The unsanitary idea came from a paper towel companies paid study. It used hands dipped in a bacterial solution, and showed that it spreads droplets a significant distance. Unfortunately for the study’s conclusion, most people wash their hands before drying them.
Even if this study was true, the blow dryer still isn’t unsanitary for the one using it, but for somebody standing near him. So why should that keep us from using it? Pure charity’s sake?
Mythbusters did their own test, and air dryers came last, after paper towels and “natural” air drying. Other studies, if you prefer more scientific methods, have shown that the inside of air dryers usually get gunked up with bacteria (they do sit in the bathroom 24/7), which is then spread on your hands.
They’re also rather ineffective at drying (it takes an average of 40-50s of usage to dry, compared to, what? 10-12s on a paper towel?). And they’re worse than simply flailing your hands out in the open. Which shouldn’t be the case.
Sadly the only dryers which are mostly effective are the blade ones which are freaking everyone out because they supposedly blow the bacterial farther (because the air flow is actually sufficient to dry your hands).
If there aren’t paper towels I dry my hands on my pants. You know, just like I normally do after using an air dryer.
Yeah, we have those. They spread 3100 times more bacteria than paper towels, because of the greater force of the air blast. They are also hazardous to the users’ hearing because they’re so loud.
The regular hot air dryers spread only 90 times the bacteria of paper towels, because the air isn’t being blown around the toilets so forcefully.
I don’t use the hurricane-force dryers; I shake most of the water off in the sink and wave and rub my hands together. It works, especially in summer.
But the rubbing of the hands together is what gets all that bacteria buried in your pores to the surface, which is what makes most dryers so ineffective in the first place.
Those things are eardrum-shatteringly loud and I f*&^king hate them. I also can’t go to rock concerts without earplugs, ever.
That said, without taking a decibel meter into the bathroom while it’s running, I can’t say whether or not they’re hazardous to a user’s hearing. There’s a minimum timeframe for each decibel level before it’s hazardous to your hearing, and it may be that for the average length of time someone dries their hands in one of those, it’s not hazardous to their hearing.
That might go out the window if some kid absolutely loves the thing and sits there for five minutes playing with it.
Just use some damn paper towels, people/companies! They’re usually made from sustainably grown trees and they’re compostable. Or if you bury them in landfills they’re carbon sinks. ….unless they’re biodegraded by anaerobic bacteria that metabolize them into methane, then you’re worsening the problem.
THE POINT IS! You can mass-produce/consume paper towels in an environmentally friendly manner, WHILE letting people dry their hands in an efficient and healthy manner!
Does anyone else punch the button on the dryer just so folks outside the restroom will know I washed my hands? …as if drying them on the back of my pants as I walk out wasn’t a big enough clue.
The little picture that shows a guy rubbing his hands together are instructions for the blow dryer. If you hold your hands under it and rub them together as if you were washing them your hands will be dry. It uses the friction of your hands together and the friction of the air to dry your hands off.
I liked hand dryers a lot more once I found out you’re supposed to rub your hands together while holding them under the airflow. Way more effective than just holding them still.
I actually like the dryers over the paper towels. It’s my experience that places with paper towels just have paper towel wads strewn everywhere and it just makes the place look gross.
What I find makes dryers more effective than paper towels is to first shake off the large droplets of water from your hand back into the sink and then use the dryer to get rid of the dampness.
No, both of those are decisively settled. No one likes air dryers except air dryer manufacturers, installers, and that guy just above you. Only one space goes after a period, no exceptions.
I hate those Excel dryers, the ones like a mini turbine engine. Save the environment, but destroy your hearing!
I also suspect people are less likely to wash their hands if no paper towel option was available, and one would be trapped if the door is a pull open door.
Air dryers are full of bacteria. I use paper towels and after drying my hands use it to open the door due to folks who do not wash their hands. It is FAR more sanitary.
The Dyson airblade ones are actually pretty good. Agree on the rest, though
Not to mention that they’re very unsanitary.. I’d rather flail my arms in despair until dry, than have to use that crappy piece of technology..
The unsanitary idea came from a paper towel companies paid study. It used hands dipped in a bacterial solution, and showed that it spreads droplets a significant distance. Unfortunately for the study’s conclusion, most people wash their hands before drying them.
Even if this study was true, the blow dryer still isn’t unsanitary for the one using it, but for somebody standing near him. So why should that keep us from using it? Pure charity’s sake?
Mythbusters did their own test, and air dryers came last, after paper towels and “natural” air drying. Other studies, if you prefer more scientific methods, have shown that the inside of air dryers usually get gunked up with bacteria (they do sit in the bathroom 24/7), which is then spread on your hands.
They’re also rather ineffective at drying (it takes an average of 40-50s of usage to dry, compared to, what? 10-12s on a paper towel?). And they’re worse than simply flailing your hands out in the open. Which shouldn’t be the case.
Amen!
Sadly the only dryers which are mostly effective are the blade ones which are freaking everyone out because they supposedly blow the bacterial farther (because the air flow is actually sufficient to dry your hands).
If there aren’t paper towels I dry my hands on my pants. You know, just like I normally do after using an air dryer.
Blade dryers?
So, you wash your hands and then the machine just cuts them off?
Sounds efficient! 🙂
I once saw one that had four-step instructions written on it. Someone amended it: “5: wipe hands on shirt”
I love the tinny antennae on the bathroom sign.
Do you guys in America have those awesome Dyson ones you put your hands down into? They actually work!
Yeah, we have those. They spread 3100 times more bacteria than paper towels, because of the greater force of the air blast. They are also hazardous to the users’ hearing because they’re so loud.
The regular hot air dryers spread only 90 times the bacteria of paper towels, because the air isn’t being blown around the toilets so forcefully.
I don’t use the hurricane-force dryers; I shake most of the water off in the sink and wave and rub my hands together. It works, especially in summer.
But the rubbing of the hands together is what gets all that bacteria buried in your pores to the surface, which is what makes most dryers so ineffective in the first place.
Those things are eardrum-shatteringly loud and I f*&^king hate them. I also can’t go to rock concerts without earplugs, ever.
That said, without taking a decibel meter into the bathroom while it’s running, I can’t say whether or not they’re hazardous to a user’s hearing. There’s a minimum timeframe for each decibel level before it’s hazardous to your hearing, and it may be that for the average length of time someone dries their hands in one of those, it’s not hazardous to their hearing.
That might go out the window if some kid absolutely loves the thing and sits there for five minutes playing with it.
Just use some damn paper towels, people/companies! They’re usually made from sustainably grown trees and they’re compostable. Or if you bury them in landfills they’re carbon sinks. ….unless they’re biodegraded by anaerobic bacteria that metabolize them into methane, then you’re worsening the problem.
THE POINT IS! You can mass-produce/consume paper towels in an environmentally friendly manner, WHILE letting people dry their hands in an efficient and healthy manner!
The gap on the dyson ones is too small, I can’t get my hands in there without hitting the edge, and that grosses me out.
Same problem. Also, if like me you like to wash a bit further down your wrists as well, you gotta stick your hands into them further…
Obviously shit design 😛
Does anyone else punch the button on the dryer just so folks outside the restroom will know I washed my hands? …as if drying them on the back of my pants as I walk out wasn’t a big enough clue.
Walking out of the bathroom with wet, hand-shaped smears on your pant legs are a good sign that you washed.
…or are really bad at going to the bathroom.
I use paper towels and the dryer thing both at the same time. That’s probably a double slap to Earths face but… dry hands
duuude
The little picture that shows a guy rubbing his hands together are instructions for the blow dryer. If you hold your hands under it and rub them together as if you were washing them your hands will be dry. It uses the friction of your hands together and the friction of the air to dry your hands off.
I liked hand dryers a lot more once I found out you’re supposed to rub your hands together while holding them under the airflow. Way more effective than just holding them still.
I find that air dryers are much more effective than paper towels, but the trick is that you have to run them twice.
They lowered the heat and shortened the timer to cut operating costs.
Wait… You guys wash your hands?
Yes. Especially after I touched any door knobs in there.
I actually like the dryers over the paper towels. It’s my experience that places with paper towels just have paper towel wads strewn everywhere and it just makes the place look gross.
What I find makes dryers more effective than paper towels is to first shake off the large droplets of water from your hand back into the sink and then use the dryer to get rid of the dampness.
And thus humanity once again proved that it’s the simplest things that cause the most divisive arguments. Like how many spaces go after a period.
No, both of those are decisively settled. No one likes air dryers except air dryer manufacturers, installers, and that guy just above you. Only one space goes after a period, no exceptions.
I hate those Excel dryers, the ones like a mini turbine engine. Save the environment, but destroy your hearing!
I also suspect people are less likely to wash their hands if no paper towel option was available, and one would be trapped if the door is a pull open door.
Air dryers are full of bacteria. I use paper towels and after drying my hands use it to open the door due to folks who do not wash their hands. It is FAR more sanitary.