Why You Should Stop Using These Hand Dryers In Public Restrooms

Earlier this year, a study on virus dispersal revealed that these jet-type hand dryers used in public restrooms all over the world may not be as hygienic as we think they are.

A study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, the research compared different hand drying methods that included paper towels, “warm air” dryers and “jet dryers,” like the Dyson Airblade seen in the above photo.

The Dyson Airblade is branded as the “the fastest, most hygienic hand dryer,” but the findings show that these types of hand dryers spread 1,300 times more viral plaque-forming units than regular paper towels and 60 times the amount of the “warm air” dryers. In addition to those findings, there’s something else the Airblade is responsible for that was found in the results.

These dryers fling viruses up to 10 feet, while the “warm air” dryers can only reach about 2.5 feet and paper towels reach a measly 10 inches. Now, that’s something to think about…

But, Dyson is heavily questioning the methods used in the study. Participants in the study had to wear gloves and wash their hands in suspension of viruses, then dry their hands using one of the three different methods. Dyson argued that hopefully people would have washed their hands with soap and water prior to using the Airblade dryer and the study is unrealistic, because of the high concentration of viruses.

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