Ditch the hand dryer: Paper towels are MORE hygienic because they remove more germs

• Study found sponges tend to be more efficient simply because they dry hands faster and stop change in bacteria
• Sponges also physically remove bacteria
• Previous research has discovered that hairdryers harbour microbes and may blast bacteria into atmosphere

By Daily Mail Reporter

Released: 16:06 GMT, 4 June 2013

Researchers have exercised the easiest method to dry both hands – and sponges win, erm, hands lower!

It seems that sponges not just dry hands faster than electric driers, they're also more clean.

While the significance of washing hands is apparent, the advantages might be un-tied if they're not dried correctly, experts stated.

Looks could be misleading: Despite their status to be untidy, hands towels tend to be more clean than hairdryers simply because they physically remove bacteria

It is because wet hands be more effective at creating bacteria than dry ones, biomedical researcher Cunrui Huang stated.

His overview of 12 studies discovered that, overall, sponges were ‘superior’. One study found they leave hands 96 percent dry after just 10-seconds. After just a few seconds, both your hands are 99 percent dry. More...

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By comparison, a drier takes a minimum of 45 seconds. How long is essential since most people spend merely a couple of seconds on drying out their hands.

One study found males spend 17 seconds using hot-air driers and ladies 13.3 seconds – a small fraction of time needed.

Sponges also obtained greater since the rubbing motion may physically remove bacteria.

Previous research has discovered that hands hairdryers harbour bacteria and may blast bacteria in to the atmosphere and promote infection

By comparison, air driers may blow them onto your body – an issue in public places toilets, where regular eliminating of cisterns disperses bacteria in mid-air.

'This can increase the amount of bacteria by an impressive 255 percent,' stated Keith Redway, senior academic in Microbiology and Molecular Biology at Westminster College.

Bacteria will be blown onto both your hands of customers and in to the atmosphere.

This can lead to the opportunity of multiplication of microorganisms for example salmonella and E. coli, as people frequently dry their hands before cleaning them correctly.

Within the Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal, Dr Huang, from the Queensland College of Technology around australia, stated: ‘There is really a chance of persons standing around air driers obtaining the bacteria spread in mid-air current towards them.’

Researchers state that you should clean both hands completely with cleaning soap before drying out them

Cloth towel comes were marked lower due to the sheer amounts of individuals with them.

Although antibacterial washes are crucial in high-risk conditions for example hospitals and advantageous on luxury cruise ships as well as on planes, they aren't necessary in daily existence.

Previous research has proven that hands hairdryers are frequently contaminated by bacteria within the outlet nozzle and also the warmth in the dryer is the best temperature to inspire their growth.

Keith Redway's studies have proven that disposable sponges remove 58 percent of bugs and cotton curler-towels 45 percent.

'The message needs to be to clean after which dry both hands completely, using sponges, not the new-air hairdryers, described Redway.