This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply. Beth Mole, writing for Ars Technica, on how Dyson hand dryers spread viruses in bathrooms: Researchers have long known that warm air hand dryers can launch bacteria into the air—compared to dabbing with paper towels, which unleashes virtually none. But new jet air dryers, made by Dyson, are significantly more problematic—they launch far more viruses into the air, which linger for longer periods of time and reach much farther distances, researchers recently reported in the Journal of Applied Microbiology. This is particularly concerning because viruses, unlike many infectious bacteria, can easily maintain their infectiousness in the air and on surfaces, and just a few viral particles can spark an infection. Expand - View Original
I hate hand dryers, they blow out cold air and take forever to actually dry your hands. Man I miss paper towels in washrooms. Half the time I use them i end up half drying my hands by putting them in my pockets.
Honestly, I'm sure wiping your hands on your jeans isn't the worst thing in the world. Not ideal but you still washed your hands, you know?
For sure, I always wash and I feel that's a big reason why I rarely get sick. I usually get the cold once during the winter and that is usually it. With what you see some people do these days why would you not wash?
This is me. Hate hand dryers in restrooms if that's the only option(that isn't paper towels) I just use my pants. Hate when places don't have paper towels though, because I use those to open the door handle so I won't dirty my just washed hands.
I've personally always preferred paper towels so I can turn off the sink and open the door with them anyway. Bothers me when that option isn't available
I definitely understand the environmental implications of using paper towels, but with a foodservice corporation background and from a safety and sanitation standpoint, paper towels are where it's at. I can't stand bathrooms that don't have paper towels - especially when you then have to put your clean hands on a disgusting door handle to open the bathroom.
Wow just as I read this I walk into the bathroom at work and all dispensers are replaced with these things.
I thought this was already widely known? Like, I remember hearing a while ago that these things are nasty and just spray germs on your hands as you dry them.