Many infections spread through bacteria on your hands, so regular handwashing is essential. But what's the most effective way to dry them afterward?
Why wash your hands thoroughly?
Using soap and washing properly removes nearly all bacteria. Poor washing or skipping soap leaves residues that multiply and spread rapidly on wet skin—think rubbing pants, touching hair, or grabbing door handles, prime spots for contamination.
What's the best way to dry hands?
Paper towels outperform hand dryers when it comes to minimizing bacterial spread.
Why paper towels?
Speed matters. Hand dryers achieve 97% dryness in 45 seconds, but most users stop at 22 seconds, leaving hands 30% wet. Paper towels reach 85% dryness in just 5 seconds and fully dry in 10.
Other key factors
Paper towels' friction physically removes remaining bacteria. Studies also detect bacteria in some hand dryers' airflow.
In short…
Opt for paper towels. If unavailable, use a hand dryer but ensure hands are completely dry.
Watch AsapSCIENCE's video for a clear breakdown:
