HealthDay Reports: Paper Towels Beat Air Dryers Against Viruses, Small Study Finds
When you're in a public bathroom, you're often confronted with two choices for how to dry your hands after washing: paper towels or an air dryer. A new small study took a look at the most effective option that helps reduce the spread of microbes.
Paper Towels Beat Air Dryers Against Viruses, Small Study Finds
FRIDAY, April 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Frequent hand-washing with soap and water is key to preventing the spread of coronavirus, but what's the best way to dry your hands afterward?
In a new, small study, British researchers found paper towels were better than the air dryers often found in public restrooms at getting rid of germs that are still on your hands after you wash them.
"Good hand-washing practice should be followed by proper hand-drying. Paper towels can help reduce the spread of microbes and should be a preferred method of hand-drying, especially at a time when good hand hygiene is the most effective measure to prevent COVID-19," said study author Ines Moura, a research fellow at the University of Leeds.
The method used to dry hands can help reduce microbial contamination, not just on hands but also on the body and the environment outside the washroom, she explained.