The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

The Disgusting 'Truth' About Jet Air Dryers

Kimberly-Clark Professional
18 July 2018
 

Kimberly-Clark Professional - the paper towel company - has attacked the use of hand dryers again, inviting visitors to a specially convened website 'to discover The Disgusting Truth about jet air dryers that force you to share bacteria and viruses'.

A KCP spokesperson said: "When you take into consideration that nearly 95% of adults do not wash long enough to thoroughly clean the bacteria and viruses from their hands, the way you dry your hands becomes even more important. Jet air dryers have been found to increase the numbers of bacteria on hands, compared to hands dried with paper towels.  Additionally, jet air dryers can blow water droplets that can contain bacteria and viruses into the surrounding environment, increasing the potential spread of pathogens.

"These devices are often depicted as a compact, faster and more hygienic way to dry your hands. But some surfaces of jet air dryers can harbour up to 48 times more bacteria than a toilet seat."

 

KCP claims 'independent' scientific studies have found:

  • Jet air dryers can increase the bacteria on fingers by up to 42%.

  • When drying your hands with a jet air dryer, water droplets that could contain bacteria and viruses are blown into the air, travelling as far as 2 metres (6.5 feet) and lingering in the air for up to 15 minutes.

  • 70% of the viruses spread by jet air dryers land at the height of a child’s face - (the 'independent' scientist do not state whether this is a tall or a short child).

  • Using a jet air dryer dispersed 1,300 times more viruses than drying with paper towels.

 

Quelle surprise

According to Kimberly-Clark Professional - the paper towel company  - there is a more hygienic choice. The firm says 'drying with paper towels reduces bacteria on fingers by up to 77%. An article published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings  concluded that paper towels are the best hand-drying option in locations where hygiene is paramount. The rubbing process of paper towels physically removes bacteria along with moisture. Single use paper towels are critical to hand hygiene and are recommended as the hand drying method by the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care'.

When faced with a choice of drying methods, 90% of people showed a behavioural preference for paper towels over jet air dryers in the washroom.

Kimberly-Clark Professional invites you to discover The Disgusting Truth about jet air dryers at www.DisgustingTruth.co.uk.

 

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 18 July 2018

Share



Related Articles

Kimberly-Clark Professional Showcases New Dispenser Collection

At The Cleaning Show 2023, Kimberly-Clark Professional presented its collection of high-performance and touchless washroom dispensing systems. The ICON™...

 Read Full Article
Harrods’ Facilities Team Achieves Paper Towel Sustainability

Harrods, the Knightsbridge luxury department store, has solved one of its biggest FM challenges by diverting tonnes of its used paper hand towels from general...

 Read Full Article
78 Per Cent of People Feel There is a High Risk of Germs in Offices

Despite COVID secure guidelines for workplaces, three out of four people still feel there is a moderate to high risk of germs in an office building. A recent survey...

 Read Full Article
Hand Dryers Vs. Paper Towels – What’s the Latest Advice?

How best to dry your hands after washing them seems to be an ever-changing debate in the hygiene and washroom sector, but what is the most up-to-date advice? Most of...

 Read Full Article
Hand Dryers - A Good Measure Of Hand Hygiene?

The first Monday in February is traditionally known as National Sickie Day, the day where employee absence is at its most prevalent. The cynical amongst us might cite a...

 Read Full Article
The Future of Washroom Technology – Q&A With Dr Salomé Giao | Dyson

Sustainability and hygiene are key considerations for businesses looking to keep their public washrooms clean and welcoming for users. Dr Salomé Giao, Lead...

 Read Full Article
The Technology Helping to Create the Washrooms of the Future

In the wake of COP26 and the implementation of the government’s net-zero strategy, businesses are racing to reduce their carbon footprint. One of the main areas...

 Read Full Article
Public Toilets – What Makes a Great Washroom User Experience?

New research shows the components of a "five-star washroom user experience." Excel Dryer UK recently conducted research into what the general public are...

 Read Full Article
Kimberly-Clark Professional Launches Hygienic Toilet Tissue System

As the cleanliness of public spaces remains a key FM challenge, Kimberly-Clark Professional has launched a system designed to deliver maximum hygiene in washrooms. The...

 Read Full Article
Use a Hand Dryer or Paper Towels – But Please Not Your Clothing

With hand washing at the very top of the news agenda right now, it’s important to note that good hand hygiene includes both washing and drying hands thoroughly,...

 Read Full Article