This year, when hand washing has become more important than ever because of the coronavirus, the age-old debate is still ongoing: should you use paper towels or a hand dryer? The answer to this question is not as straightforward as one would believe. Some people swear to paper towels, while others are concerned about the waste they create. At the same time, there are those who are worried about hygiene when using hand dryers. There is actually a lot to take into account when equipping your commercial bathroom. Here are a few considerations that will help you make the right choice.
Consider the environmental impact
In this day and age, our carbon footprint should be something that is always on our minds. This concern is even more important in the case of commercial bathrooms that get a lot of traffic on a daily basis. It might be difficult to tell which hand drying method is better for the environment, so you should look at the numbers.
While you might want to cut back on your electricity usage by choosing paper towels, the fact of the matter is that the production of paper towels, as well as their transportation, disposal, decomposition, and all the pollution that is involved in the process, has a much greater impact on the environment than a modern hand dryer. However, this does not necessarily mean that any hand dryer is a good choice. Traditional warm air hand dryers cannot compete with modern jet hand dryers.
Think about hygiene
Consumers generally believe paper towels to be more hygienic, which is why they are the more popular choice. Indeed, on various occasions, research has shown that hot air dryers can become the breeding ground for bacteria, which is something that everyone wants to avoid in a public restroom. The main reason for this is not the dryer itself but the bacteria that are already found in bathroom air due to flushing toilets without closing the lid. The warm air of a hand dryer provides the optimal environment for bacteria to multiply, and when turned on, it also disseminates them in the air. Despite the fact that these bacteria are rarely disease-causing, in places where hygiene is the top priority, paper towels are a more solid solution.
However, there are various ways to reduce the concern about hand dryers: a good ventilation system, air purifiers, and self-closing toilet lids nip the problem in the bud. In addition, according to a study, jet hand dryers that blow the water off your hands as opposed to evaporating it are actually a very effective way to remove bacteria from wet hands. Ultimately, it’s more important that one efficiently dries their hand than how they do so, as wet hands are more likely to spread germs.
Price vs. value
Another thing to consider when equipping your commercial bathroom is, of course, the costs. Which option is best for you depends on your business and your washroom needs. Using paper towels costs significantly more per use than the electricity a hand dryer uses. In the short term, they might seem more budget-friendly, but for the long term, you might want to look for an investment that will cut back on your expenses.
If you opt for paper towels, they are going to be an ongoing expense for your budget; not only purchasing the paper towels themselves but other associated items such as waste bins and lining for them. Considering the fact that today, we wash our hands much more frequently than we used to, these expenses might be larger than you’d initially expect. Your supplies quickly depleting will also require frequent restocking, which requires manual labor. If your restroom does not get a lot of traffic, this is not a big drawback, though.
On the other hand, hand dryers require a larger investment up-front, which might pose a problem for your budget. However, once they are installed, you won’t need to think about restocking and similar matters, other than regular cleaning. Places that get a lot of traffic can thus save a lot of money in the long term this way. Ultimately, as long as you choose a hand dryer that is appropriate for the amount of traffic your washroom gets, you won’t be making a bad investment.
Efficiency
From the consumers’ point of view, the efficiency of the hand drying method your commercial restroom offers is also of importance. For instance, if the hand dryer you have is ineffective, people might become impatient and walk out with wet hands instead of waiting an extra 20 seconds.
As already mentioned, drying one’s hands is a part of proper hygiene, so it’s in everyone’s best interest to make sure people can do so. Paper towels are more effective on this front than standard hand dryers that can take up to 43 seconds to dry one’s hands. However, as we mentioned a few times already, jet dryers are superior in various ways. It takes approximately the same amount of time to dry one’s hands with a jet hand dryer as with paper towels.
When deciding between paper towels and electric hand dryers for your commercial restroom, there are a lot of things to consider. If your restroom gets little traffic, it might not pay off to invest in an efficient hand dryer. However, if it does get a lot of traffic, paper towels can not only be a big expense but a concern for the environment as well. While hand dryers have a bad rap hygiene-wise, they are not nearly as bad as some people believe and they can be a better long-term solution for your business.
