Europeans prefer paper towels over electric hand dryers

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the personal hygiene practices of people in Europe. They wash their hands more frequently and are more careful about how they dry them. According to a study, more than half of Europeans consider paper towels to be the most hygienic way to dry hands.

Handwashing is actively encouraged by health authorities. Since the advent of COVID-19, advice on handwashing has been displayed in public places and broadcast on radio and television. According to a survey sponsored by the European Tissue Symposium and conducted in 10 European countries, 88% of men and 85% of women wash their hands more often during the day since the beginning of the pandemic.

It's not uncommon to be offered two to three ways to dry your hands in a restaurant restroom or in the workplace, for example. There are paper towels, cloth towels and electric hand dryers. And again, Covid has raised awareness among Europeans about the most hygienic way to dry their hands.

Electric hand dryers are somewhat shunned, because they could carry the risk of bacteria being blown into the air, says the survey, which recalls that the pandemic has helped shed light on this phenomenon.

More than one in two men (56%) are aware of the possible risks associated with the use of electric hand dryers. For women, 40.4% have read information about these health risks, a share that rises to 70% of 18-34 year olds.

According to the study, more than one in two Europeans (54%) are more likely to turn to paper towels, considering them the most hygienic method for drying their hands. As a result, 38.5% of respondents have increased their use of paper towels since COVID-19.