September 18 – September 24 is International Clean Hands Week

Hygienic Hand Dryer Installation in Restroom

Hands Dried in Hands-Under Style Dryers Can Help Prevent the Spread of Bacteria

Warm air to cold air, hands-under to trough-style, from the regular brown paper towels to 100% recycled, the great debate of hand dryers vs. paper towels has gone on for years. But the fact remains the same. Many cases of colds, flu and foodborne illnesses are spread by contaminated hands which is why International Clean Hands Week, which goes from September 18 through September 24, is a great time to revisit the importance of proper hand washing and drying.

Explore Hand Drying Solutions

Here are the top five reasons why all Excel Dryer’s high-speed, energy-efficient Hand Dryers are a more hygienic drying solution to keeping germs at bay:

  1. Think that brown paper towel is going leave hands sparkling? Think again. According to a study by the American Journal of Infection Control, (AJIC) unused paper towels made from recycled fibers are home to between 100 to 1,000-fold more bacteria than a wood pulp brand. The bacteria found during the study included the flu virus, Bacillus and Escherichia coli, commonly known as E. coli, the main cause of food poisoning.
  3. It’s all about hand dryer style and hands-under is in, while trough-style is out. A recent investigative report by a CBS-affiliate television station in Chicago found that the trough-style hand dryers are actually blowing bacteria back onto people’s hands. Following the Loyola University Medical Center’s lab protocol, the reporter tested hands that had been washed and then re-tested the same hands after drying in a trough-style hand dryer. Half of those tests showed hands were dirtier after they were dried in those particular machines. Trough-style dryers collect water, unlike hands-under dryers, which is why this design is flawed and not the most hygienic option.
  5. Remember, it all comes out in the wash. Proper hand washing can prevent the spreading of infectious diseases. The American Cleaning Institute® and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends washing hands with anti-bacterial soap for around 20 seconds or singing “Happy Birthday” twice. It is also important to dry hands completely as germs stick to wet/damp hands more than dry hands.

Visit Excel Dryer’s website to learn more about hand hygiene including independent third-party studies and view multimedia from industry experts or call (888) 798-0847.