A new study finds using paper towels is more effective than conventional jet air dryers for removing microbes when drying poorly washed hands.
Hand dryers vs paper towels.
The environmental figures for paper towels rely not just on its use but on the production transportation and disposal.
Jet hand dryers which are energy efficient release 0 088 pounds per use.
Paper towels can help reduce the spread of microbes and should be a preferred method of hand drying especially at a time when good hand hygiene is the most effective measure to prevent covid.
Both types of hand dryers have less environmental impact than paper towels.
On average the paper towels removed 71 of the bacteria on the volunteers hands while the hand dryers only removed 23 confirming that the myth is true for individuals.
As an invention the paper towel isn t much older than the hand dryer.
Adam and jamie also wanted to find out how clean the drying area of the restroom stayed with each drying method.
The scott paper company based in philadelphia and now owned by the tissue giant kimberly clark developed the first restroom.