A clean restroom isn't just about appearances. It's crucial for the well-being of customers and employees. In a world where safety standards are broadening to include hand and surface hygiene, the way we dry our hands is gaining newfound importance. While hand dryers are often advertised as the solution to cross-contamination, the underlying truth says otherwise. Studies show a staggering 95% of adults fail to wash their hands long enough, leaving behind lingering bacteria and germs even after handwashing.1 Enter single-use paper towels, a simple approach to address the behavioral gap. Keep reading to uncover the facts and convenience behind single-use paper towels effectiveness, presented by Kimberly Clark Professional, available through OMNIA Partners.
4 Reasons Why Paper Towels Are More Effective Than Jet Air Dryers
1. Efficacy
Using a hand dryer may seem like a quick solution, but it often falls short in thoroughly drying hands. It can take a minute or longer to fully dry your hands using a hand dryer, but many people only spend 30 seconds on average using it, which is half the necessary time. As a result, people often leave restrooms with their hands still wet, unknowingly spreading bacteria onto door handles and other surfaces as they exit.
Research shows that using single-use paper towels is the most hygienic hand-drying method*, particularly in environments prioritizing hygiene. Paper towels have been proven to effectively remove up to 77% of bacteria that might remain after handwashing.4 Drying hands with paper towels not only speed up the drying process but also utilizes friction to dislodge any remaining bacteria.5
2. Convenience
In busy restrooms, people may feel pressured to rush through or even skip the handwashing process. Unfortunately, incomplete drying poses a significant risk, as damp hands can spread up to 1,000 times more bacteria than dry hands.6
If hand dryers are limited and customers or employees are having to wait to use them, many will bypass the entire process and leave with wet hands or wipe them on their clothes — compromising the effectiveness of handwashing and thus contributing to the spread of germs.
Single-use paper towels offer a straightforward solution to those challenges. With no waiting required, customers and employees can quickly grab a paper towel from the dispenser, dry their hands as they exit and dispose of the towels before leaving the restroom. This efficient process ensures thorough hand drying, helping to minimize the risk of bacteria transmission and promoting optimal hygiene practices.
3. Cross-contamination
Cross-contamination is a significant concern in restroom hygiene, and paper towels offer a clear advantage in addressing this issue. Unlike hand dryers, which expel high-velocity air, dispersing contaminants throughout the restroom, paper towels keep bacteria contained within the towel.7
Studies have shown that jet air dryers can disperse up to 1,300 times more germ particles into the surrounding air compared to paper towels.8
In contrast, paper towels effectively prevent airborne transmission by confining bacteria, minimizing the spread of germs while contributing to a cleaner restroom environment..png?width=394&height=338&name=KCP_JAD%20blog%20graphic%20(1).png)
4. Bacterial Growth
Despite handwashing, wet surfaces remain susceptible to bacterial growth, even on hands deemed hygienic. Some powerful hand dryers have been shown to expel water droplets containing bacteria as far as 6.5 feet away.9
Paper towels effectively remove moisture, reducing the likelihood of bacterial growth. The physical act of rubbing hands with paper towels also helps to eliminate germs that may not have been removed during washing.5
Advocating for Effective Hand Hygiene
It's important to recognize that air dryers are not inherently unsanitary; rather, they amplify that people don't wash their hands thoroughly, leaving bacteria behind. Single-use paper towels stand out as champions of hand hygiene, offering a reliable solution to ensure hands are thoroughly dried, curbing the spread of germs and promoting a healthier environment for all.
With the support of Kimberly Clark Professional and the purchasing power of OMNIA Partners, procurement professionals can leverage a national program to improve hygiene standards within their facilities and office spaces. Kimberly Clark offers a comprehensive suite of trusted restroom solutions to help increase productivity, reduce waste and improve employee and customer satisfaction. Follow the button below to explore all that Kimberly Clark has to offer through OMNIA Partners.
About OMNIA Partners & Kimberly-Clark Professional
Kimberly-Clark Professional partners with you to create exceptional workplaces, making them healthier, safer and more productive. We create full-service solutions tailored to your needs and leverage our unmatched portfolio of trusted brands to elevate the way people experience your business and what it stands for. Kimberly-Clark Professional products are available to participants of OMNIA Partners through your favorite distributor's contract. Kimberly-Clark Professional brands include Kleenex®, Scott®, Cottonelle®, WypAll®, Kimtech™, and KleenGuard®. To view the entire OMNIA Partners contract portfolio, click here. Not a participant? Become one today!
*When compared to jet air dyers
1. Cp, B., J, C., & S, K. (2013, April 1). Hand Washing Practices in a College Town Environment. Journal of Environmental Health. < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23621052 />
4. Redway, K. (October 2010). Changes in the number of different types of bacteria on the hands before and after drying using paper towel, continuous cloth roller towel, warm air dryer and jet air dryer. University of Westminster
5. Huang, C., Ma, W., & Stack, S. (2012). The Hygienic Efficacy of Different Hand-Drying Methods: A Review of the Evidence. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 87(8), 791–798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.02.019
6. Alharbi, S. A., Salmen, S. H., Chinnathambi, A., Alharbi, N. S., Zayed, M. E., Al-Johny, B. O., & Wainwright, M. (2016). Assessment of the bacterial contamination of hand air dryer in washrooms. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 23(2), 268–271
7. Moura, I. B., Ewin, D., & Wilcox, M. H. (2021). From the hospital toilet to the ward: A pilot study on microbe dispersal to multiple hospital surfaces following hand drying using a jet air dryer versus paper towels. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2021.43
8. Kimmitt, P. T., & Redway, K. F. (2016). Evaluation of the potential for virus dispersal during hand drying: a comparison of three methods. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 120(2), 478–486. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.13014
9. Best, E. L., & Redway, K. (2015). Comparison of different hand-drying methods: the potential for airborne microbe dispersal and contamination. Journal of Hospital Infection, 89(3), 215–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2014.11.007; Best, E. L., Parnell, P., & Wilcox, M. H. (2014). Microbiological comparison of hand-drying methods: the potential for contamination of the environment, user, and bystander. Journal of Hospital Infection, 88(4), 199–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2014.08.002; Visscher, M. O., & Randall Wickett, R. (2012). Hand hygiene compliance and irritant dermatitis: a juxtaposition of healthcare issues. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 34(5), 402–415. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2494.2012.00733.x