashed hands. Wet hands can promote more vigorous bacterial growth than dry hands, so if you wash your hands and touch bathroom door handles, faucets, and other things with your wet hands, the bacteria will increase even more.
Should you use restroom soap?
You might not feel like using the unsanitary-looking soap left in public restrooms. Can bacteria grow on soap? The answer is “yes.” Bacteria can indeed grow on soap. However, if you wash your hands for more than 30 seconds, the bacteria won’t transfer to your hands during washing. Soap is a surfactant of molecules that dissolve well in water (hydrophilic) and oil (lipophilic). Most bacteria are hydrophobic, so they are removed along with the grease. If you lather the soap and wash it for over 30 seconds, you can remove all the bacteria.
By. Shin Young Jeon
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