Paper Towels vs Hand Dryers: Why Hand Dryers Leave More Than Just Dry Hands Behind
Hand dryers are often marketed as a sleek, low-maintenance solution — but there’s a hidden downside many overlook: they leave water everywhere.
💧 Blowing Water, Not Drying It
Unlike paper towels, hand dryers don’t absorb water — they just blast it off your hands. In high-traffic washrooms, this means:
💧Water on the floor, which increases the risk of slips and falls
💧Water on walls and surfaces, which creates hygiene issues
💧Lingering dampness, which encourages bacteria and mould growth in hard-to-clean corners
These aren’t just cosmetic concerns. Slips on wet washroom floors are a real health and safety risk, particularly in commercial environments where public liability and worker safety are top of mind.
A 2022 study by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive highlighted that wet surfaces remain a leading cause of workplace injuries — and poorly designed washroom environments are a contributing factor.
🦠 Damp Surfaces = Bacterial Playground
Warmth, moisture, and frequent use create ideal conditions for bacteria to spread. In fact, studies have shown that air dryers can increase the number of bacteria on hands — even after washing — by redistributing water droplets and pathogens around the room.
By contrast, paper towels physically remove moisture and microbes. And when used to turn off taps or open doors, they provide a hygienic barrier from shared surfaces.
The Better Way: Autotowel
Our Autotowel Touch-Free Paper Towel Dispenser is designed with hygiene and safety in mind:
✅ No pooling water — excess moisture is absorbed and disposed of
✅ Touch-free dispensing reduces cross-contamination
✅ Faster, more effective drying = fewer drips and cleaner floors
✅ Controlled usage = less waste and lower costs
It also uses FSC-certified paper, making it a sustainable solution as well as a smart one.
⚠️ Ready to stop the spread (and the slips)? Upgrade to a drying system that actually makes your washroom drier and safer. Get a free quote now
👉 Explore Autotowel
