Watch out for bacteria

We all know how important it is to wash our hands - but what about drying them?

While most people acknowledge the importance of washing their hands in order to prevent the spread of bacteria, few worry about the best way of drying their hands. Many studies, one of which was recently done by London’s University of Westminster (PDF, 2.75 Mb), conclude that hand paper towels are the most hygienic choice for drying your hands. The study - carried out in a lab and in public washrooms - compared drying efficiency and bacterial contamination of conventional warm air dryers, new high-performance air jet dryers and hand paper towels.

Hand paper towels put hygiene first

Find out more on the study: take control of bacteria

Take your health in hand

How to wash and dry your hands

Take your health in hand

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, nearly 80% of common infectious diseases such as the flu or a cold, are spread through hand contact. These diseases are highly contagious and are quickly transmitted from one person to the other through the nose and throat. By touching a door handle harbouring this type of virus and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth afterwards, there are good chances that you may become sick yourself. However, you can easily eliminate these bacteria by properly washing and drying your hands.

How to properly wash and dry your hands in 7 steps:

Washing our hands is a simple act we do instinctively. And yet it’s one of the best ways of reducing the spread of micro-organisms responsible for infectious diseases such as the flu or a cold. Here’s the right way to wash and dry your hands easily and effectively in 7 steps.

1. Remove all your rings and wet your hands under warm running water.
2. Pump a small amount of liquid soap in the palm of your hand.
3. Rub your hands for 20 seconds, making the soap foam. Don’t forget to rub between your fingers, under your fingernails and the backs of your hands.
4. Rinse your hands well under running water for at least 10 seconds. Once your hands are clean, avoid touching the tap if you can. Use a hand paper towel to turn it off.
5. Dry your hands with hand paper towels. At home, if you use towels made of material, change your hand towel once a day. During cold and flu season, each household member should have his or her own hand towel.
6. Apply lotion to your hands if they are dry.
7. Teach your children this technique. Suggest to them a nursery rhyme they can sing while washing their hands, such as Mary had a little lamb. That way they’ll know how long they have to scrub.

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Effective washing