What is your favorite way to dry your hands?
By Biomechanoid
@Biomechanoid (2923)
Estonia
February 9, 2010 2:48pm CST
It might be an awkward question, but I came to this one when I was visiting a public toilet earlier today. I saw new Dyson Airblades placed there. I never tried to dry my hands after washing using this appliance. I washed my hands and dried them - I was amazed! That thing dried my hands really fast, to be precise in 10 seconds, as it was written on it.
I really liked that machine, so it's kind of my favorite hand drier now. However, I don't have any electric driers at home, so I use a simple cotton towel here.
What is your favorite way of drying hands? Paper driers? Electric ones? Towels? Or you don't purposely dry your hands at all?
6 people like this
22 responses
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
9 Feb 10
Hi Biomechanoid, Not an awkward question at all. So many people dry their hands on dirty towels. Ive used those air dryer ever since Ive been a little girl here. They have it in nearly every public places. It would be nice to have them at home also but it would be too great a cost, as much for the price of the unit and installation and the price of electricity to use it. It works great and you're sure your hands are clean after. I use a towel at home and change them at least twice a day. Paper is nice also but not very "green" and it dries your hands also.
1 person likes this
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
9 Feb 10
Hey, MagicalBubbles and thanks for answering my question! You're right, it would be great to have one at home too, but the expenses would be too huge. These Airblades I saw today cost like 1250$ a piece, pretty large sum. I also agree that paper drying isn't too green method for drying hands. You won't have problems with getting rid of paper, because it's naturally degradable, but still the trees get cut down to make that paper.
@deejays1974 (210)
• Philippines
23 Feb 10
Electronic if available because it dries extremely fast. If none, well, just tap and go.
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
23 Feb 10
I agree, some electronic driers can get your hands dry even before you notice it. But on the other hand, there are some very slow models, that will blow at your hands for a minute before you will get them perfectly dry. Thanks for feedback!:)
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
11 Feb 10
I usually use the air dryers when I am out and I need to wash my hands. I like the fact that there is no waste with this method the way there is with paper towels. I usually just use a dish towel or hand towel here at home, and I will use it for several days before I replace it with a fresh one.
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Feb 10
I agree, electric driers don't leave any used material after drying, all they use is the electric power. I think the most "green" way is still an ordinary towel, because it doesn't consume any power and you can use it over and over again. I use them for several days too before I get them replaced. Thanks for answering!:)
@neelianoscet (9615)
• Philippines
10 Feb 10
I wipe it with dry cloth most of the times and when i am using the comfort room I just wash my hands with water and have air dry using those found in toilet. They are fast and sometimes feel warm so the hands becomes clean like you mention and their is no need to wipe. if in case their is no cloth or towel available i dry my hands with the bathroom tissues.
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Feb 10
Unfortunately we can't use cotton towels in a public toilet, because it would be very non-hygienic. That's why there are electric or paper driers. I think these ones get they job nicely done too. Thanks for feedback!;)
@summer77 (414)
• Philippines
10 Feb 10
Wow 10 seconds. Fast! Is Dyson Airblades is the brand of the electric drier? There are electric driers in public toilet but as far as I experience, they don't dry at 10 seconds fast.
Well, when I am in the public toilet, I use electric drier or tissue if there is no electric drier. At home I use either hand towel or tissue. However, I would prefer the electric drier, it's just that we don't have such thing at home.
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Feb 10
Yes, 10 seconds is really fast for electric drier. I think Dyson is the company that manufactures it and Dyson Airblade is a product name of that drier. I agree, that it would be too expensive to buy yourself one. But I like to use such appliances in the public bathrooms. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!:)
@thetourist85 (10)
•
10 Feb 10
Its the same old story every time. You wash your hands then stand under a hand dryer for about 5 minutes, then as your leaving you wipe them on your trousers!
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Feb 10
Well, I agree, there are many electric driers that aren't effective in drying hands. But the one I tried, Dyson Airblade, dried my hands in 10 seconds, not more. And my hands were reallydry! Thanks for responding!:)
@shaggin (72183)
• United States
10 Feb 10
I remembe in the kitchen my grandfather always used paper towels. When I moved into my own place I NEVER bought paper towels. We use dish towels in the kitchen to dry dishes with and dry our hands with. In the bathroom I use hand towels and if I ran out of those I would just dry my hands with a wash cloth. In a public bathroom I wont use the electric dryers I hate them. I use paper towels and then use the paper towel to open the door on the way out to keep the germs from getting back onto my hands.
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Feb 10
I also use ordinary towels when at home. If I am in a public bathroom, I use the type of drier that is available there, be it electric or paper drier. You had found a nice solution for keeping your hands clean when exiting the toilet. Of course if you prefer the paper driers and there aren't any nearby, you can use toilet paper to dry your hands or bring your own handkerchiefs with you. Thanks for answering!:)
@daliaj (5674)
• India
10 Feb 10
Drying hands is something that we do daily in life. So, it is an important question. I usually don't prefer to dry my hands using the machine. I prefer to use tissues to dry it. The tissues inside the bathroom is different from the tissues in the common area of the bathroom, which is meant only to dry hands. Sometimes, I use the drying machine when those tissues will be out.
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Feb 10
Well, I agree, it may be really easier to dry your hands using towels, you can even do it on the go and it doesn't take so much time, like drying hands with special electrical driers. Thanks for responding!:)
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
10 Feb 10
Unfortunately where I live many public toilets don't have electric hand dryers. That's a pity, as having to take toilet paper to dry your hands always end up in ruining the paper roll. My favourite method is an electric hand dryer. They're not only the fastest method, but also make you feel good in winter.
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Feb 10
Too bad there is only toilet paper available for drying hands in your public toilets. I know how does it feel to dry your hands with toilet paper, because sometimes in our school bathrooms we run out of paper in a driers, so we have to use toilet paper instead. Taking that paper roll with wet hands can really screw up the whole roll. I also agree, that some electric driers can warm your hands up, in case they blow a warm air. Thanks for answering!:)
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Feb 10
It's a good way to dry hands because you can do it on the go. But then again, if you've been to some really dirty places or perhaps used a public transport, then your clothes may be not the most hygienical way to dry your hands. Thanks for responding!:)
@satya4186 (279)
• India
10 Feb 10
ya u right i am too i never using that but always i have wone hanky n use that
@cherryann (73)
• Philippines
10 Feb 10
I usually dry my hands with dry clean towels if I'm at home. If I am in a certain food chain or restaurant i use electric driers or paper towels whichever the store got ready for customers.
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Feb 10
Just like you, I use an ordinary cotton towel at home. If I am in a public toilet, then there is usually only one type of drier provided, so I can't choose the one I like more, I just use the one they have there. Thanks for feedback!:)
@Sophie2010 (144)
• China
10 Feb 10
I like to use tissue when I wash hands in public places. At home,I sometimes use towel but most of the time I don't use anything and just dry my hands by air.LOl. I think the natural way is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of bacterial.
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
12 Feb 10
Well, yes, the natural way can be really safe for drying hands. But you should watch out when leaving home after washing hands, because outside the wind and cold can have a really terrible effect on wet hands, so dry them thoroughly, before going outside. Thanks for feedback!;)
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
10 Feb 10
I think some of those hand drying machines that you find in public toilets these days are terrific! I use them myself and I think that they would be a great asset to any bathroom within the home! I'm thinking that they are quite expensive though and they make a lot of noise. Still, it beats dampening a towel all the time after you have washed your hands, you can just use one of these contraptions and it's done and dusted within ten minutes! Andrew
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
10 Feb 10
Hey, Andrew and thanks for responding to my discussion! I agree, towels may get quite wet if used many times in a row, but these modern driers never get tired of drying your hands! Still, they are too expensive to be bought for our personal bathrooms.
@Java09 (3075)
• United States
9 Feb 10
I dry my hands by towel at home.I prefer a paper towel at a public bathroom because its faster than air drying it.That appliance you were talking about sounds amzaing.The same thing happened to me,I went to the theater and there were these great hand blowers,they dried my hands in a few seconds :)
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
9 Feb 10
My choice is pretty much the same like yours. Paper driers will get your hands dry in no time, like also will do that appliance I was talking about. But because we don't have any of these at home, we must use towels to dry our hands at home. Thanks for feedback!:)
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
10 Feb 10
Well, Dyson Airblade shoots out cold air too, but it's coming out on 400mph, so your hands get nicely dried in 10 secs. I like to use towel too, I have my own one in the bathroom. Thanks for sharing!:)
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
10 Feb 10
Towels are good for drying hands, too bad you can't use them in public places (unless you bring your own with you). We have paper driers at school, so I use these ones. Thanks for replying!:)
@kaylayoe (293)
• United States
9 Feb 10
I think I know what dryer you mean! They are so powerful that it moves your skin! I've always hated waiting for my hands to dry with the other ones. And paper towel is such a huge waste! Plus you have to touch the handle to get it unless you find an automated one! But I defiantly love the power of some dryers!
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
10 Feb 10
It's good that you know what I'm talking about, it's a real beast! With paper driers I usually try not to touch the handle and just pull the paper out of it. Thanks for answering!:)
@I_am_Jessica (25)
• China
10 Feb 10
Paper driers and electric ones are generally available outside in public for the sake of hygiene,and I like using a towel which I renew at regular intervals at home.
@Biomechanoid (2923)
• Estonia
10 Feb 10
When I am at home, I use an ordinary towel too. Thanks for feedback!:)
