From: How Hand Dryers Contribute, CleanLink.

• How Hand Dryers Contribute To Restroom Hygiene

BY CORINNE ZUDONYI, EDITOR

In this seventh of an eight-part Manufacturer Roundtable, Facility Cleaning Decisions took the compilation of questions we received from readers and asked hand dryer manufacturers to weigh in. Here are their responses:  

How can hand dryers contribute to an overall restroom hygiene program?

Reports show that how you wash your hands is the most important part of hygiene in the restroom, there are no significant differences or hygienic advantages whether you use paper towels or hand dryers, as long as you completely dry your hands, removing all possible moisture.– Andrew M. Hansen, New Business Development Manager, Palmer Fixture in Green Bay, WisconsinHigh-speed hand dryers and “touch-free” hand dryers can contribute to an overall restroom hygiene program by eliminating the clutter of used, damp and possibly contaminated paper towels that can carry the viruses and bacteria that cause colds and flu. Some manufacturers offer anti-microbial technology for its hand dryers that inhibit the growth of bacteria, mold and fungus, extending the hand dryer’s service life. Additionally, some hand dryers feature HEPA filters with odor neutralizing tablet systems to help reduce contaminates in the air. – Dan Storto, President, World Dryer Corporation in Berkeley, IllinoisThere has been a debate as to what method of drying hands is more hygienic – paper towels or hand dryers.  Research conducted by the paper towel industry suggests that hand dryers blow germs around the restroom. However, there is new technology that kills germs while the hand dryer is in use. Independent lab testing proves the technology achieves a kill rate as high as 99.6 percent on germs that include E.coli, Staph, MRSA, C.diff and Salmonella.– Jim Fisher, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, American Dryer, Inc. in Livonia, MichiganHand dryers provide a fast and hygienic method for drying hands, reducing the transfer of bacteria between users and surfaces.  By using hand dryers, facilities avoid the problems caused by paper towels, such as soiled towels left around washrooms, overflowing trash cans and empty dispensers that leave users with no way to dry hands at all.– Rob Green, Senior Reliability Engineer, Dyson in Chicago, Illinois

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