More people are taking time to wash their hands to prevent illness during the pandemic. Yet some are putting germs right back on their hands before they even leave the bathroom.
The coronavirus outbreak has made more people aware of frequently washing their hands and minimizing touching their faces. Yet fewer consider how they dry their hands after rinsing off soap and water. The Cleveland Clinic reported last fall that a jet air dryer (the high-speed dryer that blows out fast-moving air that is frequently found in public bathrooms) spreads significant amounts of viruses: in one study, a jet air dryer spread over 20 times of a virus more than a warm air dryer (which uses warm air to evaporate water), and over 190 times more than paper towels. Since jet air dryers force out air sideways, which helps explain the rate of spread, the Cleveland Clinic reported. The organization added that the biggest impact of the virus spread was at 2.5 to 4 feet of height, which “is about face-level for a small child.”
Drying your hands is a small step – one often not given much consideration even when paying attention to hand washing. Yet unknowingly spreading bacteria (especially from public restrooms – yuck!) can leave you with bigger issues than you had when going into the facility. The Cleveland Clinic even recommends avoiding cloth towel dispensers, which frequently has cloth reused.
Once you are finished washing your hands, it is best to wipe your hands with a dry clean towel or to air dry them. This will minimize the spread of bacteria and germs to keep you healthy. If your hands are dirty, hand sanitizer also can help, but the Cleveland Clinic recommends that it’d be at least 60 percent alcohol. Hand sanitizer also has its limitations; it won’t remove dirt from your hands, and it cannot kill all germs.
As the pandemic continues, there is a lot that we are learning about the virus and how it impacts people. Yet we know that by practicing proper hygiene – which also includes properly drying hands – we each can do our part to lower the risk of getting sick while and spreading illness. It’s as simple as reaching for a towel.
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