Arnsberg in August 2016
Jet dryer vs. paper towels –
9 persons out of 10 prefer paper towels
9 persons out of 10 prefer using paper towels to dry their hands instead of a jet dryer. But why is
that? One can often find loose paper towels on the countertops of public lavatories. It is not that easy
to pull out just one – either you end up with five towels hanging onto each other, or with another 3
dripping wet. Isn't there a more effective solution?
Whether in restaurants, cafes, shopping malls or city centres – if you are often on the go, you will
have to visit one place sooner or later: a lavatory. And even if it may sound absurd, restaurants,
public places and companies are often rated according to their lavatories. Paper towels lying about
on the countertop, soap dispensers that seem to be always empty – these are definitely not a good
thing for a positive assessment.
Therefore, many catering establishments, etc. invest in jet dryers that provide everything from gentle
blowing to the ultimate quick drying technology – but they also tend to spread bacteria through the
air. Independent studies have shown that a jet dryer causes 1,300 times as many virus cultures than
a paper towel. On the contrary: A paper towel helps minimise the spreading of viruses. This includes
viruses that lead to all sorts of diseases, such as gastrointestinal infections caused by the norovirus
and rotavirus.
Paper towels vs. jet dryer – is this the “war of wet hands”?
Clean hands are more in demand than ever – and this has resulted in a debate on the most hygienic
way of cleaning them. The media have even termed it a “war of wet hands”. But what do consumers
say?
This question was asked at the European Tissue Symposium industry association in June 2016 and
triggered a field study at the ISSA/Interclean fair in Amsterdam.
“We have conducted this study to get a better picture of people's behaviour in the lavatory”, explains
Roberto Berardi, CEO of the ETS. “The results are clear. The vast majority of people prefer using
paper towels to dry their hands in a lavatory.”
3,879 visitors, including 2,474 men and 1,405 women were observed during this study of hand
washing and hand drying – four lavatories (two for men and two for women) were equally equipped
with paper towels and jet dryers. 90 % of men and even 91 % of women preferred using paper.
“This proves it: Paper towels are not just the most hygienic way of drying hands but also the most
popular one”, continues Roberto Berardi.
It could be so easy: Comprehensive solution, hygienic and popular
But how can restaurants, shopping malls, city centres, companies, etc. provide for proper hand
hygiene in their lavatories and yet avoid having paper lying about and bacteria scattered
everywhere?
These pitfalls can be eliminated by using the self-unfolding paper towels and the matching dispensing
systems by WEPA Professional. The paper towels in V, Z und W fold can be pulled out one by one,
they unfold fully and are particularly soft and absorbent. The matching dispenser provides reliable
dispensing of sheets and a high security of supply. Paper sheets hanging onto each other? Never!
And since the paper towels are pulled out one by one, there is a bigger chance of them landing in the
waste paper basket.
Interested parties can find further information in the WEPA product portfolio on http://www.wepaprofessional.de/en/uebersicht_sortiment_en.php