XLERATOR = HAND HYGIENE.

Are hand dryers sanitary?

Yes! Drying your hands with a hand dryer is sanitary. Recently, experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have unequivocally stated that hand dryers are a supported hand drying solution and that people should make sure they dry their hands completely, since “germs spread more easily when hands are wet.”

In fact, hand hygiene consists of two components: hand washing and hand drying. Both are equally important. The World Health Organization’s advice is to frequently clean and dry hands thoroughly. With the emergence of COVID-19, hand hygiene has become more relevant than ever before. Experts agree that proper hand hygiene is the best way to avoid the spread of germs, including coronavirus. 

Do hand dryers spread germs? The presence of germs and bacteria is inevitable in high traffic areas like bathrooms, not all hand dryers offer the same level of germ protection. Hand dryers with a HEPA filter are highly recommended. Excel Dryer’s hand dryer with HEPA filter captures particles as small as 0.3 microns and removes 99.999% of potentially present bacteria.

Moreover, Paul Suits, director of Infection Control at Upstate Medical University, stated that hand dryers are safe to use. He added that users of restrooms should be more concerned about not drying their hands properly – “If you don’t completely dry your hands, it won’t kill all of the bacteria.”

Are paper towels or hand dryers more sanitary? For decades people have been reading scary headlines about the spread of germs by hand dryers, which influences public opinion towards biased conclusions. The truth is, according to a study on germs found on paper towels conducted by the American Journal of Infection Control, bacteria are easily transferred from paper towels to individuals after handwashing.

Instead, hand dryers foster a more hygienic environment: without touch sensors, they are a hands-free way to dry your hands, and therefore reduce the number of touchpoints in restrooms. Furthermore, there is no scientific evidence to determine that hand dryers actually spread germs on your hands more than paper towels. For an added level of user confidence, a facility may want to consider adding HEPA Filtration and anti-microbial wall guards.

Are hand dryers actually full of bacteria? Excel hand dryers were tested by LMS Technologies and are proven to remove 99.97% of potentially present bacteria at 0.3 microns from the airstream.

In 2019, Nature published a study on the comparison of six different hand-drying methods, including air jet dryers, to establish their efficiency in removing bacteria after handwashing. At the end of the experiment, it was clear that the use of the hand dryer “was the most effective method, having the best performance in removing bacteria, with a removal percentage of 94.9%.” Additionally, it was proven that more bacteria were removed when drying hands in a stationary position versus rubbing them together.

Do hospitals use hand dryers? Yes, both health care facilities and hospitals use hand dryers. Read about Northwestern Memorial Hospital and see why they chose the XLERATOR hand dryers. The senior living community Seabury Life Planning also uses Excel hand dryers.

What are the CDC guidelines for hand washing during the COVID-19 pandemic? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest washing hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. It is fundamental to dry hands completely afterward. Read more on the CDC official website.