Paper towel or air dryer
By sunnflr
@sunnflr (2767)
United States
July 12, 2008 8:20pm CST
Which do you prefer to use to dry your hands in the restroom? I know it's more environmentally friendly to use the air dryer, and I do use them, but I don't really like them best. I feel like I get my hands dried better with paper towels.
It does take more effort and is worse for the environment to use paper towels though. If they recycle them there is still the cost to haul them to the recycling place. So, even though it's a little more environmentally friendly to recycle it still puts stuff in the air with the trucks taking the paper from place to place.
But, they use extra electricity to run the air dryers. Probably not as much harm done as with the paper towels though.
My husband saw a thing on tv not long ago that you actually put your hands into and it blew the water off. Supposed to work alot better. Maybe they'll get those everywhere soon.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Sunnflr,
I think it's better to not use the paper towel, so that means I'm opting for the hand dryer. Actually, sometimes, I just shake the water off and let my hands air dry. They usually get dry in a minute or so.
This is an interesting discussion because it makes me wonder which way is actually better: using paper towels or using electricity. Thanks for this discussion.
1 person likes this
@RhythmWalker1 (825)
• United States
13 Jul 08
Doesn't the air drying actually use electricity?
Shouldn't we be more careful about certain costs issues?
Paper can be recycled, I wonder if paper towels can?
I use paper towels when in public and a regular hand towel at home.
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@sunnflr (2767)
• United States
13 Jul 08
That's what I was saying...dryers do use electricity, but I'm not sure if it's worse to have trucks carry the paper to be recycled or use electricity for the air dryers. I don't know which is more enviornmentally friendly. I would say the air dryer since the notice about saving trees is on almost every one I see.
@surveygrrl (1270)
• United States
13 Jul 08
I like paper towels. I just feel like my hands are cleaner. I always wonder if there is a filter in the air dryer or if we are getting blown with dusty or moldy air. Mold especially from being in the bathroom where it is moist.
I do agree that paper towels are not the most envionmentally friendly thing. I use hand sanitizer instead of watching my hands sometimes when we are out so I am not wasting water and paper and it is much more convenient.
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@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
13 Jul 08
Hello sunnflr,
Yes I do agree with you, we don't have paper towels here anymore only air dryer, its takes longer to dry your hands.
Tamarafireheart.
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