We’ve all seen been there.

We’ve just washed our hands in a public restroom, and we are scratching our heads (figuratively, of course, as our hands are still wet) because we have two options for drying our hands: an air dryer or a paper towel dispenser.

Which is better? And why?

This is a great question. The most hygenic way to dry hands has been a controversial area in the realm of hand washing.

For a long time, it was believed that hand dryers were the most hygienic means of drying hands (since it doesn’t require touching anything). However, the University of Westminster conducted a study in 2008 that suggests using paper towels could actually be more hygienic!

The study compared paper towels, warm-air dryers, and modern jet-air dryers. It concluded that warm-air dryers actually increased bacteria on the fingertips by 194%, and jet air dryers by 42%, while paper towels reduced finger pad bacteria by up to 76%.

Basically, the study showed that the air produced by the dryers could actually be spreading micro-bacteria!

(It should be noted that the study was sponsored by the European Tissue Symposium (ETS), a trade body representing 90 percent of Europe’s tissue industry, however. You can read more about it HERE.)

So, how do you prefer to dry your hands, and why? Let us know in the comments below!