b'continuous. Frequent hand washingat home) and the dreaded air dryerthere willNow with hygiene and hand washing can irritate skin and cause topicalcommonly found in public restrooms.be wholesaleat the forefront of our daily lives, we infections. Public restrooms are notMost people start these air dryer unitschangesunderstand air dryers create conditions always clean, and some consumersand then simply give up and walkto ourfor cross-contamination and defeat the simply try to get out as fast as possibleout while wiping their hands on theirroutines andpurpose of hand washing. In a report without stopping at the sink. clothes. So, why do proprietors andbehaviourspublished in the respected Mayo Clinic building managers install these dryersthat will beProceedings (2012 Aug; 87(8): 791While we do not know what life in theif no one likes them? It comes downpermanent,798.), the authors state that:post-pandemic world will be like, itto space utilisation. They can avoidand an is reasonable to expect there will bestoring paper towels and managingincreasedFrom a hygiene viewpoint, paper wholesale changes to our routines andwet paper towel waste. focus ontowels are superior to electric air dryers. behaviours that will be permanent,cleanlinessPaper towels should be recommended and an increased focus on cleanlinessTo be fair, electric hand dryerswill be one ofin locations where hygiene is paramount, will be one of them. We are now veryhave improved over the last severalthem. such as hospitals and clinics.Many aware that soap and water destroydecades. Several hand dryers havestudies have found friction to be a key the virus with no need for anti- emerged with high-velocity air thatcomponent in hand drying for removing microbial additives. Hand sanitiser hascan successfully dry hands in aboutcontamination. Bacteria were removed some efficacy but is not a complete10 seconds. These dryers suggestfrom washed hands by the mechanical solution to removing soiled material,using electricity is a benefit becauseabrasive action of drying with paper or killing other resistant germsit reduces paper towel consumption,towels. And microbiological testing of like the gastrointestinal norovirus.but why is this a benefit and who isthe paper towels after use indicated that Manufacturers in the tissue and towelit actually benefiting? The coal plantmany bacteria were transferred from the sector now must ask some importantproducing the electricity? hands to the paper towels.questions:What if this pandemic results in a sea-change in handwashing compliance and frequency?What if patrons in restaurants, hotels, retail establishments, truck stops, etc. all demand better hygiene facilities?What if people begin washing their hands after touching public handrails and buttons?What if more people head to the washroom after arriving at a destination, or before consuming food or drink on the go?Most importantly, if hand washing habits truly change on a global scale, how will we dry our hands?The two common alternatives for tissue products when it comes to drying ones hands are cloth towels (typically usedFigure 2.WORLD PULP&PAPER 11'