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Which is safer: paper towels or an electric dryer?
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025

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Scientists conducted an experiment that showed that electric hand dryers do not help cleanse the skin and spread bacteria to other parts of the body and clothing. The results of the study were described by the University of Leeds staff in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Previously conducted research by scientists has shown that medical workers do not always adhere to the recommended techniques for sanitary and hygienic hand treatment. As the study showed, only 40% of medical personnel comply with all recommended rules. To better assess the impact of different hand treatment methods on the spread of pathogenic microorganisms and hospital-acquired infections, experts compared the quality of drying using an electric dryer and regular paper towels.
Volunteers took part in the study: first, their hands were treated with an alcohol solution (70% ethyl alcohol), then with a virus-containing liquid. After that, the participants had to dry their hands using an electric dryer or disposable paper towels. During the entire study, each volunteer wore a special apron to identify contaminants. In the second stage, the participants walked along a pre-agreed route inside the hospital, touching various objects and surfaces: in particular, it was necessary to touch the elevator button, the door handle, etc. Then, specialists took samples from these objects and surfaces, as well as from the participants' aprons.
It was found that viral loads on surfaces touched by people who dried their hands with an air dryer were about 10 times higher than those touched by people who used paper towels. Scientists also identified high levels of bacteria on aprons when drying hands with air, which was associated with airborne spread of microorganisms to clothing and beyond.
Based on the results of the study, experts concluded that equipping clinical institutions and medical centers with electric dryers can hardly be considered ideal, since they can become dangerous distributors of hospital-acquired infections and facilitate the transport of bacteria and viruses from insufficiently treated hands to clothing and other surfaces.
Disposable paper towels may not be as convenient to use, but they are still safer and preferable in terms of preventing the spread of infection.
Original source of information: Cambridge.org